Assistant Professor in Natural Resource Economics

Posted on September 9, 2024

UBC’s campuses are located on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the Syilx (Okanagan) Peoples and of the Coast Salish Peoples, including the territories of the xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Stó:lō and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil- Waututh) Nations.

The Opportunity

The Faculties of Land and Food Systems and Forestry at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver (UBC-V), Canada are seeking candidates for a full-time, tenure track position at the rank of Assistant Professor. The anticipated start date is July 1, 2025. This position is part of the University of British Columbia’s Black Faculty Cohort Hiring Initiative (see information below regarding eligibility).

Applicants must have a Ph.D. (or be nearing completion) in Economics or a related discipline with demonstrated skills in environmental and natural resource economics related to land, food, forests, and/or bioenergy. The precise area of specialization is open. Examples of teaching and research programs could include but are not limited to the following:

Forests;
Agriculture;
Conservation and Biodiversity;
Coastal Ecosystems;
Other Renewable Resources.

Candidates will be expected to demonstrate: a) a careful and rigorous understanding of the theoretical or empirical methods employed in their research; b) the potential to publish in reputable journals; c) the potential to develop an independent, externally funded, and internationally recognized research program; d) a willingness to engage in active collaborations with economist and non-economist colleagues and students in both faculties and across UBC; e) an ability to teach courses related to natural resource economics at the undergraduate and graduate levels; and f) supervision of graduate students through to successful completion of degrees.

Description of the Faculties

The Faculty of Forestry (https://forestry.ubc.ca/) is one of the largest of its kind globally. Its award-winning, multidisciplinary researchers explore social-ecological systems from many perspectives, including ecosystem functioning, applied resource management, bioeconomy and advanced bioproducts, conservation decision-making and policy, Indigenous knowledge, and values that human societies derive from nature. Our research continually strives to redefine and broaden our conception of forestry by addressing a wide variety of issues including public policy, biodiversity conservation, environmental justice, climate change mitigation, sustainable forest management and bioproducts development, to name a few. This position will be in the

Department of Forest Resources Management within Forestry.

The Faculty of Land and Food Systems (LFS) (https://www.landfood.ubc.ca/) is a leader in studying, understanding and researching key issues in food supply, health and nutrition, and sustainability and climate change. We collaborate and innovate across disciplines and work closely with community and industry partners to create real-world solutions to local and global challenges. With the goal of balancing food systems and planetary health to create a better world, LFS develops change makers and leaders who improve global health through science, innovation and positive actions that recognize the critical connections between soil, plants, animals, humans and the environment. This position will be in the Food and Resource Economics Program (https://fre-research.landfood.ubc.ca/) within LFS.

Application Process

Pursuant to Section 42 of the BC Human Rights Code, this search will be restricted to qualified Black scholars. We welcome applications from Black scholars who may also identify as Indigenous (First Nation, Métis, Inuit) Peoples, multi-racial persons, persons with disabilities, women, and/or members of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. Candidates are required to self-identify through the Applicant Diversity Survey, which takes approximately two minutes to complete. All questions unrelated to self-identification as Black are voluntary and options to decline to answer are available. Applicants who wish to be considered for this initiative must self-identify as Black to be considered eligible. All information collected by UBC will remain confidential and any reported data will be in aggregate form shared with the Search Committee co-chairs to track intersectional diversity and support and equitable and meritorious search process.

As one of the world’s leading universities, UBC is taking steps and implementing programs to build a more inclusive community. In alignment with UBC’s commitment to advance the

Scarborough Charter on Anti-Racism and Black Inclusion in Canadian Higher Education, UBC is undertaking a Black Faculty Cohort Hiring Initiative aimed at increasing the presence of Black faculty members at UBC. The initiative supports the recruitment of professors at all ranks across both the research and educational streams. The advertised position is part of a Food, Forests, and (Bio)Fuels cluster of three tenure-track appointments.

Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. The expected salary range is $125,000 to $135,000 annually plus benefits.

Applications must be made through the University of British Columbia’s Human Resources online careers page (https://ubc.wd10.myworkdayjobs.com/ubcfacultyjobs). Applicants should submit:

A cover letter that briefly summarizes their skills as relevant to this position description, and their interest in joining LFS and Forestry at UBC-V;
A curriculum vitae,
Contact information for three references,
A statement describing their five-year research plan (1-2 pages),
A statement of teaching philosophy with evidence of potential for effective teaching (1-2 pages),
A representative writing sample of their research (e.g. Job Market Paper or equivalent)
UBC aspires to promote inclusive excellence by supporting and recognizing efforts to advance equity, diversity and inclusion as well as decolonization (EDID) through the academic and research ecosystem. Please provide a brief (1-2 page) statement describing current and future commitments or interests related to EDID. Your comments may relate to lived/living experience, professional work or practice, academic and research activities, and/or community-engagement.

Note: Long-listed candidates will be asked to arrange for 3 letters of reference to be submitted to the search committee.

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority for the position. To comply with the Government of Canada’s reporting requirements, the University gathers information about applicants’ status as either a permanent resident of Canada or Canadian citizen. Applicants need not identify country of origin or current citizenship; however, all applications must include one of the following statements:

Yes, I am a citizen or permanent resident of Canada
No, I am not a citizen or permanent resident of Canada

The deadline for applications is Nov. 15^th, 2024.

If you have specific questions about the application process, please contact the Chairs of the Selection Committee c/o lfs.recruitment@ubc.ca.

Career Interruptions

UBC acknowledges that certain circumstances may cause career interruptions that legitimately affect an applicant’s record of research achievement. We encourage applicants to note in their applications whether they would like consideration given to the impact of any such circumstances due to health, family, or other legitimate reasons in order to allow for a fair assessment of their research productivity.

Dual Career Inquiries

UBC is committed to supporting candidates within a dual career household. Inquiries about spousal/partner employment may be directed to the Office of the Provost & Vice President Academic at viceprovost.avpaa@ubc.ca.

Commitment to Accessibility and Accommodations

The University is committed to creating and maintaining an accessible work environment for all members of its workforce. Within this hiring process we will make efforts to create an accessible process for all candidates (including but not limited to people with disabilities). Confidential accommodations are available on request by contacting Dr. Will Valley, Associate Dean for Equity, Decolonization and Inclusion in the Faculty of Land and Food Systems (will.valley@ubc.ca).

If you have any questions regarding accommodations or accessibility during the recruitment and hiring process or form more information and support, please visit UBC’s Center For Workplace Accessibility website at https://hr.ubc.ca/health-and-wellbeing/workplace-accessibility/centre-workplace-accessibility or contact the Centre at workplace.accessibility@ubc.ca.