Director, Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center

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Job Title:

Director, Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center

Department:

Arts and Sciences Earth Sciences

Director

Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center

College of Arts and Sciences

Position Overview

The Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center at The Ohio State University seeks a visionary scholar to serve as its next director. We are looking for an individual who can provide strategic leadership, foster research excellence, and strengthen the center’s role as a global leader in polar, alpine, and climate science.

The Byrd Center is a university-wide research institute that brings together scholars from across Ohio State to address critical questions in polar, alpine, and climate science. The center’s director reports to the Enterprise for Research, Innovation and Knowledge (ERIK) at Ohio State, which provides infrastructure, resources, and strategic leadership to support the university’s research and creative enterprise. The director will hold an appointment in an academic department and will divide their responsibilities between the Byrd Center and any Byrd-affiliated tenure home unit in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Candidates must be eligible for appointment at the rank of professor.

Performance Objectives

The incoming BPCRC director will be expected to:

provide both intellectual and administrative leadership to enhance the Byrd Center’s national and international reputation;

strengthen existing research programs while developing new initiatives that address urgent challenges in polar science, climate variability, and Earth and planetary system processes;

cultivate and sustain strong relationships with major funding agencies (e.g., NSF, NASA, NOAA, ONR, DOE, USDA) while pursuing new sources of support, including philanthropic and industry partnerships;

lead and expand the center’s outreach and engagement efforts at local, state, national, and international levels to ensure that Byrd Center science informs policy, education, and public understanding of climate change;

maintain a vigorous, high-profile research program—demonstrated through impactful publications, successful grant acquisition, awards, etc.—that contributes to the center’s scholarly excellence and global impact; and,

foster and uphold the Byrd Center’s collaborative research environment.

Education and Experience Requirements

Required: A Ph.D. in Geography, Earth Sciences, or any field relevant to Earth and planetary system science, polar studies, and climate science.

Desired: The successful candidate will have an internationally recognized record of research excellence in a field relevant to Earth and planetary system science, polar studies, climate science, or related disciplines. The search committee will be looking for evidence of strong leadership skills, including the ability to manage research teams, budgets, and staff; and mentor faculty, students, and early-career researchers. Experience with building and sustaining interdisciplinary partnerships and collaborative initiatives will be highly valued.

Ohio State provides access to a depth and breadth of opportunities and resources. Starting your first day, Ohio State offers you a comprehensive benefits package.

How to Apply

Review of applications will begin on December 1, 2025. Application materials submitted in Workday must include:

Attachment 1: Cover Letter: 1–2-page letter, which should include a brief summary of your academic background and why you are interested in this opportunity.

Attachment 2: CV (Curriculum Vitae): Detailed overview of your scholarly experience, including your research experience, teaching and mentoring experience, service, funding, and publications.

Attachment 3: Research and Leadership Statement: A statement summarizing your past research accomplishments, current work, and future research plans as the BPCRC director, as well as your leadership philosophy, experience, and vision for the future of the BPCRC as director.

Attachment 5: Names and contact information for three references.

We will solicit letters of reference for shortlist candidates selected to move forward in the search process.

Additional Information:

The College

With more than 80 majors and 100 minors, the College of Arts and Sciences is the academic heart of the university. The Arts and Sciences provides extraordinary opportunities to collaborate across disciplines, blending creativity and analysis to truly be at the forefront of thought. The breadth and depth of knowledge in the college gives students and researchers the critical thinking and adaptability essential for a lifetime of success.

Center Information

For more than six decades, the university-wide Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center at The Ohio State University has built an international reputation as one of the world’s leading institutes for polar, alpine, and climate science. What began as a center of excellence in polar research has expanded into a dynamic hub for cutting-edge inquiry into global climate and environmental change.

Today, the Byrd Center scientists work across disciplines including civil and environmental engineering, earth sciences, environmental science, glaciology, meteorology, oceanography, paleoclimatology, physical geography, and remote sensing. Their research advances understanding of climate variability, the dynamics of physical and biogeochemical systems, and the challenges and opportunities posed by present and future climate change. With an increasingly global perspective, the Byrd Center is committed to addressing questions of urgent importance for societies around the world.

The center’s scientific mission is complemented by its renowned Archival Program, which preserves rare collections such as the papers of Admiral Richard E. Byrd, Sir Hubert Wilkins, and Dr. Frederick Cook. Its Education and Outreach Program engages thousands annually through interactive tours, hands-on activities, workshops for educators and students, seminar series, and community programs. The Byrd Center also offers OSU undergraduates, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers unique opportunities to learn in both laboratory and field settings.

More information about the Byrd Center’s research and programs can be found at

The University

Ohio State is a top-20 public university, and its Ohio State Wexner Medical Center is one of America’s leading academic health centers. Ohio State employees receive comprehensive benefits packages, including medical, dental and vision insurance, tuition assistance for employees and their dependents, and state or alternative retirement options with competitive employer contributions.

Grounded in Ohio State University’s Shared Values, our university community welcomes differences, encourages open-minded exploration and courageous thinking, and upholds freedom of expression.

The Ohio State University is committed to enhancing academic excellence. Recruiting, supporting, and retaining faculty of the highest caliber is a core component of this commitment. The Office of Academic Affairs (OAA) has established central resources to focus on offering support to new and prospective faculty and their loved ones. Service offerings include dual career partner consultation, potential employer and/or employment opportunity identification, consultation and resources related to relocation, as well as identifying opportunities to engage on campus and in the surrounding community. While employment opportunities are not guaranteed, resources and consultation are available. More information about dual career and faculty recruitment can be found here.

In addition to being responsive to dual-career opportunities, we strongly promote work-life balance to support our community members through a suite of institutionalized policies. Ohio State is a member of the Michigan, Ohio, Western Pennsylvania & West Virginia HERC.

Located in Ohio’s capital city, Ohio State’s Columbus campus is near the center of a rapidly growing and vibrant metropolitan area with a population of over 1.5 million. The area offers a wide range of affordable housing, many cultural and recreational opportunities, excellent schools, and a strong economy based on government as well as service, transportation, and technology industries. Additional information about the Columbus area is available here. Beyond its Columbus campus, Ohio State has four regional campuses including Ohio State Lima, Ohio State Mansfield, Ohio State Marion, and Ohio State Newark, in addition to the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) Wooster Campus, which houses Ohio State ATI.

The university is an equal opportunity employer, including veterans and people with disabilities.

Final candidates are subject to successful completion of a background check. Additionally, there may be further requirements specific to the college or unit, which could include drug and health screenings, as well as faculty misconduct checks depending on the rank of the position.

Location:

Mendenhall Laboratory (0054)

Position Type:

Regular

Scheduled Hours:

40

Shift:First Shift

The Ohio State University believes in diversity in people and ideas. What Ohio State does matters. And how we do it matters. When we are at our best, we make a real difference to people. Our size, breadth, geography, history and standard of excellence position us to drive the future of higher education. We believe that the university should be a place where people can work and learn together in a safe environment, free of violence, harassment, discrimination, exploitation, or intimidation. As such, finalists for any faculty position that carries tenure must sign an authorization and disclosure form, which will allow current or prior employer(s) to share information to the University regarding any findings of employment-related misconduct or disciplinary proceedings against a candidate and/or any pending investigations related to alleged misconduct. Such information shall include findings and pending investigations with respect to sexual harassment, violence, or harassment; research misconduct; financial fraud or misconduct; foreign influence violations, grant misuse or misconduct; and/or any other type of finding or pending investigation relating to a candidate’s employer’s policies and rules governing faculty conduct that may reasonably be expected to affect a candidate’s appointment. If the University becomes aware of any past finding of misconduct or pending investigations that were not disclosed, Ohio State will treat that as a serious omission and reserves the right to rescind an offer or terminate employment.

Final candidates are subject to successful completion of a background check. A drug screen or physical may be required during the post offer process.

Thank you for your interest in positions at The Ohio State University and Wexner Medical Center. Once you have applied, the most updated information on the status of your application can be found by visiting the Candidate Home section of this site. Please view your submitted applications by logging in and reviewing your status. For answers to additional questions please review the frequently asked questions.

The university is an equal opportunity employer, including veterans and disability.

As required by Ohio Revised Code section 3345.0216, Ohio State will: educate students by means of free, open and rigorous intellectual inquiry to seek the truth; equip students with the opportunity to develop intellectual skills to reach their own, informed conclusions; not require, favor, disfavor or prohibit speech or lawful assembly; create a community dedicated to an ethic of civil and free inquiry, which respects the autonomy of each member, supports individual capacities for growth and tolerates differences in opinion; treat all faculty, staff and students as individuals, hold them to equal standards and provide equality of opportunity with regard to race, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.

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