Assistant Professor: Sustainable Food Systems, Arizona State University, USA

Tenure-track, Assistant Professor Position in Sustainable Food Systems

The School of Sustainability (SOS) within the College of Global Futures (CGF) at Arizona State University invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track faculty position at the assistant professor level in Sustainable Food Systems, expected to begin August 2025.

The successful candidate will be expected to contribute to curriculum development; deliver instruction at the undergraduate and graduate level; supervise honors, master’s and doctoral students; conduct research publishable in top-tier academic journals; participate in professional and university service; develop grant proposals for external funding; and engage with society for teaching, research, and/or service in sustainability. We especially seek candidates who have a compelling vision for research and teaching that aligns with the mission of the School of Sustainability and ASU’s Charter for a New American University.

Qualifications

Required:

• A PhD, by time of appointment, in a discipline related to the sustainability of food systems. Given that “food systems” is a relatively recent discipline, we recognize that competitive candidates may emerge from a variety of fields and disciplines beyond food systems (e.g., ranging from soil science and agronomy to nutrition security to public policy).
• Evidence of excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience conducting empirical research in food systems sustainability or related fields with a corresponding publication record.
• Demonstrated teaching experience and effectiveness in creating an academic environment that is open and encouraging to all students.
• Demonstrated expertise in topics that support the academic courses in the Sustainable Food Systems degree programs. These topics may include but are not limited to: knowledge of US food and agriculture systems; policy’s role in shaping global food systems; knowledge of the natural sciences underlying food systems; and social-ecological and/or biocultural food systems.
• Potential for the candidate’s scholarship, teaching, and outreach activities to foster the values of ASU as reflected in the ASU Charter.

Desired Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in inter- and transdisciplinary research collaborations in relation to sustainable food systems.
• Demonstrated research in one or more of the thematic areas of food systems research including, but not limited to: issues of ecological change, food security, human behavior and values, policy, social justice, governance and institutions, nutrition security, human health and wellbeing, economic principles and implications of food systems, the future of food, and other compelling and emerging topics.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain an independent, innovative, and externally funded research program in food systems that leads to improved food systems sustainability.
• Demonstrated expertise in global dimensions of sustainable food systems.
• Experience in teaching multicultural students across multiple learning platforms, including online.

The College of Global Futures at Arizona State University

The ASU College of Global Futures is an integral unit within the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory, an innovative enterprise designed to radically enhance the university’s impact in creating a thriving future for humanity and planet Earth. The College contains four schools: the School of Sustainability, the School for the Future of Innovation in Society, the School of Ocean Futures, and the School of Complex Adaptive Systems.

As the first school of sustainability in the country, SOS stands at the forefront of interdisciplinary education, research, and engagement in sustainability. We focus on developing implementable solutions to complex social-ecological-technical challenges, with a focus on empowering the next generation of scholars and practitioners.

SOS offers several degree and professional programs to train the next generation of food leaders in the growing and dynamic field of sustainable food systems (SFS), including at the undergraduate level (BS, Minor, and Certificate in SFS); graduate level (MS in SFS and Certificate in Food Policy and Sustainability Leadership); and specially designed SFS micro-credentials. These programs emphasize knowledge of US food and agriculture systems in the global context.

The SFS educational programs are closely aligned with the ASU Swette Center for Sustainable Food Systems, an education and research center housed within the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory. The Swette Center facilitates faculty efforts to drive social progress, economic productivity, and ecosystem resilience through food system transformation.

As defined in its design aspirations, ASU has a deep commitment to use-inspired, public-serving work in both the local and global contexts. This commitment is further articulated in ASU’s Charter, declaring the university’s enduring commitment to the communities in which it is embedded.

Application Instructions

Applications should be submitted at http://apply.interfolio.com/157260. Only electronic submissions will be reviewed.

Applications must contain:

1. A cover letter that describes the applicant’s match for the position;
2. A research statement, including an explanation of how the goals of the ASU Charter are reflected in your research;
3. A teaching experience and philosophy statement, including an explanation of how the goals of the ASU Charter are reflected in your teaching and mentoring;
4. Curriculum vitae;
5. A research writing sample;
6. Complete contact information for three professional references (include name, title, affiliation, e-mail address, and phone number).

Review of applications will begin November 22, 2024, and continue every two weeks thereafter until the search is closed. Official transcripts are required for employment.