"Part-Time Lecturer in Environmental Studies & Society"

New York University (NYU) Berlin is seeking a part-time lecturer to teach a course on "Environmental Social Movements" in the Spring 2026 semester.

This course addresses the following questions:

1. How do concerns about the environment and the drive for sustainability lead to social movements?
2. Why do movements succeed or fail at different levels (nation states, NGOs, localities)?
3. How do different approaches (diplomacy, economics, social norm shifts, media coverage, etc.) affect movement success for failure?
4. In what ways do environmental issues give rise to cooperation? Conflict?

In addition to the questions above, the course also covers career-related topics that will give students insights (either via site visits or guest speakers) into:

1. Practical aspects of working for NGOs
2. Working on issues of environmental justice and governance
3. Interactions with practitioners working on environmental change

The course is interdisciplinary in nature, covering the topics listed above through environmental, sociological, and anthropological lenses.

The course is taught in English and meets once per week for 3 hours. The Spring term runs from January 14 to May 8, 2026, with a week-long break from March 16-22.

Candidates should have a track record of academic publications in the field and be passionate about teaching a diverse cohort of undergraduate students. As the course is open to students from any major, the course content and pedagogy should ensure accessibility for all. NYU is committed to providing a campus community that reflects and enacts the values of inclusion, diversity, belonging, and equity, which inform academic excellence. The lecturer is expected to support and promote this commitment both in and outside of the classroom.

NYU Berlin offers you:

1. An inspiring and rewarding teaching position in an innovative university setting with opportunities to co-design and co-shape our processes.
2. Opportunities for personal and professional development, including access to NYU's Global Faculty Fund, participation in NYU Berlin's IDBEA (Identity, Diversity, Belonging, Equity, Accessibility) Council, as well as training in topics such as, for example, anti-racist teaching and syllabus design.
3. A diverse, engaged and welcoming team.

About New York University (NYU) and NYU Berlin

Founded in 1831, New York University is one of the largest and most prestigious private universities in the United States. NYU is based in New York but also operates branch campuses and research programs in other parts of the U.S. and around the world. NYU Berlin is one of NYU’s global study-away sites and provides NYU students with the opportunity to spend a semester studying in Berlin. The program is fully integrated into NYU’s curriculum and designed for BA students in the social sciences, arts and humanities who want to earn credit in their major – including art, art history, drama, environmental studies, European studies, German, history, music, politics, psychology, and sociology – while having a transformative experience abroad. Seminars and lectures take place at the academic center located within the complex of the Kulturbrauerei in Prenzlauer Berg and at NYU Berlin’s art and drama studio in Kreuzberg. The program size is 120 students per semester, as well as various January Term and Summer Schools.

NYU aims to be among the greenest urban campuses in the U.S. and carbon neutral by 2040. Learn more at nyu.edu/nyugreen.

Ideal candidates should be excellent teachers, who can demonstrate an ability to lead rigorous class discussion, develop assignments that lead students through critical analysis of complex, multi-layered, and interdisciplinary investigations, offer constructive criticism of student projects, and understand the importance of student-led inquiry in the classroom.

Qualifications

• Doctorate in a relevant discipline
• Record of research and publications in the field
• A minimum of three years teaching experience at university level; experience as a graduate student instructor may be included
• Fluency in English and experience teaching in English
• German work-permit and tax number at the time of application, covering the entire period of the employment
• Preference will be given to candidates who have been doctoral students or postdoctoral fellows in the US and/or have international teaching experience

Terms and conditions will be discussed with the successful applicant.

Application Instructions

All applications must be made online through Interfolio at apply.interfolio.com/176568. If you are new to using Interfolio Faculty Search you may find the Job Applicant's Guide useful. The deadline is XXX. In your cover letter, please address your approach to teaching and learning, how your particular specialization may influence the teaching of the course, what you believe to be the most important learning outcomes from the course for the students, and what particular strategies you are using to empower your students to thrive. Please also upload either a list of at least two referees under ?Contact Reference? or upload two finished letters of recommendation under ?Non-Confidential Letter of Recommendation or Evaluation.? If available, please submit past syllabi/workshop programs that illustrate your teaching philosophy.

NYU is committed to providing a campus community that reflects and enacts the values of inclusion, diversity, belonging, and equity that inform academic excellence. NYU Berlin is an equal opportunity employer committed to equity, diversity, and social inclusion. We strongly encourage applications from all interested persons including without limitation under-represented individuals in the profession, across religions, color, creed, race, ethnic and national origin, physical ability, and gender and sexual identity. NYU Berlin affirms the value of differing perspectives on the world as we strive to build the strongest possible university with the widest reach.

Applications will be reviewed jointly by NYU Berlin and NYU New York. Interviews of short-listed candidates will be held online or in person at NYU Berlin and with faculty from NYU New York.

Please direct any inquiries to berlin.academics@nyu.edu.