Extension Assistant Professor - Biodiversity Conservation

About UMass Amherst

The flagship of the Commonwealth, the University of Massachusetts Amherst is a nationally ranked public land-grant research university that seeks to expand educational access, fuel innovation and creativity, and share and use its knowledge for the common good. Founded in 1863, UMass Amherst sits on nearly 1,450-acres in scenic Western Massachusetts and boasts state-of-the-art facilities for teaching, research, scholarship, and creative activity. The institution advances a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community where everyone feels connected and valued-and thrives, and offers a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees across 10 schools and colleges, and 100 undergraduate majors. We believe every member of our university community can contribute to our ongoing success by striving for the highest level of excellence as we seek breakthrough solutions to mounting environmental, social, economic, and technological challenges in our world.

Job Summary

The Department of Environmental Conservation at the University of Massachusetts Amherst invites applications for a full-time Extension faculty position at the rank of Extension Assistant Professor. We are looking for a candidate who will develop an integrated research and extension program in Biodiversity Conservation in which academic research is integrated with educational programs, resources, tools and/or technologies that meet the needs of key stakeholders such as landowners, municipal officials, community leaders, conservation organizations, government agencies, natural resource professionals, and policy-makers. The successful candidate will participate as a full member of the University of Massachusetts faculty with a 12-month, non-tenure track appointment. A typical Extension faculty appointment is 30% teaching, 20% research, and 50% extension and service.

Integrated Extension and Research

Extension is a targeted form of public education, university outreach, and community engagement with sustained efforts to produce tangible outcomes that address critical issues in the region. Extension activities are based on pressing environmental challenges, stakeholder needs, and the academic strengths of departments and other units of UMass Amherst. Extension faculty play a catalytic and integrative role within departments including: (1) identifying critical issues in the Commonwealth and the Northeastern U.S., (2) convening dynamic teams of researchers and collaborators to engage in research that addresses critical issues, (3) securing grants to fund research and extension activities, and (4) working strategically with stakeholders and extension professional staff to deliver research-based information to inform decisions that address critical issues. The role of Extension faculty is to extend the work of the land grant university into the field of practitioners, a role that can be fulfilled both by individual research and outreach efforts, as well as by coordinating and collaborating with other faculty and staff at UMass.

Massachusetts includes a wide array of ecosystems, including forests, rivers and lakes, freshwater and saltwater marshes, and coastal beaches intermixed with urban and suburban landscapes. Potential programming opportunities for an extension faculty member in biodiversity conservation may therefore include work in any of these ecosystems related to: ecological restoration, landscape-scale connectivity, prioritization of conservation activities, wetland assessment, biodiversity monitoring, endangered species conservation, and reducing impacts of development on ecosystems and biodiversity. As climate change is an important consideration for species and ecosystem management, there are opportunities for collaboration with the Northeast Climate Adaptation Science Center (NECASC), which is currently located at UMass (https://necasc.umass.edu/). These biodiversity conservation programming areas are core to the Department of Environmental Conservation's mission, and to the University's goals for a "sustainable and just future for all."

Teaching and Service

In addition to developing and implementing an integrated extension and research program, the successful candidate will be expected to bring their applied experience and professional relationships into the classroom to teach one course per semester in wetlands and/or wildlife ecology and conservation (as guided by departmental needs and candidate expertise), mentor undergraduate and graduate students, and contribute to the department/college/university and profession through service. We share a fundamental commitment to teach and serve a diverse student body, professional practitioners, and the broader public.

Essential Functions

• Develop an integrated research and extension program in Biodiversity Conservation.
• Perform academic research that is integrated with educational programs, resources, tools and/or technologies that meet the needs of key stakeholders such as landowners, municipal officials, community leaders, conservation organizations, government agencies, natural resource professionals, and policy-makers.
• Teach one course per semester in wetlands and/or wildlife ecology and conservation.
• Mentor undergraduate and graduate students.
• Contribute to the department/college/university and profession through service.

Other Functions

• Work collaboratively and effectively to promote teamwork, equality and inclusiveness.
• Work in partnership with colleagues within the CNS community and across the campus to support the Dean's strategic priorities.
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of the mission and goals of the College of Natural Sciences.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

• An earned M.S. or Ph.D. in ecology, natural resources conservation, environmental science or related fields by the time of hire.
• Direct experience in biodiversity conservation.
• Experience in extension, public education, community engagement, and/or outreach.
• Ability to teach courses in wetlands ecology and/or wildlife conservation.
• Excellent writing and communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

• Knowledge and experience that span diverse species and ecosystems.
• Experience in applied research.
• Demonstrated ability to acquire extra-mural funding to support extension and research programs.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with external partners including environmental organizations, state and federal agencies, natural resource professionals, conservation commissions and other municipal boards, regional planning agencies, and environmental consultants.
• Potential for effective collaboration with faculty and professional staff in the Department of Environmental Conservation, UMass Extension and other UMass Amherst departments and centers.

Additional Details

• Review of applicants will begin February 1, 2026 and will continue until the ideal candidate is identified.
• Expected start date of this position is September 1, 2026.

Work Schedule

• Monday - Friday, 8:30am - 5:00pm.
  
  

Salary Information

It is expected that the salary range for this position is between $79,350 and $116,164.

Please note:

• The low-end of the pay range in all faculty searches at the University of Massachusetts Amherst is the minimum salary for the rank included in the collective bargaining agreement between the University and the Massachusetts Society of Professors, UMass Amherst/MTA/NEA.
• The high-end of the pay range reflects an increase above the median of salaries at this rank within the department for faculty who may have multiple years of faculty experience.
• The specific pay for this position will be determined by the University based on consideration of all relevant factors when and if it decides to extend and offer of employment.

Special Instructions to Applicants

Applicants must submit:

(a) cover letter,

(b) curriculum vitae,

(c) statement of integrated extension-research interests (max. two pages),

(d) statement of teaching philosophy and interests (max. two pages),

(f) contact information for three references.

Questions can be directed to the search committee chair, Paul Catanzaro (paulcat@umass.edu).

The University of Massachusetts Amherst welcomes all qualified applicants and complies with all state and federal anti-discrimination laws.