IonE Research Professor

The Institute on the Environment (IonE), Knowledge Initiatives (KI) team, at the University of Minnesota (UMN), invites applications for Assistant, Associate, and/or Full Research Professor (non-tenured position). IonE seeks visionary scholars who bridge disciplines to co-produce and advance sustainable solution pathways. This open-rank appointment offers a rare opportunity to grow a globally engaged research portfolio within a leading applied sustainability institute.

We anticipate hiring up to two open rank research faculty members focused on:

• Decision Support Systems (with decision support usability and social science expertise)
• Any emerging area(s) of sustainability that has substantial societal, socio-economic, and/or environmental impact in the US Upper Midwest and/or globally.

At IonE, we frame sustainability as a social, economic, and ecological state where the needs of all people are met in a way that sustains - and even restores - the natural world: where people and planet prosper together. Within this domain, we are focused on advancing pathways to just, equitable, and sustainable outcomes.

We are looking for colleagues who will continue their long-term careers at the intersection of original scholarship and translational science, with an emphasis on team science and collaboration that includes other members of the IonE community. These positions conform to a faculty promotion pathway that emphasizes societal impact of research. Successful candidates will be expected to establish an externally funded research program that significantly supports their salary (>50% external funding), research expenses, and supports other researchers. This position does not include any teaching responsibilities; however, candidates are welcome to seek funded teaching opportunities and may be nominated for graduate faculty status to serve on graduate student committees. We consider translation, both within and outside the university, as part of professional activities.

This position will be based in the Knowledge Initiatives (KI) unit of the Institute, which hosts the portfolio of interdisciplinary sustainability research and scholarly activity for IonE. IonE is a unit under the Research and Innovation Office (RIO) led by the UMN Vice President for Research. The position is located at IonE on the St. Paul, MN campus and the person will be expected to fully participate in IonE activities, including attending IonE events as well as developing working relationships with other IonE staff, university researchers and students, and external partners. This position allows for some teleworking; however, because of the collaborative nature of this work, the incumbent must be able to work on campus regularly (at least 3 days per week). Like all research faculties under RIO, we will approach an appropriate UMN academic department to connect the hired research faculty as an adjunct faculty member of that department.

This 12-month position includes 75% guaranteed funding with the opportunity to expand to 100% through external awards. IonE provides 25% support for professional service and thought leadership. IonE research faculty are expected to be visionary leaders and successful fundraisers to support impactful research programs.

Note: This is part of an open rank cluster hire. Candidates should apply for the appropriate faculty rank based on years of experience, scholarly accomplishments, and research impact; if you fall between faculty ranks (e.g., Assistant Research Professor or Associate Research Professor), please apply for both positions if you would like to be considered for both ranks.

Externally-funded Research Program as a Practitioner-leader (75%)

• Maintain and grow an internationally recognized research program with clear connections to at least one impact goal domain (https://environment.umn.edu/impact-goals/) aligned with IonE's strategic priorities.
• Pursue, participate, and lead collaborations with IonE affiliates, UMN researchers, scholars from diverse disciplines internationally, and the non-academic partnerships (i.e., industry, government, NGO, venture capitalists, etc.) required to co-develop research ideas and ensure that research outcomes are societally impactful.
• Direct and manage a research portfolio and budgets that include multiple externally funded grants and awards.
• Supervise and conduct performance evaluations for project-supported postdocs and/or students ensuring alignment of research project goals, individual goals, and project proposals with project and organizational priorities.
• Generate scholarly and impact products potentially including, but not limited to: academic papers, reports, non-academic publications, outreach materials, policy memos, documentation, op-eds, art, data sets, GitHub repositories, research instruments, software, and/or datasets.
• Present research findings at academic and practitioner-focused conferences and events.
• Other duties as defined by externally-funded research projects.

Thought Leadership and Professional Service (25%)

• Identify, pursue, and secure external funding, such as grants, external sales, philanthropic contributions, and partnerships, sufficient in scale to support your salary, salaries of other team members, and expenditures for the research program priorities.
• Collaborate on IonE KI annual planning efforts including, for example, budget planning, annual goal setting, IonE Postdoctoral Fellowship priorities and reviews, grant reviews, hiring committees, and events such as Deep Engagement Week.
• Serve, as requested, in IonE, university, and external leadership and/or honorific appointments to, for example, university committees, scientific assessments, or professional societies.
• Explore novel research directions through cultivating and maintaining collaborative relationships, shared ideation, and pre-proposal research scoping.
• Develop and cultivate collaborative relationships with external organizations, research institutions, and funding agencies to advance your research program in alignment with IonE's research impact goal priorities.
• Lead or play a significant contributing role to one major KI service activity, to be identified and assigned by the KI director.
• Other duties as requested.

• Successful completion of a Doctorate degree relevant to the position applied for, or related doctoral degree. Must have expertise in multiple aspects of sustainability and a track record consistent with the associate research professor faculty rank, which is usually five years of experience with commensurate research creativity, impact, and productivity.
• Established scholarly portfolio appropriate to given career stage, demonstrated by a combination of scientific databases, reports, white papers, training materials, decision support systems, software and metadata documentation, policy memos, peer-reviewed publications, and/or patent filings.
• Successful track-record of externally-funded research collaborations and existing external funding that can be deployed towards funding salary and research expenses.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a team environment with other experts both within the university and outside (e.g., private companies, communities, governments, etc.).
• Willingness to work regularly in-person at IonE on the UMN St. Paul campus.
• Current U.S. work eligibility.

• Ability to advance and catalyze others towards IonE's vision as described in the Strategic Plan including the ability to engage scholars across UMN to build collaborations and coalitions, and co-produce creative, fundable, and impactful projects to advance sustainable outcomes.
• Experience in developing innovative ways of engaging historically excluded people or marginalized communities and/or new stakeholders, and/or developing externally funded projects that address or reduce inequitable sustainability pathways.
• Experience supervising and mentoring postdoctoral fellows, staff, and/or undergraduate or graduate students, including encouraging a collaborative and inclusive approach to our goal-oriented work.
• Notable record of impact-oriented public engagement and partner relationship cultivation that is integrated into research and professional activities.
• Extensive fundraising experience and/or current funding from diverse sources such as government grants (e.g., Federal, state), NGOs, foundations, and donors.
• Team leadership experience, including motivating and coordinating multiple people towards a common project goal.

The University of Minnesota's Institute on the Environment (IonE) is a nationally recognized interdisciplinary institution that works to advance sustainability through collaborative research, leadership and education programming, and public-interest storytelling and communications.

Pay Range: $108,000 - $130,000; depending on education/qualifications/experience

Time Appointment: 100% Time Appointment

Position Type: Faculty and P&A Staff

Please visit the Office of Human Resources website for more information regarding benefit eligibility.

The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition Benefit Program
• Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and employer-paid life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity
• Financial counseling services
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost
• Employee Transit Pass with free or reduced rates in the Twin Cities metro area

Application reviews will begin immediately, and the job will close on January 5, 2026. All applications submitted by this date will be considered. Candidates who do not submit all required materials by the job close date, in the requested format, will not move forward. To apply, please submit as PDF documents (prefer a single combined PDF with cover letter followed by CV):

1. A detailed cover letter that describes your expertise and qualifications
   
2. CV

Top candidates will be invited for virtual interviews in January, with on-campus visits anticipated in February and March. The expected start date for the position is summer 2026. This position requires confirmation of a doctoral degree, which will be formally verified. Additional information, including references, will be requested for candidates who are selected to advance.

We know that applying for faculty positions takes time; we appreciate the opportunity to learn more about you through your application. If you have any questions, please email ione-research@umn.edu or join the informational webinar.

Informational Webinar: Join an optional informational webinar to learn about IonE's research community and the application process. The informational webinar will be held on Tuesday, December 9, 2:00-2:45 pm CT.

• Register in advance here: https://z.umn.edu/IonE-ResearchProfessor
• You may submit questions in advance at the time of registration to ensure we have time to address what is important to you.
• The webinar will be recorded and available the next business day online at https://environment.umn.edu/contact/employment/.

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota 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. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by the Star Tribune as a Top Workplace for 2021, as well as by Forbes as Best Employers for Women and one of America's Best Employers (2015, 2018, 2019, 2023), Best Employer for Diversity (2019, 2020), Best Employer for New Grads (2018, 2019), and Best Employer by State (2019, 2022).