Job Posting: Environmental History at Michigan State University


Assistant Professor of Environmental History

Lyman Briggs College (http://lbc.msu.edu/) and the Department of History (http://history.msu.edu/) at Michigan State University invite applications for a tenure-system academic year position at the assistant professor level for a scholar of Environmental History, with a preference for a scholar whose research focuses on water and with an additional focus on one or more of the following: borderlands, social justice, race, subaltern, indigenous, colonialism, and post-colonial studies. The position will be 75% in Lyman Briggs College (LBC) and 25% in the Department of History (HST) in the College of Social Science and will start on August 16, 2018.

Applicants must have a Ph.D. in History or an allied field, such as the History of Science or Science and Technology Studies, and expertise in both Environmental History and History of Science. Preference will be given to candidates whose research and teaching focus on questions about issues like water management, distribution, or pollution.  Time period and geographic area are open. Duties include (1) teaching three small LBC undergraduate courses annually in the History, Philosophy, and Sociology of Science (HPS) on topics in the history of science, technology, and the environment; (2) teaching one course on environmental history annually in HST; (3) maintaining an active program of research in environmental history via publication (including peer-reviewed scholarly publication), grant activity, and research-related outreach and engagement; and (4) typical academic service duties in LBC and HST, with duties in each reflecting the split appointment. Preference will be given to candidates who have demonstrable records of success in peer-reviewed publication, the use of evidence-based teaching methods, the teaching of environmental history and the history of science, and promoting the value of inclusion via one’s teaching, research, or service (see: http://www.inclusion.msu.edu/about/president-statements/index.html).

Founded in 1967, LBC is a vibrant residential college at MSU that focuses on the study of science in its social contexts. Bridging the “two cultures” of the sciences and the humanities, the LBC curriculum integrates natural sciences and mathematics courses with courses in the history, philosophy, and sociology of science. Nearly all of the students in LBC major in biological or physical sciences.  About 60% of LBC students are women and about 20% are students of color.  More than 20% of LBC students belong to MSU’s Honors College. The college’s faculty, staff, and students promote inclusion through a range of initiatives and have won awards for diversity and inclusion in their instruction and research. Faculty work closely with students in small classes and with student groups such as Women in Science and the Briggs Multicultural Alliance. LBC welcomes applications from strong candidates who can enhance and complement the intellectual and cultural diversity of the LBC faculty. The joint appointment in HST is part of MSU’s investment in cross-college collaboration. This position complements existing strengths in the Department of History with its doctoral field in the History of Science, Medicine, and Technology.

MSU is home to over 60 science studies scholars, ranging from historians and philosophers of science to legal scholars of science policy. Interactions are facilitated by research centers such as the Center for Ethics, Humanities and the Life Sciences and the Center for Gender in Global Context. The university fosters a culture of cross-unit collaboration and offers financial resources such as seed grants for science studies scholars to work with STEM/biomedical scholars (http://s3.msu.edu), and for interdisciplinary environmental science collaborations (http://www.espp.msu.edu/research/itbi.php). MSU has many strong STEM departments, two medical schools, a nursing school, and a veterinary school.

Application materials must be uploaded by the candidate to the Careers @ MSU page at http://careers.msu.edu. The job number for this position is 466185. Complete applications will include a C.V., teaching portfolio (see guidelines at: http://lymanbriggs.msu.edu/faculty_staff/LBC-cand-teach-portfolio-2009-6-29.pdf), a cover letter that outlines the candidate’s expertise and qualifications for the duties described above, and an article or chapter length writing sample. In addition, three letters of recommendation that together address the candidate’s teaching experience and research expertise must be uploaded by the recommenders to MSU’s application system; the letters from the recommendation will be solicited after a candidate completes and submits their application.  

The deadline to ensure full consideration of applications is November 15, 2017 and review of applications will continue until the position is filled. Questions regarding this position may be directed to the search committee chair, Dr. Sean Valles, at valles@msu.edu.

LBC cultivates a vibrant, multi-disciplinary community that is diverse along many dimensions, including race and ethnicity; gender, sexual orientation, and gender identity and expression; ability status; and creed or ideology.

MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer. MSU is committed to achieving excellence through a diverse workforce and inclusive culture that encourages all people to reach their full potential. The University actively encourages applications and/or nominations of women, persons of color, veterans, and persons with disabilities.