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:
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:
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 . click apply for full job details
Current Employees and Students:
If you are currently employed or enrolled as a student at The Ohio State University, please log in to Workday to use the internal application process.
Welcome to The Ohio State University's career site. We invite you to apply to positions of interest. In order to ensure your application is complete, you must complete the following:
- Ensure you have all necessary documents available when starting the application process. You can review the additional job description section on postings for documents that may be required. You will be presented with the opportunity to attach up to five (5) documents in the Application Documents section. If necessary, please consider combining documents into one file.
- If you require any assistance with including the necessary documents in the application process, please reach out to .
- Resume parsing is not effective on documents which exceed one (1) page. As a result, it is not recommended to select Autofill with Resume when applying if using a resume or CV which exceeds one (1) page.
- Prior to submitting your application, please review and update (if necessary) the information in your candidate profile as it will transfer to your application.
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.
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.
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 . click apply for full job details