Fellow Position Cornell Wildlife Health
Center / Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability One Health Governance Fellowship Cornell University College
of Veterinary Medicine Ithaca, NY
JOB DESCRIPTION:
The Cornell Wildlife Health Center strives to sustain a healthier world by developing and
implementing proactive, science-based solutions to challenges at the interface
of wildlife health, domestic animal health, human health and livelihoods, and
the environment that supports us all. With an emphasis on the types of interdisciplinary
collaboration often required to foster real progress along the science to
policy and action continuum, we work with a diverse range of stakeholders
including governments, local communities, nongovernmental organizations, and
students in the U.S. and around the world to promote environmental stewardship,
build capacity for sustainable change through training and education, and
undertake collaborative research and discovery that leads to real-world
conservation and related health outcomes. Humanity has brought changes to
Earth’s natural systems at a pace and scale that are difficult to overstate –
our domination of land and sea has no precedent. If we are to successfully
address the challenges of saving wildlife on an increasingly human dominated
planet, with species extinctions now one thousand times faster than before our
rise, we must recognize that our own health, and that of the global economy,
are inextricably linked to our stewardship of the natural world. The COVID-19
pandemic has underscored this for all of humanity.
The Cornell Atkinson Center for
Sustainability is the hub of collaborative sustainability research at
Cornell University, forging vital connections among researchers, students,
staff, and external partners. The center’s funding and programming accelerate
groundbreaking research within and across all of Cornell’s colleges and
schools. In turn, the center is one of the university’s key catalysts for bold
ideas and powerful new models that ensure people and the planet not only
survive, but thrive, with an emphasis on policy-relevant science, the uptake of
which depends upon genuine stakeholder engagement.
Our
February 2021 webinar, “Emerging Disease, Wildlife Trade
and Consumption: The Need for Robust Global Governance— Exploring
Ways to Prevent Future Pandemics,” generated significant public interest on
this important One Health challenge and the holistic framing that we see as
key. One thing remains very clear: it is currently “no one’s job” to try to comprehensively
manage the global public health risks associated with the set of upstream
human behaviors that intensify our interactions with wildlife and the zoonotic
pathogens potentially harbored— not WHO, OIE, FAO, or UNEP, not CITES or IPBES
or CBD or INTERPOL, nor the G7 / G20. This new One Health Fellowship position is
based on our belief that this glaring gap in global governance and
accountability simply must be addressed.
While
there are literally hundreds of thousands of viruses in mammals alone, there
are really only three basic ways we, through our own behaviors, invite them
into humanity’s living room: we eat the body parts of wild animals; we capture
and mix wild species together in markets for sale; and we destroy what’s left
of wild nature at a dizzying pace (think deforestation), all greatly enhancing
our encounter rates with new pathogens along the way. Our species simply cannot
continue to pillage what’s left of wild nature and our planet’s fellow species.
We must acknowledge that our own health is intimately tied to how we treat the
natural world. This is the essence of the One Health concept we first launched
almost two decades ago. Forests, freshwater systems, oceans, grasslands and the
biodiversity within them support humanity with (among other things) clean air,
clean water, a climate stabilizing mechanism, and healthy food if we behave ourselves.
So, whether we are talking about mitigating the global climate crisis or
preventing the next pandemic, we need to redefine our relationships with wild
nature and our fellow species at this critical juncture in the history of human
civilization.
-Steve Osofsky, Jay Hyman Professor of Wildlife Health & Health Policy (and One
Health Fellow Faculty Advisor for this Fellowship), Cornell College of
Veterinary Medicine, Exploring Ways to Prevent Future
Pandemics webinar, February 23rd,
2021.
We
thus seek a Fellow with specific strengths in international policy and legal
analysis, along with an earnest belief in the power of partnerships. As part of
a collaboration between the Cornell Wildlife Health Center, Cornell Atkinson
and a growing external advisory group of key partners and experts, the new Fellow
will assist our team to:
Review
the significant range of currently identified policy options, as well as propose
new ones, for mitigating the upstream risks tied to those human behaviors that
intensify our interactions with wildlife and the zoonotic pathogens potentially
harbored, including but not limited to options for expanding existing
international agreements and/or developing new ones, as well as capturing
relevant lessons learned from international agreements focused on other sectors
(e.g., nuclear non-proliferation, substances that deplete the ozone layer,
etc.). This scope of work does not include risk mitigation as related to
laboratory biosecurity or bioterrorism— important, of course, but beyond our
purview.
Generate
policy briefs and peer reviewed papers and that can be used with
decision-makers and non-academic partners domestically and internationally. Work with public and private sector
stakeholders to further inform and support the building of partnerships and
coalitions to advance effective policy action to truly prevent pandemics
as far upstream as possible (which is a different emphasis than that of
the many important endeavors currently focused on addressing public health
emergencies once they have already been sparked).
POSITION DETAILS:
The position location
is, ideally, Ithaca, NY, but the opportunity to work remotely will be
reviewed, noting Cornell’s approved US domestic locations that meet all
liability and compensation policies. The fellowship is envisioned as being for two
years, with the second-year contingent upon satisfactory performance in year
one, and ongoing availability of funding. Salary commensurate with
qualifications and experience.
REQUIREMENTS:
We are searching for a highly motivated and skilled subject
matter expert who has:
An advanced degree related to
international policy / law (e.g., JD or equivalent, PhD). Candidates with
highly relevant experience whose highest academic degree is at the MA /
MBA / MPA level will be considered, and experience in the environmental
sector is a significant plus. Experience with one or more
relevant international treaties / agreements Experience with one or more
relevant major multilateral institutions Excellent communication skills,
both in terms of professional writing, writing for non-expert audiences,
and public speaking Excellent interpersonal skills,
and an affinity for working as part of a multidisciplinary team Strong collaboration skills /
ability to work with a diverse range of partners and stakeholders Proven organizational skills
and the ability to work independently while adhering to tight timelines A genuine interest in creative
thinking and problem-solving at a critical juncture in history for
humanity.
APPLICATION
PROCEDURE: All components of the
application must be submitted through Academic Jobs Online https://academicprogramsonline.org/ajo/jobs/18753. Interested applicants should submit:
(1) a curriculum vitae, (2) a letter of interest, including a brief
description of how this position relates to their career plans, (3) a statement
of contribution to diversity and inclusion, (further explained below, up to one
page), and (4) the names (and contact information) of four
references. Questions can be directed to Dr. Steve Osofsky (s.osofsky@cornell.edu). Applications must be received by July
15, 2021.
What is a Statement of
Contribution to Diversity and Inclusion? This statement invites applicants to
describe their past, present, and/or future aspirations to promote equity,
inclusion, and diversity in their careers as researchers and/or educators,
and/or to convey how they see these commitments continuing at Cornell. Applicants
can focus on teaching, research or service, or all three factors.
Cornell University embraces diversity and seeks candidates who
will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, staff and
collaborating partners of all identities and backgrounds. We strongly encourage
individuals from underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply. Employment Assistance: If
you require an accommodation for a disability in order to complete an
employment application or to participate in the recruiting process, you are
encouraged to contact Cornell University’s Department of Inclusion and
Workforce Diversity at voice (607) 255-3976, fax (607) 255-7481, or email
at owdi@cornell.edu.
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