Call for Applications: Faculty Position on the Study of Natural Capital
Job description
Tipo de planta académica: Regular Academic Track
Employment: Full time
The School of Agronomy and Natural Systems (FASN) and the Institute for Sustainable Development (IDS) at the UC Chile, one of the leading academic institutions in Latin America, are inviting outstanding candidates to apply for a full-time joint faculty position in the field of Natural Capital and Sustainable Development. This joint appointment position is co-funded by the Endowment program at UC Chile through the Chair for Biodiversity and Sustainable Development (Cátedra Biodiversidad y Desarrollo Sostenible CMPC UC). While the primary focus is on candidates at the Assistant Professor level, exceptional applications at the Associate Professor level will also be considered.
Motivation
The need to develop and implement sustainable development and investment models that enable mitigating and managing climate risks is driving firms, investors, financial institutions, governments, local communities, regulatory agencies, and other entities to establish new systems for accounting investments and impact. A key foundation for these new models is the incorporation of natural capital as a fundamental component of a nation’s assets. Natural capital plays a crucial role in guaranteeing the necessary conditions for human well-being. The ability of natural capital to deliver essential services can influence the vulnerability of individuals and communities, as well as the long-term sustainability of economic sectors.
However, countries are not adequately equipped to include the loss or benefits of natural capital in their national accounts. Moreover, traditional accounting practices this crucial component, failing to recognize the benefits and drawbacks that natural capital can generate and its value to a company. This situation poses significant challenges. It is essential to design strategies that measure ecosystem services that fulfill the accounting requirements of businesses and governments. Besides, data needs to be generated to support these measurements and develop accounting strategies that incorporate the role of natural capital. Additionally, we need research to evaluate the impacts of different policies, market outcomes, and behaviors on natural capital.
Duties
High-quality teaching (at the undergraduate and graduate levels) and conducting independent research. Additional duties include knowledge transfer, outreach, student advising, and university administrative tasks. The new position in the Study of Natural Capital should have a background in environmental analysis, ecosystem service valuation, and/or experience in environmental and data analysis. It is also highly desirable to have good mathematical/statistical foundations with expertise in the environment and/or big data management. Given the need to foster interdisciplinary collaboration to address this issue, the ideal candidate should have the ability to work collaboratively and potentially lead teams.
Teaching
At the undergraduate level, the candidate must develop teaching activities at both FASN and IDS. Thus, the candidate should be able to teach at least one course about Management and another course about Project Evaluation for the Forestry and Natural Resources Major. In addition, the candidate should teach an undergraduate-level course for IDS programs and a graduate-level course on advanced economic topics, including natural capital. This graduate course would be available for students from various disciplines at UC Chile and will be integrated into the IDS academic program. Overall, the candidate is expected to teach three courses per year and join academic groups according to their lines of development.
Research
The candidate is expected to publish in high-impact international scientific journals, especially in the fields of Forestry and Natural Resources Economy, Natural Capital, and related disciplines, according to the standards set by UC Chile, and apply to national and international research funds.
Knowledge Transfer and Outreach
The candidate is encouraged to carry out applied projects with public and private entities and disseminate the results to agents having a positive impact outside academia.
Equal opportunity employer
UC Chile is committed to equal opportunities, to building an inclusive, diverse, fraternal community, and to promoting the academic development of women and men.
Qualifications
Applicants must have earned a Ph.D. degree at the time of the beginning of the appointment in areas related to Economics, Engineering, Data Science, Management, Forestry and Project Evaluation in Natural Resources and the study of natural capital. The candidate should demonstrate experience in some of the following areas: Economics, Agriculture and Resource Economics, Finance, Public Policies, Environmental Sciences, Statistics, and Data Science, among others. Previous experience in teaching and research will be positively considered.
Previous postdoctoral or international academic experience should be stated in the application. If selected for the position, foreigners applying abroad must obtain the appropriate visa in their country of residence to join the University faculty. Candidates do not need to be fluent in Spanish at the time of application, but should be prepared to learn the language well enough to teach in Spanish in the short term (two years maximum). Fluency in English is a requirement.
Applicants must demonstrate a solid commitment to all aspects of academic life and the public good of the institution. They must be highly motivated to improve their teaching skills continuously, have a genuine interest in getting involved with our graduate programs, and be able to develop and maintain an active research agenda leading to high-quality publications, securing research grants, generating and participating in interdisciplinary projects, leading scientific and outreach initiatives, strengthening and creating national and international academic networks.
Required documents
APPLICATION MATERIALS (IN ENGLISH)
Applicants must send the following information to Rodrigo Arriagada at email rarriagadac@uc.cl (in the subject of the email, indicate: Faculty Position in Study of Natural Capital):
- Cover letter (highlighting publications, grants, undergraduate and graduate teaching, conference participation, organization, and professional service).
- Research statement (describing current and proposed research in the field in 3 pages).
- Curriculum Vitae, including
i. Personal information: name, address, phone number, e-mail address, and webpage (if applicable).
ii. Education: list of academic and professional degrees, indicating the granting institutions and relevant dates. Academic degree certificates must be attached.
iii. Research: a. Full list of publications (WOS, SCOPUS, and others), working papers, book chapters, and books. Among them, highlight the most relevant(s) and their impact in the fields of this call. b. Participation in research projects, explaining the level of participation (PI, Co-I, other), dates, and institution. c. Teaching experience, indicating the institution, course, and participation (responsible, co-responsible, etc.). d. Other: awards, language proficiency, or other information considered relevant to the application.
- 2 or 3 reference letters, with contact information (email and telephone) of academics who can accurately describe the strengths and characteristics of the candidate. Keep in mind that they may be contacted by the selection committee during the process.
- 1 or 2 selected research articles, briefly indicating the main contribution to the discipline that supports their selection.
Selected candidates should be available to give a talk and participate in an interview with the Selection Committee.
Additional information
A person of foreign nationality without permanent residence in the country or who applies from abroad, if selected for the position, will then need to process their visa in their country of origin to join the academic staff of the UC Chile.
Application instructions
Deadline for application: from June 11th to August 30th, 2025.
Nevertheless, applications will continue to be accepted after the mentioned date if there are not enough applicants or the position is not filled. The closing date is subject to change without notice to applicants.