Lecturer in Tropical Ecology

Institutional Mission:  

SFS creates transformative study abroad experiences through field-based learning and research. Our educational programs explore the human and ecological dimensions of the complex environmental problems faced by our local partners, contributing to sustainable solutions in the places where we live and work. The SFS community is part of a growing network of individuals and institutions committed to environmental stewardship. 

Position Title:  Lecturer in Tropical Ecology 

Reports To:  

• Center Director, Center for Amazon Studies 

• Dean, Office of Academic Affairs 

Location: Tarapoto, Peru 

Start Date: July 2024

Compensation/Benefits:  

This is a ten-month contract position with likely renewal depending on successful completion of duties and expectations. Salary is dependent on experience and qualifications. Comprehensive benefits package and on-site room and board included.   

Position Summary:  

The SFS Center for Amazon Studies, located in Tarapoto, Peru seeks an enthusiastic, team-oriented individual to serve as part of a team of faculty and staff that delivers an interdisciplinary, hands-on learning experience to students spending a semester in Peru. On a contract basis, the Lecturer in Tropical Ecology will deliver the 50-hour Tropical Ecology of the Amazon course during the fall and spring semesters. Additionally, during fall and spring, they will co-teach the 50-hour Directed Research course with other faculty members, leading a faculty-developed directed research project with a small group of students. 

This position will engage students in a classroom setting, but also through extensive time spent in the field. We encourage faculty to integrate as much fieldwork and hands-on experience into their courses as possible. Faculty are also integral members of the Center’s communal living model, eating and working with the student cohort. SFS programs do not follow a nine to five model.  

Additional responsibilities outside of teaching may include participation in community engagement days, involvement in student life, organization of laboratory space, and general Center upkeep. We are especially interested in candidates with experience teaching to a diverse student body, and demonstrated commitment to diversity, inclusion, and cultural competence in a learning environment, conservation, and the community of Tarapoto. 

Center Focus:  

The SFS Center for Amazon Studies seeks to understand both the conflicts and synergies of conservation and development. Students will gain a sense of the richness of the Amazon region—biodiversity, social and cultural diversity, and ecosystem services—while exploring strategies for sustainable livelihoods in this highly productive and diverse region of South America.  

The interdisciplinary themes of socio-ecological resilience, environmental justice, and conservation will guide our inquiry. Through coursework, field exercises, and Directed Research, students will study people’s dependence on the environment, examine the threats to the environment and to social networks, and explore the tools and strategies for mitigating the threats and promoting well-being among rural communities. A strong component of the program will be examining the ecological patterns and processes that underpin the high diversity of the region. 

 
SFS Position on Diversity and Inclusion:  

SFS was founded with the belief that stewardship of our planet is the responsibility of people all around the world. Addressing complex global issues requires the active inclusion of stakeholders with varying perspectives and identities. We recognize that to successfully address threats to our natural world, we must look beyond social constructs designed to divide us. Just as we value biodiversity in all its forms, we value and engage with a multitude of diverse perspectives and people in the countries where we work and the students and staff we serve. 

Duties and Responsibilities: 

SFS Lecturer positions are different than many other university teaching positions. Lecturers are integral members of the Center’s communal living model. The faculty team works closely and collaboratively to deliver a field-based interdisciplinary program, where programming days can be long and active. The program does not follow a nine to five model. In addition to providing high quality, inquiry-based teaching, faculty also participate fully in student life and in the implementation of the Center’s research plan. The publication of both student-assisted and independent research results is encouraged and supported.   

Minimum qualifications 

• Ph.D. and university-level teaching experience in areas related to tropical ecology, resource management, forestry/agroforestry management, terrestrial ecology, rainforest ecology or related field 

• Field research experience and/or project implementation in tropical areas 

• Demonstrated commitment to creating inclusive learning environments 

• Demonstrated ability to work as part of an interdisciplinary teaching and research team 

• Track record of research publications 

• Experience leading forest walks and hikes 

• Experience teaching classes in the field 

• Demonstrated commitment to environmental issues 

• Fluent in English (all courses taught in English) 

Preferred Qualifications 

• Experience working in Peru 

• Experience teaching field courses 

• Experience with residential student group management and/or risk management 

• Experience cross-teaching or collaborating on projects in environmental policy, governance, climate change, sustainable tourism and development, or land usage 

• Track record of grant writing success 

• Current First Aid, CPR, and/or Wilderness First Aid certification 

• Fluent in Spanish