We study single jet production in electron-nucleus collisions e^- + N_A -> J
- X, using the 1-jettiness (\tau_1) global event shape. It inclusively
quantifies the pattern of radiation in the final state, gives enhanced
sensitivity to soft radiation at wide angles from the nuclear beam and
final-state jet, and facilitates the resummation of large Sudakov logarithms
associated with the veto on additional jets. Through their effect on the
observed pattern of radiation, 1-jettiness can be a useful probe of nuclear
PDFs and power corrections from dynamical effects in the nuclear medium. This
formalism allows for the standard jet shape analysis while simultaneously
providing sensitivity to soft radiation at wide angles from the jet. We use a
factorization framework for cross-sections differential in τ1 and the
transverse momentum (P_{J_T}) and rapidity (y) of the jet, in the region
\tau_1<< P_{J_T}. The restriction τ1<<PJT allows only soft
radiation between the nuclear beam and jet directions, thereby acting as a veto
on additional jets. This region is also insensitive to the details of the jet
algorithm, allowing for better theoretical control over resummation, while
providing enhanced sensitivity to nuclear medium effects. We give numerical
results at leading twist, with resummation at the next-to-next-to-leading
logarithmic (NNLL) level of accuracy, for a variety of nuclear targets. Such
studies would be ideal for the EIC and the LHeC proposals for a future
electron-ion collider, where a range of nuclear targets are planned.