The University of Tennessee-Oak Ridge Innovation Institute (UT-ORII) is seeking highly qualified research faculty candidates at any rank in the areas of rural, environmental, and/or community sociology. The successful candidate will contribute to an interdisciplinary collaboration focused on developing innovative and efficient technologies for biomaterials derived from regional biomass resources. Potential research interests include, but are not limited to:

• labor market shifts, with a focus on reskilling and emerging opportunities in the circular bioeconomy.
• the effects of circular bioeconomy transitions on job security and employment trends across sectors.
• strategies to involve local communities in decision-making for bioeconomy projects.
• methods to address public concerns and foster trust in bio-based technologies through transparent communication.
• participatory approaches to ensure equitable decision-making and stakeholder collaboration in circular bioeconomy systems.

This position will be associated with the UT-Oak Ridge Innovation Institute?s Circular Bioeconomy Systems (CBS) Convergent Research Initiative (CRI), a collaboration between Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and the University of Tennessee. The CBS CRI mission is to develop innovative, market-driven strategies to maximize the value of carbon resources and create jobs in sustainable manufacturing and agriculture. By leveraging emerging science, the initiative aims to produce biomaterials from domestic carbon sources, advancing American competitiveness while reducing reliance on foreign resources. At full strength, the CBS CRI will recruit ~20 new investigators at ORNL, the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture (UTIA), and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK). The CBS CRI supports its interdisciplinary researchers by offering networking opportunities with fellow scientists and bioeconomy stakeholders, facilitating collaborative experiments and proposal development, providing mentorship from senior CRI researchers, and offering tailored professional development opportunities.

Roles and Responsibilities

The successful candidate will be expected to:

• Develop a nationally and internationally recognized research program with interdisciplinary connections across the CRI network at UT and ORNL.
• Contribute social science expertise to collaborative studies on the transition to circular bioeconomy systems.
• Analyze the perceptions and attitudes of multiple stakeholders regarding the circular bioeconomy transition.
• Interface with UT-ORII programs to support the UT-ORII CBS CRI's mission and goals.
• Build partnerships and collaborations through the Office of Research Innovation and Economic Development (ORIED), Global Energy Ecosystems (GE2), the Sociology Department, and current and future partners.

As a UT-ORII research faculty member, the successful candidate will collaborate with designated UT departments and researchers as well as ORNL researchers to address current and future low-emission and high-efficiency requirements for CBS. This includes conducting research, preparing and submitting proposals, supporting existing research projects, and mentoring graduate and undergraduate students.

•  PhD in Sociology or related field.
• A track record of publishing and seeking funding.
•  Collaborative research experience in areas supporting UT-ORII?s Circular Bioeconomy Systems mission, including some combination of environmental sociology, the bioeconomy, and rural sociology.
• Demonstrated research track record supporting the candidate?s potential to establish a nationally and internationally recognized research program aligned with UT-ORII?s mission and goals.
•  A clear path to independence as a researcher is desired, though collaboration with more senior investigators is also encouraged.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively in a team environment.
• This position requires the ability to be granted a site-access badge for the Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Additional Information

• This is a 12-month, non-tenure track position.
• The appointment will be with the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
• The primary work location for this position is on the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture campus in Knoxville and may include visits to collaborator sites on the campuses of ORNL and UTK.
• The position will be implemented as an initial three-year contract with full salary support for the first year, followed by a gradual increase in expected external salary funding in subsequent years.
• The applicant will be expected to recruit graduate students by year three.
• A competitive startup package including funds for graduate students and equipment will be offered. 
• Salary and title/rank will be determined commensurate with experience.
• Benefits will be typical of exempt employees at the University of Tennessee.
• The candidate must be eligible for initial clearance at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Application materials must be submitted to Interfolio at http://apply.interfolio.com/160164

Application reviews will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.

Applications must include:

(1) a letter of interest

(2) a comprehensive curriculum vitae

(3) research plan

(4) 3 Professional References including names, addresses, and telephone numbers

More About UT-ORII

The University of Tennessee-Oak Ridge Innovation Institute was launched by the University of Tennessee and Oak Ridge National Laboratory in 2021, in response to America?s need for a stronger pool of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, and increasingly life science talent.

UT-ORII is leveraging UT and ORNL?s best capabilities and resources to accelerate collaborative discovery, innovation, and interdisciplinary graduate education; and to prepare the next generation of talent in areas of critical importance to the nation and the State of Tennessee. The institute?s current research areas include Clean Manufacturing and Advanced Materials, Energy Storage and Transportation, Radiopharmaceutical Therapies, and Circular Bioeconomy Systems. To learn more about UT-ORII visit utorii.com.

More About UTIA

The UT Institute of Agriculture is at the core of the University of Tennessee?s land-grant mission of teaching, research, and outreach. We fulfill that mission through the impactful work of outstanding faculty, staff, and students. Research has been and continues to be the engine that drives our expanding bioeconomy, generating scientific innovations and insights for the next generation of agriculture and natural resource management professionals. To learn more about UTIA visit https://utia.tennessee.edu.

More About ORNL

Leveraging the talents of its world-class researchers and exceptional support staff, Oak Ridge National Laboratory is helping solve critical scientific and technical challenges and, in so doing, creating economic opportunity for the nation.

ORNL provides access to unique facilities, laboratories, and equipment, drawing thousands of visiting researchers each year. To learn more about ORNL visit https://www.ornl.gov.

For questions, please contact Prof. Niki Labbé (nlabbe@utk.edu) or Prof. Jon Shefner (jshefner@utk.edu).

All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment and admission without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, and parental status, or any other characteristic protected by federal or state law. In accordance with the requirements of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the University of Tennessee affirmatively states that it does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, or disability in its education programs and activities, and this policy extends to employment by the university. Requests for accommodations of a disability should be directed to the Office of Equal Opportunity and Accessibility, 1840 Melrose Avenue Knoxville, Tennessee 37996-3560 or eoa@utk.edu or (865)974-2498. Inquiries and charges of violation of Title VI (race, color and national origin), Title IX (sex), Section 504 (disability), the ADA (disability), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (age), sexual orientation, or veteran status should be directed to the Office of Investigation & Resolution 216 Business Incubator Building 2450 EJ. Chapman Drive Knoxville, Tennessee 37996 or (865)974-0717 or investigations@utk.edu.

About University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Our primary mission is to move forward the frontiers of human knowledge and enrich and elevate the citizens of the state of Tennessee, the nation, and the world. As the preeminent research-based, land-grant university in the state, UT embodies the spirit of excellence in teaching, research, scholarship, creative activity, outreach, and engagement attained by the nation’s finest public research institutions.

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