Assistant Professor (Practice) in Human Dimensions of Agricultural Water Management
Biological & Ecological Engineering, Oregon State University | Posted Sep 12, 2024
Deadline: Oct 11, 2024
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The Department of Biological & Ecological Engineering invites applications for a 1.00 FTE, 12-month, Assistant Professor of Practice position in Human Dimensions of Agricultural Water Management.
In the last decade, water-related issues have become increasingly pressing for farmers and ranchers across the state of Oregon. These challenges have positioned OSU to play a pivotal role in fostering collaborative relationships with water and land managers, developing research-based water and natural resource management programs, facilitating access to information, resources, and tools for producers, and implementing on-farm demonstration projects. There is a growing need for enhanced collaboration, building trust, and fostering relationships with organizations addressing water and natural resource management challenges in Oregon. This includes building and sustaining connections between stakeholders and OSU staff at campus, county, and branch experiment stations.
This position addresses Oregon’s agricultural water management needs. The incumbent will foster connections between producers and ranchers of all ownership types and farm sizes (e.g., family, private, land trusts, tribal) government agencies, non-government organizations, agriculture/farm service providers, and OSU faculty, both within and beyond the campus setting. The appointee will spearhead the formation and management of collaborative teams, assist in designing and managing water resource-related faculty projects and programs, and facilitate the transfer of knowledge and research advances to practice via educational activities and resources. Furthermore, the incumbent will provide vital support to OSU faculty in broadening their engagement and influence among agricultural stakeholders. This support may include conducting needs assessments, helping faculty design evaluative based programs, developing and disseminating needs assessment tools for extension faculty, advising on the prioritization of water-related research to meet stakeholder needs, participating in industry events, conducting community-engaged research and educational activities, and reporting impact based outcomes.
The position contributes to the stated mission of Oregon State University’s Agricultural Experiment Station, Extension Service, and the College of Agricultural Sciences.
This position has principal responsibility for conducting and coordinating Extension needs assessment, program development, delivery, and applied research in support of and in collaboration with designated faculty in the Extension Agriculture Water Program.
All Oregon State University faculty in the professorial ranks have a responsibility to engage in scholarship and creative activity. Scholarship is intellectual work in research, teaching, or extension that is shared with peers in journals, in formal peer-reviewed presentations at professional meetings, or comparable peer-evaluated forums.
College of Agricultural Sciences faculty are committed to enhancing student success by engaging students in quality academic, research, internships, global studies, and other experiential learning opportunities. Positions with primary responsibility for extension and outreach are likewise committed to learner success through programming appropriate for diverse audiences. There is an expectation that, as part of your role in the college, you embody and advance the principles and practices conveyed in the CAS CARE Commitment document.
Oregon State University is committed to maintaining and enhancing a collaborative and inclusive community that strives for equity and equal opportunity. All employees of the Department are responsible for helping to ensure that these goals are achieved. In addition, all faculty members will design, develop, maintain and/or carry out Department programs to ensure that all people have equal program participation opportunities. The incumbent will contribute to equity, inclusion, and diversity as part of educational delivery, advising, research, Extension, service, and/or scholarly outcomes. Outputs and impacts of efforts to promote equity, inclusion, and diversity should be included in promotion and tenure dossiers. The incumbent must demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion through service or specific job duties.
This position carries the general and specific responsibilities of a faculty member described in the Faculty Handbook and the promotion and tenure guidelines of Oregon State University. These include effective research and extension programs, demonstrable scholarship and creative activity, service contributions, and active professional development.
Position Duties:
40% Extension Teaching and Related Assignments
• Collaborate with OSU faculty and staff to conduct needs assessments and related activities to prioritize educational and applied research needs for agricultural audiences. This process should include evaluating the most critical areas of improvement in water and water quality management, while considering economic, social, and cultural benefits to ensure a holistic approach to addressing stakeholder needs.
• Work with OSU faculty and staff to utilize OSU’s six principles of teaching excellence to create content for delivery in multiple forms including web sites, publications, video conferencing and other online methods.
• Work with the water cluster faculty to develop program evaluation tools during program planning and dissemination to ensure outcomes and reporting are impactful.
• Use technology as a tool to increase the impact of program delivery on constituents.
• Create, review, edit, and update appropriate Extension publications serving clientele needs.
40% Applied Research
• Conduct applied research in human dimensions of agricultural water management, effectiveness and impact of educational and extension programming, adoption of best management practices and/or new technologies in on-farm decision making, and additional areas related to agricutlrual water management.
• Disseminate applied research progress and results to stakeholders and provide educational opportunities using peer reviewed publications, professional meetings, commodity group presentations, outreach activities (e.g., field days and workshops), and electronic communication channels (i.e., web sites, publications, video conferencing and other online methods).
• Develop a statewide presence by actively participating in agricultural events and collecting relevant data to support faculty members working on agricultural water management and related agricultural issues.
• Coordinate multi-disciplinary projects to foster increased communication and collaboration between faculty working on water, natural resources, and other agricultural issues.
• Organize and maintain program advisory networks to identify program needs, make recommendations, assist in program implementation, and evaluate program effectiveness.
• Actively participate in Agricultural Water Management Technical Assistance Program and Extension Agriculture Water workgroup activities, including advisory board meetings, educational events, and other programming and communications. Collaborate with on and off-campus faculty, professional colleagues, industry members, and colleagues in other supporting disciplines, such as ecohydrology, irrigation, soil and water quality, stream ecology, aquatic health, and specific land management practices (e.g., annual and perennial cropping practices, livestock grazing and pasture management) to identify and develop producer-informed research and programming needs.
• Design or adapt clear protocols for evaluating and reporting program outcomes, and impacts at local, regional, and/or national levels.
• Assist in the management of applied research and demonstration projects that support Extension programming in areas of specific need and clientele interest related to agriculture water management practices, water quality practices, and related solutions.
10% Scholarship
• Publish findings in peer-reviewed journals which might encompass description and evaluation of novel community-based professional practices or research applications, program development and innovation, outcomes of innovative programs and/or services, definitive professional practice reviews, case reports, issues of diversity and social justice, and similar topics.
• Author extension publications, local or regional “practice” publications, book chapters, other educational materials, and electronic information delivery media if it is either peer reviewed before dissemination or if there is evidence of its adoption and use by peers.
• Deliver invited and peer reviewed oral and poster presentations and publish abstracts and/or proceedings at state, regional and national levels, provided that evidence of peer validation is provided.
• Secure competitive grants and contracts appropriate for the scope and focus of the faculty member’s position.
• Become recognized for professional and/or scientific achievements by communities and organizations served, and national professional and/or scientific organizations.
• Serve as a technical advisor to government agencies, industry, or professional groups.
10% Service
• Participate in departmental and faculty meetings and committees, and serve on departmental, Extension, College and University committees that are consistent with the duties of this position.
• Participate in appropriate professional and scientific organizations specific to the position discipline. There is an expectation to balance service at multiple levels within the institution with service to the profession (e.g., professional societies).
• Participate in professional development opportunities that enhance the educational programming capacities that support this position.
• Utilize appropriate and effective methods of communication to promote programs and market Extension across Oregon and nationally.
Minimum/Required Qualifications:
A minimum Doctoral degree required in human dimensions of natural resources in fields including but not limited to Sociology, Anthropology, Natural Resources, Public Policy, or a related field with an emphasis and demonstrated experience in agriculture and water management educational program development.
Demonstrated ability to build and support relationships between experts and organizations working on water, agricultural, and/or natural resource issues.
Demonstrated ability to support the creation and coordination of diverse project teams as well as lead groups in planning, organizing, evaluating, managing, and delegating details associated with the project or program.
Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate both verbally and in writing, and work with colleagues, stakeholders, the general public, policymakers, academics, and/or students.
Demonstrated commitment to promoting and enhancing diversity and inclusion.
This position is designated as a critical or security-sensitive position; therefore, the incumbent must successfully complete a criminal history check and be determined to be position qualified as per University Standard: 05-010 et seq. Incumbents are required to self-report convictions and those in youth programs may have additional criminal history checks every 24 months.
This position requires driving a university vehicle or a personal vehicle on behalf of the university; therefore, the incumbent must successfully complete a motor vehicle history check, possess and maintain a current, valid driver’s license in their state of residence, be determined to be position qualified and self-report convictions as per University Policy 05-030.
Preferred Qualifications:
Life experience, education, and/or training that broaden capacity to equalize learner success or impact underserved audiences.
Evidence of experience conducting community-based needs assessments using qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches.
Demonstrated experience working in extension and community-engaged research, particularly in relation to stakeholder needs assessments, reporting, program design, and evaluation.
Demonstrated informal teaching, r community-based outreach, and/or effective use of mass media.
Record of/commitment to work with underrepresented/underserved students or other audiences.