Assistant Professor - Forestry
Assistant Professor - Forestry
Employer Active
Job Alert
You will be updated with latest job alerts via email
Share
Job Alert
You will be updated with latest job alerts via email
Not Disclosed
Salary Not Disclosed
1 Vacancy
Job Description
Job Title
Assistant Professor - ForestryAgency
Texas A&M Agrilife ResearchDepartment
TempleProposed Minimum Salary
CommensurateJob Location
Temple TexasJob Type
FacultyJob Description
About Texas A&M AgriLife
Texas A&M AgriLife is comprised of the following Texas A&M University System members:
As the nations largest most comprehensive agriculture program Texas A&M AgriLife brings together a college and four state agencies focused on agriculture and life sciences within The Texas A&M University System. With over 5000 employees and a presence in every county across the state Texas A&M AgriLife is uniquely positioned to improve lives environments and the Texas economy through education research extension and service.
Click here to learn more about how you can be a part of AgriLife and make a difference in the world!
Position Information
Texas A&M AgriLife Research is seeking an outstanding innovative and dynamic individual to fill a 12-month non-tenure track faculty position at the rank of Assistant Professor in Forest Ecology and Modeling Research. This 100% research appointment will be administratively based at the Blackland Research and Extension Center in Temple Texas with academic affiliation in the Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology at Texas A&M University in College Station TX and collaborative ties to the Texas A&M Forest Service.
The successful candidate will be expected to develop a nationally recognized externally funded research program that is collaborative interdisciplinary and self-sustaining. The program should address critical challenges related to the sustainability health productivity and marketability of forested landscapes in Texas and beyond. The position will offer opportunities to work closely with faculty and researchers across the Texas A&M University System including AgriLife Research AgriLife Extension and the Texas A&M Forest Service. This is a unique opportunity to contribute to applied forest science in a region facing significant ecological and economic shifts and to support the development of resilient forest landscapes through cutting-edge research in forest ecology and modeling.
Forests in Texas are abundant diverse and ecologically significant covering approximately 35% of the states land area. According to the Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program Texas contains an estimated 60 million acres of forestland with nearly 48 million acres of non-commercial forests located in central and west Texas. Most of these forestlands approximately 93% are privately owned with the remainder managed by state agencies national forests and other public entities.
Texas forests play a critical role in supporting the environmental economic and social well-being of communities across the state while also contributing to broader national and global ecological functions. However forests in central and west Texas face a unique set of management challenges including climate variability parcelization invasive species and limited commercial markets. Given their importance and vulnerability it is essential to advance our scientific understanding of these forest systems to guide sound management decisions that enhance forest health promote sustainable stewardship and conserve vital soil water and wildlife resources across the state.
The successful candidate will be responsible for planning implementing and conducting fundamental and applied research focused on the impacts of forest land use management practices and climate change on forest ecosystem health and sustainability. This research will also explore how these factors influence soil water and other natural resources. Responsibilities include the collection analysis and organization of data as well as the development and application of algorithms and models to realistically simulate forest ecosystem dynamics under varying conditions of land use change forest and land management climate variability and other environmental stressors.
Responsibilities:
Establish and lead a nationally recognized externally funded and self-sustaining research program focused on the sustainability health productivity and marketability of forested landscapes.
Conduct research addressing critical forest resource issues including:
Forest ecosystem health and sustainability
Forest management systems to produce forage for domestic livestock and wildlife
Innovative strategies to protect forested landscapes from invasive species wildfire pests extreme weather events and other destructive agents
Watershed management and water quality in forested areas
Forest management for recreational purposes
Utilization of non-traditional forest products
Each research initiative will be designed to assess its impact on environmental sustainability including atmospheric emissions and soil health metrics.
Leverage and contribute to data models and algorithms sourced from government academic and industry partners including collaboration with other Blackland/Grassland research teams and their national and international networks. The candidate is expected to develop and improve simulation models secure extramural funding train graduate students and actively disseminate findings.
Publish research results in peer-reviewed journals and technical reports and share models and tools with relevant stakeholders land managers and the broader scientific community.
Engage with forest industry professionals community service providers and entrepreneurs and participate in outreach activities to ensure research relevance and applicability to stakeholders.
Collaborate with the Texas A&M Forest Service Texas Forestry Association county Extension agents statewide faculty and other forestry professionals to support applied research and outreach that addresses regional needs.
Contribute to programming efforts that yield tangible measurable impacts on the economic and ecological viability of forested landscapes across the region.
Directs the work of support staff and other technical personnel and graduate students assigned to the project.
Performs other duties as assigned.
Administrative Relationships:
Reports directly to the Center Director Texas A&M AgriLife Research-Blackland with guidance from the Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology at Texas A&M University College Station and Texas A&M Forest Service.
RequiredQualifications:
Ph.D. in an area of forest science or a closely related field by hire date. Candidates with a degree in a closely aligned field must demonstrate a strong academic background or research program explicitly focused on forestry applications.
Strong knowledge of forest ecology and related fields of study.
Research experience in forest modeling including expertise in biometrics and geospatial analysis.
Evidence of or the ability to produce peer-reviewed publications of original research.
Valid drivers license or the ability to obtain a valid drivers license.
Excellence in verbal and written communication.
Team-building skills collaboration capacity and project management abilities.
Strong communication skills.
Highly organized.
Professional demeanor
Ability to multi-task and work cooperatively with others.
Ability to establish effective working relationships.
Knowledge and understanding of the mission and role of the Land Grant University System.
Preferred Qualifications:
Prior academic post-doctoral or professional experience.
Experience working with federal agencies or in other multi-agency collaborative settings.
Modest teaching experience that will enhance graduate student success.
Modest outreach experience with stakeholder interaction.
Grant writing experience and evidence of the ability to attract external funding.
Location and Facilities:
This position will be affiliated with the Texas A&M University (TAMU) Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology and contribute to departmental programs. Stationed at the Texas A&M AgriLife Blackland Research and Extension Center in Temple the proposed faculty member will work with other Blackland faculty and collaborate with USDA-ARS scientists USDA-NRCS and Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board staff in Temple. The Blackland Research Center and the collocated USDA-ARS Grassland Soil and Water Research Laboratory have a long history of modeling crop and grazing land production and their effects on soil and water resources. The Blackland/Grassland team of agricultural and natural resources scientists anticipate expanding the modeling program with a forest scientist equipped to take the lead in the simulation of forest systems production and environmental impacts from Texas throughout the United States and in tropical and arctic environments. The candidate will seek cooperators at all appropriate AgriLife units (especially Texas A&M Forest Service) both in College Station and across the State as well as with Blackland collaborators in Texas the United States and internationally. Collaboration with industry and non-governmental organizations will also be encouraged. These proposed activities will support the missions and strategic plans of Blackland Research and Extension Center and Texas A&M AgriLife Research.
The Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology (ECCB) in College Station Texas is a nationally ranked program that engages in interdisciplinary research spanning the entire spectrum of ecological levels from the smallest genetic components to entire ecosystems. Through these efforts our students staff and faculty are dedicated to safeguarding biodiversity sustaining essential ecosystem services and preserving our precious natural resources in a changing world. ECCB has 34 faculty 298 undergraduate and 86 graduate students and is growing. The Ecology and Conservation Biology program is one of four tracks under the umbrella . degree in Ecology and Conservation Biology. The other tracks are Vertebrate Zoology Ecoinformatics and the Forest Resources program. The Department is engaged in the campus-wide interdisciplinary programs of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Genetics and Applied Biodiversity Science Program. The Department houses the Biodiversity and Teaching Collections and S.M. Tracy Herbarium which are among the top 10 university-based biodiversity collections in the USA. World-class research programs in the department address fundamental questions in ecology and related areas at every level of ecological organization from genes to ecosystems producing knowledge that is immediately applicable to the most pressing 21st century grand challenges such as climate change biodiversity loss ecological restoration and integrative approaches to conservation.
Additional information about Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Texas A&M University Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology is available at:
Texas A&M AgriLife Research: A&M AgriLife Blackland Research and Extension Center Temple: A&M University Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology: A&M Forest Service:
What You Need to Know
Salary: Compensation for this position is commensurate based on the selected candidates qualifications.
Why Work at Texas A&M AgriLife
When you choose toworkfor Texas A&M AgriLife you become part of an organization that is an established leader in agriculture and life sciences with a wide range of capabilities to meet the needs of our statewide national and international constituents.
In addition Texas A&M AgriLife offers a comprehensive benefit package including the following:
12-15 days of annual paid holidays
Up to eight hours of paid sick leaveand at leasteight hours of paid vacation each month
Automatic enrollment in theTeacher Retirement System of Texas
Employee Wellness Initiative for Texas A&M AgriLife
Applicant Instructions
Applicants must upload a
Cover letter (two-page limit)
Curriculum vitae including a list of three references and their contact information
Vision statement of research and service (two-page limit).
The application screening process will begin on October 1 2025 and the position will remain open until a suitable candidate is identified.
Questions:
Address inquiries to Search Committee Chair:Dr. Gurjinder Baath Texas A&M AgriLife Blackland Research and Extension Center Temple .
All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation and employment is contingent upon the institutions verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institutions procedures including the completion of the criminal history check.
Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.
Employment Type
Full-Time
