News Interdisciplinary Disaster Science and Education Cluster Hire

The University of Delaware (UD) invites applications from talented scholars pursuing interesting questions related to disasters, hazards, and crisis. We are looking to fill multiple tenure-track/tenured positions in Disaster Science at the Assistant or Associate Professor level beginning September 1, 2019. This search is the first stage of an exciting university-wide, interdisciplinary cluster recruitment effort to expand research in disaster science, a major emphasis of the University, with hiring planned over the next two years. In this first stage, we are seeking exceptional candidates with interdisciplinary interests in a wide range of topics broadly construed as social perspectives on risk, hazards and disasters. 

Faculty will have a tenure-track/tenured home in a department at the University of Delaware and join, as core faculty, the world-renowned Disaster Research Center (DRC), the world’s oldest center focused on the social science and management aspects of disaster. UD has several environment- and disaster-oriented programs and research streams in its various colleges. DRC houses the flagship institution of the William A. Anderson Fund (BAF), an initiative devoted to increasing the participation of students from historically underrepresented populations in disaster science and practice.

We seek scholars who are committed to interdisciplinary research and teaching, diversity and inclusion, and community engagement. Candidates should show experience or potential for securing external funding. The candidate should hold an earned Ph.D. or other relevant doctoral degrees at the time of appointment. We will consider a broad range of research foci related to social perspectives on risk, hazards, and disasters. Possible, but not exclusive, areas of interest might include: individual and household preparedness for disaster; social determinants of disaster health outcomes and recovery; food security and connection of food delivery to health outcomes in disaster-affected settings; institutional systems for service delivery, such as for disaster behavioral health; functional and access needs, including elder populations and others requiring medical-support care in hospitals and nursing homes; environmental and social justice; risk perception/communication; environmental planning; hazard mitigation; and decision-making and social change. Researchers with strong methodological skills (one or more approaches, such as statistics, spatial analysis, social network analysis, GIS, participatory action research, qualitative methods, or mixed methods) are encouraged to apply.

Located in Newark, Delaware, within 2 hours of New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C., UD is a Land Grant, Sea Grant, Space Grant, and Carnegie Research University (highest research activity; and a Carnegie public engagement designation), with external funding exceeding $200 million. A state-assisted, privately governed institution, the University enrolls approximately 19,000 undergraduates and 4,000 graduate students.

Our University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. UD is committed to attracting and retaining employees with different identities and backgrounds. UD provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. UD is the recipient of a National Science Foundation ADVANCE Institutional Transformation Grant, focused on enhancing the climate of the university for women and underrepresented minority faculty.

Applicants should submit: (1) a current curriculum vita; (2) a cover letter summarizing their interest, qualifications, likely department(s) they wish to be considered for their tenure/tenure-track home, and a description of progress on the dissertation, if not yet complete; (3) a research statement; (4) a teaching statement; (5) contact information for three references (references will not be contacted prior to notifying the candidate). Candidates should ensure that their materials address the qualifications stated above. Review of applications will begin on October 1, 2018 and will continue until the positions are filled. This institution is using Interfolio's Faculty Search to conduct this search. Those interested should apply through https://apply.interfolio.com/53814. Please direct questions, but not application materials, to Tricia Wachtendorf or James Kendra, Search Committee Co-Chairs ( twachten@udel.edu or jmkendra@udel.edu ).