Director, Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center

The Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center at The Ohio State University seeks a visionary scholar to serve as its next director. We are looking for an individual who can provide strategic leadership, foster research excellence, and strengthen the center’s role as a global leader in polar, alpine, and climate science. The Byrd Center is a university-wide research institute that brings together scholars from across Ohio State to address critical questions in polar, alpine, and climate science. The center’s director reports to the Enterprise for Research, Innovation and Knowledge (ERIK) at Ohio State, which provides infrastructure, resources, and strategic leadership to support the university’s research and creative enterprise. The director will hold an appointment in an academic department and will divide their responsibilities between the Byrd Center and any Byrd-affiliated tenure home unit in the College of Arts and Sciences. Candidates must be eligible for appointment at the rank of professor. The incoming Byrd Center director will be expected to: provide both intellectual and administrative leadership to enhance the Byrd Center’s national and international reputation; strengthen existing research programs while developing new initiatives that address urgent challenges in polar science, climate variability, and Earth and planetary system processes; cultivate and sustain strong relationships with major funding agencies (e.g., NSF, NASA, NOAA, ONR, DOE, USDA) while pursuing new sources of support, including philanthropic and industry partnerships; lead and expand the center’s outreach and engagement efforts at local, state, national, and international levels to ensure that Byrd Center science informs policy, education, and public understanding of climate change; maintain a vigorous, high-profile research program—demonstrated through impactful publications, successful grant acquisition, awards, etc.—that contributes to the center’s scholarly excellence and global impact; and, foster and uphold the Byrd Center’s collaborative research environment. Required: A Ph.D. in Geography, Earth Sciences, or any field relevant to Earth and planetary system science, polar studies, and climate science. Desired: The successful candidate will have an internationally recognized record of research excellence in a field relevant to Earth and planetary system science, polar studies, climate science, or related disciplines. The search committee will be looking for evidence of strong leadership skills, including the ability to manage research teams, budgets, and staff; and mentor faculty, students, and early-career researchers. Experience with building and sustaining interdisciplinary partnerships and collaborative initiatives will be highly valued.

#J-18808-Ljbffr