Visiting Assistant Professor in Behavioral Science Related to Environmental and Water Resources

Delaware State University; Dover (DE); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Delaware State University in Dover seeks a Visiting Assistant Professor of Behavioral Science to build an active research program on water resources and to teach and mentor both undergraduates and graduates. The role includes collaboration with the Center for Experimental and Applied Economics and other partner institutions.

The position emphasizes research (75%) with teaching, student engagement, and experiential learning (25%).

Qualifications

• Coursework in research methodology, particularly in experimental economics, survey research, or related experimental methodologies.
• Strong interest in teaching and mentoring undergraduate and graduate students.
• Experience with grant writing and developing student experiential learning programs.
• Ability to work on campus at Delaware State University in Dover, Delaware.
• Mentor and co-advise undergraduate research interns and graduate research students.
• Capacity to provide workshops and training to the students in the program.
• Capacity to assist program director with student progress and tracking.
• Ability to assist the program director with project reports and progresses.
• Ability to assist AGNR Department with teaching and development of new courses.

Responsibilities

• Designing and conducting field and laboratory experiments to assess human behavioral responses to water resource issues, especially saltwater intrusion risks.
• Developing and implementing surveys to understand the public's decision-making processes related to water management and climate adaptation.
• Analyzing behavioral data to identify patterns in responses to risk, adaptation strategies, and policy preferences.
• Collaborating with interdisciplinary teams studying the biophysical, social, and economic drivers of saltwater intrusion and coastal resilience.
• Mentoring students and assisting in experiential learning opportunities within the program.
• Collaborating with UD and DSU project directors to merge program efforts between life sciences and behavioral sciences.
• Co-author peer-reviewed publications on behavioral responses to water resource challenges.
• Participating in statewide committees and professional development activities.

Skills

Research methodology

Teaching & mentoring

Grant writing

Student mentoring

Campus collaboration

Workshops & training

Project reporting

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Education

Ph.D. in Behavioral Science or related field

Job description

THIS IS A 100% GRANT FUNDED POSITION

The Visiting Assistant Professor in Behavioral Science, Environmental and Water Resources, at Delaware State University, College of Agriculture, Science and Technology, is a full-time, non-tenured annual position with a 75% focus on research and 25% devoted to teaching, student engagement, and student experiential learning efforts. The professor will develop an active research program focused on Water Resources, collaborate with the University of Delaware's Center for Experimental and Applied Economics and other partner institutions. This position will have opportunities to co-author peer-reviewed publications on behavioral responses to water resource challenges, participate in national conferences and professional development activities, contribute to policy-relevant research that informs climate adaptation strategies, mentor undergraduate and graduate students in cutting-edge behavioral research, access state-of-the-art research facilities, including an experimental economics lab, and collaborate with faculty across the state of Delaware to enhance the program capabilities and opportunities for students and young scientists. The position also encourages collaboration with faculty statewide to expand program capabilities and student opportunities.

Essential Functions

The following are the functions essential to performing this job:

1. Designing and conducting field and laboratory experiments to assess human behavioral responses to water resource issues, especially saltwater intrusion risks.
2. Developing and implementing surveys to understand the public's decision-making processes related to water management and climate adaptation.
3. Analyzing behavioral data to identify patterns in responses to risk, adaptation strategies, and policy preferences.
4. Collaborating with interdisciplinary teams studying the biophysical, social, and economic drivers of saltwater intrusion and coastal resilience.
5. Basic knowledge in the development of surveys, evaluation and action plans for the program.
6. Experience working with community partners and stakeholders.
7. Assisting program directors (both at UD and DSU) to merge program efforts between life sciences and behavioral sciences.
8. Has skills to mentor and assist students with their research projects related to behavioral sciences.
9. Willing to participate and volunteer in statewide committees.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

The individual in this job must possess these skills and abilities or be able to explain and demonstrate that they can perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation using some other combination of skills and abilities:

1. Demonstrated coursework in research methodology, particularly in experimental economics, survey research, or related experimental methodologies.
2. Strong interest in teaching and mentoring undergraduate and graduate students.
3. Ability to work on campus at Delaware State University in Dover, Delaware.
4. Assist with grant writing and developing student experiential learning programs.
5. Mentor and co-advise undergraduate research interns and graduate research students.
6. Capacity to provide workshops and training to the students in the program.
7. Capacity to assist program director with student progress and tracking.
8. Ability to assist the program director with project reports and progresses.
9. Ability to assist AGNR Department with teaching and development of new courses.

Education: Ph.D. degree in behavioral science, applied economics, psychology, sociology, or closely related field with emphasis on human decision-making and behavior.

The criteria for evaluation in this position include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Quality of Work
2. Productivity and Efficiency
3. Knowledge and Skills
4. Teamwork and Collaboration
5. Compliance and Professional Conduct