Director, Biosphere 2

Duties & Responsibilities: ScientificVision, Credibility, and Research Leadership: Establish and communicate a compelling scientificvision and strategic roadmap that positions Biosphere 2 as a trusted, world class platform for rigorous, hypothesis driven, and externallyvalidated Earth systems research, building on its evolution from experimentalcuriosity to credible, peer reviewed science. Lead development of a growing and coherent researchportfolio that leverages Biosphere 2’s mesoscale, closed and semi-closedbiomes—including the tropical rain forest—to address critical questions inecosystem resilience, water and carbon cycling, and environmental futures. Maintain an active, externally funded researchprogram aligned with Biosphere 2’s capabilities, publish in high impactpeer reviewed venues, and elevate the scholarly visibility and credibilityof Biosphere 2 and the University of Arizona. Catalyze large, multi-investigator, andmulti-institutional research campaigns (e.g., ecosystem scale drought andrewetting experiments in the tropical rain forest) that results insignificant increases in extramural grant funding from federal, philanthropic, and other sources. These campaigns will fully exploit Biosphere 2’sability to integrate instrumentation, modelling, and field styleexperimentation at ecosystem scale. Foster robust collaborations across U of A colleges andwith national and international partners, federal agencies, nationallaboratories, industry, Philanthropies, and nonprofits to secure majorgrants, shared infrastructure investments, and long term researchprograms. Leverage the capabilities of this unique facility to createnovel research programs outside the currentemphasis and scope of Biosphere 2 that will grow its scale and impact. Faculty Role, Education, and Talent Development: Hold a faculty appointment with expectations for astrong research portfolio and contributions to graduate and undergraduateeducation, including mentoring of students, postdoctoral scholars, andearly career researchers who use Biosphere 2 as a living laboratory. Design and support interdisciplinary educationalprograms, field courses, and research experiences that connect campus toBiosphere 2, including intensive research camps in the biomes. This shouldbe done in collaboration with the Office of Research & Partnership’sMuseums and External Engagement leadership. Build pipelines for talent by partnering withdepartments and centers to recruit and support faculty whose work canleverage Biosphere 2’s unique infrastructure (e.g., ecology, hydrology, atmospheric sciences, environmental engineering, data science).Champion training and participation, integratingcommunity engagement, citizen science, and workforce development into Biosphere 2’s research and education mission. This should be done incollaboration with the Office of Research & Partnership’s Museums and External Engagement leadership. VisitorExperience, Public Engagement, and Retreat Strategy: Co-lead, in partnership with the Museum/VisitorExperience Executive Director and relevant U of A units, a unified strategyfor world class visitor experiences that integrate storytelling aboutcutting edge research, such as tropical rain forest drought and carboncycle experiments, into tours, exhibits, and digital content. Align public programming, exhibitions, andinterpretation with active research campaigns, ensuring that visitorsencounter authentic, up-to-date science and understand Biosphere 2’s rolein addressing global environmental challenges. Elevate and expand Biosphere 2’s retreat andconference facilities as a distinctive venue for scientific workshops, leadership retreats, student programs, and mission aligned externalevents, integrating the setting and biomes into curated educational andexperiential offerings. Serve as a visible public ambassador for Biosphere 2, representing the facility to the media, policymakers, community partners, and the broader public, and ensuring messaging reinforces scientificcredibility and institutional reputation. Use visitor and retreat operations as platforms forlearning—piloting innovative engagement models, gathering data on visitorimpacts, and iteratively improving programs based on evaluation andresearch insights. Strategic Partnerships, Philanthropy, and Revenue Innovation: Partner with University Advancement to cultivate, steward, and grow philanthropic relationships that support researchinfrastructure (e.g., advanced instrumentation in the rain forest, ocean, and other biomes), endowed positions, educational programs, and capitalimprovements. Develop and steward strategic partnerships withfoundations, corporations, and governmental and internationalorganizations that align with Biosphere 2’s scientific and public mission. Advance diversified, mission consistent growingrevenue streams—including sponsored research, philanthropic investments, educational programs, and high-quality visitor and retreat offerings—tosupport long-term financial resilience. Ensure that revenue generating activities reinforce, rather than dilute, scientific excellence and credibility, using clearprinciples to balance research access, public access, and facility use. Organizational, Facilities, and Infrastructure Leadership: Provide executive leadership for Biosphere 2’sorganizational structure, culture, and governance, ensuring an environmentof excellence, collaboration, safety, respect, and inclusion acrossresearch, operations, visitor services, and retreat functions. Lead and mentor the senior leadership team, includingthe Chief Operating Officer and key research and visitor experienceleaders, setting clear expectations, shared priorities, and mechanisms forcross-functional planning and decision making. Oversee long-term facilities and infrastructurestrategy so that Biosphere 2’s biomes, laboratories, and retreat/meetingspaces are modern, reliable, and optimized for current and future researchcampaigns and visitor use, while delegating day-to-day operations to theCOO.Advance data, cyberinfrastructure, andinstrumentation capabilities (e.g., integrated ecosystem monitoring in thebiomes) to enable high resolution, open, and interoperable datasets thatincrease the global research value of Biosphere 2.Ensure compliance with university, state, and federalrequirements, risk management best practices, and environmental andcultural stewardship expectations associated with operating a high-profilescientific facility and visitor destination.

Minimum Qualifications: Terminal degree in a relevant field such as ecology, Earth and environmental sciences, atmospheric sciences, hydrology, geosciences, environmental engineering, systems engineering, data/computational sciences, or a closely related discipline. Scholarly accomplishments, national or international reputation, and academic credentials sufficient for appointment as a tenured associate or full professor at the University of Arizona. Record of externally funded research and scholarship consistent with a mature and internationally recognized program in areas relevant to Biosphere 2 (e.g., Earth‑systems science, climate and ecosystem dynamics, biogeochemistry, water and carbon cycling, environmental futures, or space‑analog research).Demonstrated success leading interdisciplinary and cross‑sector research collaborations, including development of large‑scale proposals, centers, institutes, team‑science campaigns, or other complex multi‑investigator initiatives that leverage shared infrastructure. Experience working effectively with faculty, department heads, deans, center and museum/visitor‑experience directors, and senior university leadership to align facility strategy with institutional priorities. Administrative leadership experience that includes strategic planning, personnel supervision, budget oversight, and organizational management in a research‑intensive and/or complex operational environment. Demonstrated ability to build trust, foster collaboration, and create value across colleges, disciplines, and organizational boundaries, including integration of research, visitor experience, and retreat/conference activities. Demonstrated commitment to faculty leadership, shared governance, and a respectful, inclusive academic and workplace environment.

Preferred Qualifications: Experience leading or helping shape a research institute, field station, observatory, large laboratory facility, museum/science center, department, division, or similarly complex academic or scientific enterprise that integrates research and public engagement. Demonstrated success translating Earth‑systems or environmental research into sustained external funding, strategic partnerships, public value, and/or policy or societal impact (e.g., climate resilience, water sustainability, ecosystem management).Experience aligning facility and research strategy with institutional and campus‑wide priorities in a large public research university, including integration with educational, outreach, and extension missions. Demonstrated ability to identify emerging scientific and societal opportunities, organize high‑performing interdisciplinary teams, and move initiatives from concept through design, implementation, evaluation, and impact. Experience engaging industry, government, tribal, community, nonprofit, or philanthropic partners in support of environmental science, sustainability, climate, or related research and innovation. Knowledge of large‑scale environmental research infrastructure (e.g., mesocosms, long‑term ecological experiments, observatories, or analogous platforms) and the opportunities created by integrated research architectures that connect physical facilities, data systems, and public/educational programs.

Benefits: Eligible Yes - Full Benefits Rate of PayDOE, Commensurate with AAMCCompensation Typesalary at 1.0 full-time equivalency (FTE) Type of criminal background check required:

• Name-based criminal background check (non-security sensitive) Number of Vacancies1 Target Hire Date
• Expected End Date
• Contact Information for Candidates
• Kim Patten I
• Open Date 7/6/2026 Open Until FilledYesDocuments Needed to Apply
• Curriculum Vitae (CV) and Cover Letter
• Special Instructions to Applicant