Faculty Position in Environmental Sciences

Xi'an Jiaotong - Liverpool University – Department of Health and Environmental Sciences

School: School of Science

Contract Type: Fixed-term, renewable. 3rd contract is open-ended 

ABOUT XJTLU 

In 2006 Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) was created by the University of Liverpool and Xi’an Jiaotong University – a top ten university in China. Offering a unique international education experience, XJTLU brings together excellent research practice and expertise from both institutions and gives students the skills and knowledge they need to secure careers in a global marketplace. XJTLU now has over 25,000 enrolled students in both Suzhou and Liverpool in the UK, with plans to grow to about 28,000 students by 2025. There are currently about 2,000 staff, among which about 1,000 academic staff, with an almost even split between citizens of the People’s Republic of China and international passport holders. XJTLU offers our undergraduates and postgraduates over 100 programmes with a diverse spectrum of courses.

XJTLU is entering a new and exciting phase of its development as part of its strategic priorities for the next ten years. Adopting a new higher education model based on the concept of Syntegrative Education (SE), XJTLU is currently opening a new Entrepreneurial Education site in Taicang, part of wider Suzhou, where the Entrepreneur College (Taicang) is located. The Taicang site will be a pioneer of, and educational model for, the future campus in addressing challenges arising from the 4th Industrial Revolution. Other new initiatives include new working partnerships with Xi’an Jiaotong University, the continued development of the four new Academies, and exploration of further potential locations to develop the SE model.

With a focus on innovative learning and teaching, and research, XJTLU draws on the strengths of its parent universities, and plays a pivotal role in facilitating access to China for UK and other institutional partners. At same time, XJTLU is exploring future education by blending the educational theory, best practice and culture from west and east.

For detailed information about the university, please visit www.xjtlu.edu.cn 

ABOUT THE SCHOOL OF SCIENCE AND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES 

Established in September 2020, the School of Science (SCI) at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) embodies a vibrant commitment to the advancement of knowledge, research excellence, and transformative education within the realm of scientific inquiry, exploration and innovation. SCI consists for three outstanding and collaborative academic units:  Department of Biology, Department of Chemistry and Department of Health and Environmental Sciences. Our School is composed of a tight-knit professional family of international and world renowned scholars and serves as a beacon for interdisciplinary collaboration and high-quality research outputs. Recently, we have experienced significant growth and success in our student numbers, academic programming, faculty recruitment, scientific publications, research funding, which now rank us among the top tier SCIs on a global scale. Embracing our global identity, our SCI proudly champions international exchange, cooperation and partnership. We welcome and encourage scholars and students from around the world to join our growing academic community, infusing our School environment with a rich diversity of perspectives, ideas and experiences. Our commitment to intercultural dialogue not only enhances our own learning community but also contributes to the global discourse on science and its transformative power to reshape our world.

https://www.xjtlu.edu.cn/en/study/departments/school-of-science 

The Department of Health and Environmental Sciences combines distinctive disciplinary approaches to understand and solve some of the most critical challenges faced by society today.

In our programmes, we provide our students with the theoretical and practical foundations needed for a successful career working to improve the health and well-being of populations and the environment. Our students gain a strong grounding in natural and social sciences, as well as medical humanities, in order to develop a holistic view of the complex processes contributing to the health of populations, and those behind globalized environmental issues. Our research is brought directly into the classroom, providing a learning and teaching experience that combines theory with the most current knowledge in public health and environmental science.  

The Department is under new leadership and entering an exciting new phase of development focused on the “Environment, Social/Sustainability and Governance”, which is a key priority area for the School of Science, XJTLU and the Suzhou government. This is a strategic response to both the growing market demand for ESG professionals and the existing strengths of the current environmental science programme. The environmental component of ESG is increasingly becoming critical in global corporate strategies, driven by regulatory pressures and a shift towards sustainable development. While the social and governance aspects of ESG have received more attention in corporate frameworks, environmental stewardship and sustainability is increasingly becoming a priority for companies, governments, and policymakers. Located in Suzhou, China, a hub for many major national and international companies that are required by law to disclose ESG information, this innovative pathway is uniquely positioned to tap into the growing regional demand for ESG experts. By enacting recent legislative changes to its policy, the Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP) now mandates full ESG disclosures for its companies, creating an immediate and unfilled local need for professionals well-versed in these practices. 

We are looking to recruit and hire a highly experienced, motivated, productive and accomplished scholars/researchers in this field to help support our programming/research growth and development in this area. Other colleagues with expertise related to Environmental Sciences are also encouraged to apply but will need to be truly outstanding to receive consideration. 

For more information: https://www.xjtlu.edu.cn/en/study/departments/school-of-science/health-and-environmental-sciences   

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES

• To teach undergraduate and graduate students
• To maintain active and productive research and obtain research funding 
• To carry out various administrative duties related to university teaching and research (e.g. Research Officer, Lab Safety Officer, and Examination Officer)
• To supervise graduate students and support teaching and research staff
• To establish an innovative and well-funded research group that is open to interdisciplinary collaboration.  

QUALIFICATIONS/EXPERIENCES

The successful applicant will have a PhD degree in Environmental Science or a related field relevant to environmental or public health sciences and should demonstrate appropriate teaching experience/potentials and evidence of the ability to produce high quality research publications. 

Candidates for the position of Associate Professor or above should also have a strong track record in teaching and academic supervision, as well as an international research profile in their fields and a successful record of research funding. 

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES:

• Effective communication skills; fluent in written and spoken English
• Problem-solving/creativity 
• Adaptability and flexibility
• Professionalism and high level work ethic
• Interpersonal abilities to manage a research team
• Team player and strong collaborator
• Positive attitude
• Diversity / Sensitivity 

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS/EXPERIENCE:

• PhD or equivalent degree in Environment, Social/Sustainability and Governance or related field. Outstanding candidates with backgrounds in Environmental Science, Ecology, Biology, Geography, Natural Resource Science, Public Health or a related field relevant to environmental sciences, may also be considered
• Appropriate and documented productive research experience to be appointed as Assistant or Associate Professor
• Fluency in English
• Teaching ability in Environment, Social/Sustainability and Governance areas, or environmental science, or ecology 

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS/EXPERIENCE:

• Masters and PhD degrees in an English speaking country
• Postdoctoral experience of high repute
• University level teaching experience in English speaking countries
• Research interest in China and Southeast Asia
• Research interests in Carbon sequestration, Circular Economy, Environmental Economics, Environmental Policy, Life Cycle Analysis, Renewable Energy, and/or Sustainability.
• Teaching expertise in or Environment, Social/Sustainability and Governance and/or Environmental Management, and especially for the courses “Sustainable Energy” and “Environmental Economics”. 

CITIZENSHIP AND VISA REGULATIONS

Employment at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University is regulated by Chinese Labour Laws, and must comply with the regulations of the provincial government. These regulations stipulate who is eligible for legal employment with regard to obtaining work permits and visas. Please be advised candidates over 65 may be not eligible for a work visa in the P.R. China. 

CAREER DEVELOPMENT

1. Clear career development path with annual review.
2. Professional development training is provided.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

SALARY: Competitive salary in the market

BENEFITS:

1. Allowance: XJTLU provide various month/annual/one-off allowances as 

• Housing allowance
• Travel allowance
• Kids’ education allowance
• Relocation allowance
• Etc.

 2. Commercial insurance: international insurance plans customized for XJTLU staff and family members (for details refer to the University Policy)

 3. Paid holidays: 

• Statutory Holidays (11 days)
• Annual Leave (36 days)
• Family Matters Leave
• Paid Sick Leave
• Marriage Leave
• Paternity Leave
• Parental Leave
• Etc.

4. Working visa and residence permit in China: XJTLU sponsors working visa and residence permit in China for the staff. 

HOW TO APPLY

Please submit your application on our university website 

Applications must be submitted in a single pdf file that includes the following three parts in the order:

• A cover letter 
• A current CV, including country of citizenship, and highest degree level
• Contact details for three referees 

For specific enquiries relating to the position, please email acting Head of Department, Prof. Eben Goodale at Eben.Goodale@xjtlu.edu.cn

 Informal enquiries may be addressed to HR at Juan.Chen@xjtlu.edu.cn  

Please quote the position and job ID in your enquiry.