Faculty Information
What does it mean to be JIRP Faculty?
Faculty are the experts who turn JIRP’s Undergraduate Field Course from a cool mountaineering expedition into a scientific and educational program. We could not function without them!
There are three faculty roles within the Undergraduate Course: Teaching Faculty, Medical Faculty, and Research Faculty. Teaching and Medical Faculty rotate into the student program for two-week blocks. Research Faculty operate on a separate schedule, which may or may not overlap with the student program. To learn more about Research Faculty opportunities, visit the Research Information page. If you know you’re interested in Teaching or Medical faculty positions, you’re in the right place!
Who are the JIRP Faculty?
Similar to many research universities, we use the broad title “faculty” to describe anyone who is an expert in their field. Teaching Faculty include advanced PhD students, postdocs, instructors/lecturers/professors, professionals with 3+ years of experience, artists, policymakers, and anyone else who has something to teach.
Teaching Faculty come to JIRP to teach JIRP students. We expect people in this role to lead academically-focused field activities and give a mix of both field-based and camp-based exercises, workshops, and/or lectures. Content should emphasize place-based learning, build experience with field methods, and explore both fundamental concepts and broader implications. While the content you contribute will vary depending on your time with the expedition, you can expect to lead either a full-day or half-day academic exercise (in camp or in the field) roughly every few days while you’re on the program.
One of the primary goals of all JIRP Teaching Faculty is helping students understand how researchers formulate research questions, collect data, analyze results, and discuss conclusions. We are eager to give students field experience in a wide array of topics, and we welcome half-day to three-day learning-centered investigations that can be worked into the schedule. Teaching Faculty in Block 3 (see Faculty Schedule) support approximately week-long student group research projects.
In addition to leading academics, we expect faculty to be contributing members of the JIRP Expedition. This includes pitching in around camp during morning chores, informal student mentoring during free time/meals/etc., assisting with logistics as needed, and adapting to the dynamic needs of the Expedition as they arise - every JIRPer ends up helping out in unexpected ways at some point! Faculty also participate in either the full student Safety Week or a modified faculty safety training. You may also want to review the Fitness information page.
Teaching Faculty Goals
Curriculum
Our Academic Council sets the JIRP Curriculum. The academic material you cover as JIRP Teaching Faculty will be a mix of JIRP core curriculum topics and your area of expertise. You will pitch your lesson to the JIRP cohort’s level and interests, which may require some tweaking.
In addition to traditional glaciology, JIRP encourages interdisciplinary learning in tandem with hard science topics through creative research, engagement, and outreach. JIRP aims to promote a more inclusive approach to Earth science by valuing a wide variety of knowledge production and learning styles, thereby deepening the connections students have to both the quantitative and qualitative information. JIRP prepares students to become leaders in climate science with a well-rounded educational foundation by incorporating art, storytelling, and science communication.
Radar Schematic by Jeremy Stock, 2019 Student
Funding
JIRP encourages every participant (student, staff, and faculty) to seek out third-party funding for their time on the Icefield. That said, we expect to cover many of the costs of the teaching faculty. Barring external grant support, the responsibilities will be as follows:
JIRP Covers:
Helicopter transportation to/from the Icefield
Food, lodging, and transportation in Juneau
Food and lodging on the Icefield
Faculty Cover:
Travel to and from Juneau or Whitehorse
Personal gear (clothing, skis, etc.)
Want to learn more?
If you have questions about being faculty on JIRP, check out this webinar from 2024. You can also view the info slides below.
Please feel free to email the JIRP Office and we can connect you with a member of JIRP’s Academic Council.