The Department of Forestry at Mississippi State University encourages applications for an Assistant/Associate Professor in Forest Ecosystem Science.
Responsibilities will include participation in the Department’s teaching, research, and service activities. Teaching responsibilities will include undergraduate and graduate courses in applied ecology and related topics in support of on-campus and distance education degree programs in Forestry (FO) and Natural Resource and Environmental Conservation (NREC). The successful candidate will be expected to develop an extramurally-funded research program. Appropriate areas of research expertise include, but are not limited to: forest ecology, fire ecology, disturbance ecology, restoration ecology, landscape ecology, and/or quantitative ecology. Opportunities exist to collaborate in research efforts with the USDA Forest Service, federal and state agencies, forestry industry, and other southern forest landowners and managers. Service responsibilities will include participation in Department, College, and University activities; developing strong mentoring programs for undergraduate and graduate students; and interacting with constituents and professional organizations.
Minimum Qualifications: A Ph.D. with a specialization in the ecology or biology of forest ecosystems, forestry, natural resource management, environmental science, or a closely related field. All but dissertation (ABD) applicants will be considered.
Preferred Qualifications: A PhD with an extensive background in fundamental or applied ecology of forested ecosystems. Competitive candidates should have a strong record of scholarly publications, demonstrated potential to secure extramural funding, and experience in teaching both traditional and distance education courses at the university level.
Rank and Salary: Tenure-track, full-time, 9-month appointment at the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor. Salary is negotiable and commensurate with qualifications and experience.
Anticipated Start Date: No later than August 2021
The Department of Forestry is one of three departments in the College of Forest Resources and the Forest and Wildlife Research Center at Mississippi State University. The faculty have diverse teaching, research, service, and outreach expertise in the disciplines of forest biology and watershed management; forest economics, management, and policy; and forest measurements, biometrics, and spatial technologies. The Department has two undergraduate degree programs, Forestry and Natural Resource and Environmental Conservation, each accredited by the Society of American Foresters with ~200 students in addition to ~40 graduate students in both on-campus and distance education programs. The University’s John W. Starr Memorial Forest (a +8,000-acre research and teaching forest), the Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge, and the Tombigbee National Forest are located in close proximity to the University and used for teaching, research, and extension/outreach activities.
Mississippi State University is a Carnegie Very High Research Activity (R1) institution and a land grant university with a strong connection to the state-wide Extension Service. The University is in Starkville, a medium-size college town in northeast Mississippi (www.msstate.edu/web/about).
Application Procedure: Screening of applicants will begin January 15, 2021 and will continue until a suitable applicant is found. Applications must be made on the Mississippi State University Employment opportunities website via the link: https://www.jobs.msstate.edu (PARF Number 501767). Applicants should also send, in a single PDF, their: (1) Cover Letter, (2) Curriculum Vitae, (3) 1-page Research Statement, (4) 1-page Teaching Statement, (5) 1-page Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Statement, (6) Unofficial Graduate Transcripts, and (7) Contact Information for 3 References to:
Dr. Courtney Siegert (email: Courtney.Siegert (at) msstate.edu)
Chair, Forest Ecosystem Science Search Committee
Department of Forestry
Mississippi State University
Mississippi State, MS 39762-9681