Assistant Professor of the Practice

• Unit: Climate Studies
• Position Type: Faculty
• Location: Nashville, TN
• Open Date: Sep 13, 2025
• Close Date: Dec 15, 2025

Description

Vanderbilt University seeks an Assistant Professor of the Practice in climate and environmental policy. This non-tenure-track position is housed in the interdisciplinary Climate and Environmental Studies program which is part of broader initiatives on climate and environmental sustainability, governance, and policy across the university.

Qualifications

We seek candidates with scholarly interests and strong teaching skills from the social sciences, public policy studies, or related fields. Preference will be given to an interdisciplinary social scientist with scholarly engagement in sub-national, national, and/or international dimensions of climate and/or environmental policy – its process and development, societal and environmental effects, as well as methods of analysis and evaluation (including basic quantitative skills). Special policy-related teaching interests could include, but are not limited to, energy, transportation, the built environment, food systems, pollution and waste, economic development, biodiversity, natural resources, and climate and/or environmental justice. Applicants are expected to have a doctoral degree in a relevant field in hand by August 1, 2026.

Responsibilities for the successful candidate include teaching interdisciplinary courses in climate and environmental policy, methods and practices courses in climate and environmental policy, upper-level topics courses, and immersion projects related to climate and environmental policy. The position carries a 3-2 course load. Other responsibilities include advising, co-curricular programming, and contributing to program leadership. This is a non-tenure-track, three-year appointment with the possibility of renewal pending performance review and curricular need.

Application Instructions

Please submit your application by December 15, 2025, with the following materials: a cover letter addressing your scholarly research and teaching interests; a curriculum vitae; the names of three people who have agreed to submit a letter of recommendation on your behalf; a teaching statement (with a list of courses taught in recent years); teaching evaluations (one to two years, if available); two syllabi (from existing or planned courses in climate and environmental policy or related areas); and a writing sample (article or chapter of a dissertation).

Applications are only accepted through Interfolio: https://apply.interfolio.com/173713

The successful candidate will begin the position in August 2026.

EEO Statement

Vanderbilt University shall abide by the requirements of 41 CFR §§ 60-1.4(a), 60-300.5(a) and 60-741.5(a). These regulations prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities and prohibit discrimination against all individuals based on their race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Moreover, these regulations require that covered prime contractors and subcontractors provide equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, protected veteran status or disability.

Questions may be addressed to Joe Bandy (Associate Professor of the Practice in Climate and Environmental Studies) at joe.bandy@vanderbilt.edu.