Associate/Full Professor in Climate Modeling and Disaster Resilience

Departments: Dual Appointment – Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences in the School of Science and O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University (IU) Indianapolis

Position Summary: The School of Science Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences and the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs at IU Indianapolis invite applications for a tenured associate or full professor position in the area of climate modeling and disaster resilience. The successful candidate will have an outstanding scholarly record of research as well as high-impact peer-reviewed publications and an externally funded forward-looking research agenda, preferably as Principal Investigator (PI). Candidates who are leading externally funded research groups (with postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, and research staff) are especially encouraged to apply.

The ideal candidate will have expertise in climate change impacts on human health and wellbeing. Specific research foci may include public health impacts associated with current and future climate conditions including flooding, drought, extreme heat, land use/land cover change, and/or community disaster readiness. A focus on big data resources (environmental, health, social, and model projections), AI and machine learning tools, is desirable. Highly desired experience includes digital technologies (e.g., AI/ML) applied to the detection, forecasting, and responses to climate shocks and natural hazards and approaches for implementing early warning and monitoring systems for community-based warning systems.

This position is a strategic joint-hire, and the successful candidate will also be an affiliate faculty with the newly established IU Institute for Human Health and Wellbeing (H2W) at IU Indianapolis (IU invests more than $250M to strengthen university’s, state’s leadership and impact in biosciences: IU News). A record investment by the Indiana State Legislature not only made possible the creation of H2W, but also the pending construction of a new 50,000 sq ft state-of-the-art research building on the IU Indianapolis campus to house Institute faculty. Through H2W, the successful candidate will have access to significant resources to support their program of research, including seed funding for new projects, graduate student/postdoctoral training support, access to core facilities, opportunities to lead interdisciplinary research teams and access to research space in the new state-of-the-art research building mentioned above.

This is a research-intensive position. The candidate is expected to engage in interdisciplinary research and collaborative endeavors that transcend institutional silos to initiate and advance ambitious research initiatives at IU Indianapolis. The candidate is expected to contribute to translational research efforts that have a significant impact on the growing health, life, and technology ecosystem at IU Indianapolis. Teaching in support of the educational mission of the primary Department/School is expected, although the teaching load will be reduced to create more time for research.

As the state’s premier urban research institution, IU Indianapolis is committed to being a welcoming and inclusive campus community. We seek candidates who will pursue the highest standards of academic
excellence and whose research, teaching, and community engagement efforts contribute to welcoming, respectful, and inclusive learning and working environments for our students, staff, and faculty.

For full consideration, application materials should be submitted by January 2, 2025. However, the position will remain open until filled.

About the IU Institute for Human Health and Wellbeing (H2W):
The IU Institute for Human Health and Wellbeing operates at the intersection of health, life sciences and technology to meet community needs and improve health outcomes across the State of Indiana. Working with industry and community partners, it will expand IU Indianapolis’ efforts to translate research and creative activity that meet Hoosier’s most critical health challenges. This includes pursuit of community-engaged research focused on health equity. Interdisciplinary teams will address health issues, particularly in the area of health disparities, and promote mental and physical well-being. The Institute will build on IU’s existing research strengths, with the potential for immediate growth in areas such as the use of artificial intelligence in early detection of chronic disease, physical activity and health monitoring, and health economics.

About the IU Indianapolis School of Science:
The IU Indianapolis School of Science is a hub for scientific research and education, offering a range of undergraduate and graduate (MS and PhD) programs across disciplines including biology, chemistry, earth and environmental sciences, forensic and investigational sciences, mathematics, neuroscience, physics, and psychology. With state-of-the-art facilities and close ties to Indianapolis’ thriving healthcare, biotech, and life sciences sectors, the school fosters interdisciplinary research and innovation, and prepares students for careers in science, medicine, technology, and education through hands-on research and collaboration with leading industry and academic partners. The Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences is situated in the School of Science. It has 14 full-time faculty, 100+ undergraduate majors (BA and BS), and approximately 25+ graduate students pursuing degrees in Geology (M.S.) and Applied Earth Sciences (PhD).

About the IU Indianapolis Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs:
The O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs is a highly ranked school dedicated to environmental sustainability, resilience and public policy with locations on both the Indianapolis and Bloomington campuses. This joint hire will be appointed on the Indianapolis campus. Offering programs in environmental policy, public affairs, criminal justice, public management, and civic leadership, the school prepares students to address complex societal and environmental challenges. Its interdisciplinary approach combines policy analysis, management, and science to develop innovative solutions for the public, private and nonprofit sectors. With strong ties to government agencies, nonprofits, and businesses, the O’Neill School provides students with opportunities for hands-on experience and community engagement to foster leadership in public service and environmental stewardship. The O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indianapolis has 22 full-time faculty, 800+ undergraduate majors (BS), and approximately 200+ graduate students pursuing degrees in Public Affairs (MPA) and Criminal Justice & Public Safety (MS).

About IU Indianapolis:
The IU Indianapolis campus, with over 21,000 students, is located adjacent to downtown Indianapolis. IU Indianapolis is the health and life science campus of Indiana University, the focal point of health profession education in the State of Indiana. The School of Science and O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs in Indianapolis share a campus with the Indiana University School of Medicine, the
largest medical school in the US. Both schools have formed key research partnerships with the IU School of Medicine and the Regenstrief Institute, an internationally recognized medical informatics research center. The schools also enjoy collaborations with the Roudebush VA Medical Center, IU Health (one of the largest health care organizations in the Midwest), and the IU Schools of Nursing, Public Health, Health and Human Sciences, and the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering. IU faculty have access to state-of-the art computing resources. IU’s Quartz supercomputer, Big Red 200 is among the world’s fastest research supercomputers. Owned and operated solely by IU, these high-performance resources are designed to accelerate discovery in a wide variety of fields, including biomedicine, biotechnology, health care, and enable effective analysis of large, complex biomedical data sets (i.e., big data). Overall, IU Indianapolis research contributes significantly to the Indiana State economy, with an estimated $672 million generated in economic activity from NIH-funded projects alone. This growth aligns with the
IU 2030 strategic plan, aiming to support Indiana’s economic and health needs through expanded research infrastructure and collaboration across IU campuses.

About Indianapolis:
Indianapolis, encompassing a metropolitan population of 1.9 million, is the 14th-largest city in the nation and is the state’s capital. This diverse city boasts a high quality of life, low cost of living, and easy commutes. Indianapolis has six thriving Cultural Districts, each offering a distinct mix of shopping, dining, and entertainment. Named “the biggest and boldest step by any American city” by Project for Public Spaces in New York City, the $63 million Indianapolis Cultural Trail is an internationally acclaimed eight-mile biking and walking trail that connects all six of Indy’s Cultural Districts. Indianapolis is one of the country’s most walkable cities, with numerous parks, paths, and recreational amenities promoting a healthy and active lifestyle. Indianapolis is home to outstanding cultural institutions as well as companies such as Eli Lilly & Co, Roche Diagnostics, Salesforce, and Dow AgroSciences. Indianapolis, often called Indy, is home to the Indiana Pacers of the National Basketball Association (NBA), Indiana Fever (WNBA), and the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL) and is widely recognized for hosting the Indianapolis 500, the world’s oldest major automobile race which takes place each year on Memorial Day weekend. Indianapolis also regularly hosts major sports events such as the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Final Four. A recent investment by the State Legislature is making way for a new 4,100-seat athletic complex on the downtown IU Indianapolis campus – immediately adjacent the NCAA headquarters – for IU Indianapolis Jaguar basketball and other sporting events. Finally, Indianapolis is also home to acclaimed performing and visual arts, including the Indiana Repertory Theatre, Indianapolis Symphony, Indianapolis Ballet, and Indianapolis Museum of Art. The Indianapolis Zoo, Indianapolis Children’s Museum, and Indianapolis Children’s Choir provide fun for kids of all ages.

Traveling to and around Indianapolis is easy, convenient, and affordable. Indianapolis International Airport (IND) is approximately 15 minutes from downtown and has been named the best airport in North America by Airports Council International for seven consecutive years. Known as the Crossroads of America, Indy is within a day’s drive of over half of the country’s population.

To learn more about Indianapolis, see any of the following websites:
IndyParks, over 150 parks in and around the city (www.indyparks.org)
Local Government & Neighborhoods (www.indy.gov)
Downtown (https://www.downtownindy.org/)
Tourism (www.visitindy.com)
City Guide (https://www.indianapolismonthly.com/best-of-indy/2020-city-guide)
Carmel, Indiana, rated the #1 Best Place to Live in the U.S. (www.carmel.in.gov)
Basic Qualifications:
Candidates are expected to possess a PhD from a field related to climate change and disaster resilience modeling (e.g., climate science, data modeling, environmental policy, disaster science, etc.)
Candidates are expected to have achieved tenure at their current institution.
Candidates are expected to have a record of outstanding research productivity with impact in any of the above-mentioned areas, as well as the demonstrated ability to secure and sustain federally funded research.
The candidate is expected to demonstrate ability to teach effectively in-person, online, or in blended learning courses within their discipline.
Hiring Contact for Questions:
Questions pertaining to this position can be directed to Ranna Johnson, Human Resources Specialist at rannjohn@iu.edu.