Assistant Professor - Forest Insect Management & Conservation

About UMass Amherst

The University of Massachusetts Amherst, the Commonwealth's flagship campus, is a nationally ranked public research university offering a full range of undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees. The University sits on nearly 1,450-acres in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts and offers a rich cultural environment in a bucolic setting close to diverse urban centers. In addition, the University is part of the Five Colleges (including Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, and Smith College), which adds to the intellectual energy of the region. https://www.umass.edu/prospective-faculty/

About the Department of Environmental Conservation (ECo)

The Department of Environmental Conservation (ECo) is within the College of Natural Sciences and the School of Earth and Sustainability at UMass Amherst. ECo hosts a multi-disciplinary group of faculty with programs in Forestry and Arboriculture, Fish and Wildlife Conservation Biology, Water Resources Conservation, and Building and Construction Technology. Collaborative and close working relationships with the USDA Forest Service, U. S. Geological Survey, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and diverse state natural resource management agencies are well established within the department, on campus, and in the region. Unifying themes across these programs include conservation of natural resources, sustainable development, and reconciliation of humans with the natural environment. We place special emphasis on faculty-student interaction, interdisciplinary activities, and cooperation among faculty. We commonly teach interdisciplinary classes and share a fundamental commitment to serving a diverse student body and the broader public, and we are committed to recruiting, supporting, and retaining a diverse faculty.

Job Description

The Department of Environmental Conservation (ECo) at UMass Amherst (http://eco.umass.edu/) is accepting applications for an Assistant Professor of Forest Insect Management and Conservation. We seek candidates who are interdisciplinary scholars with expertise in forestry, forest ecology, entomology, or conservation biology, including but not limited to the impacts of non-native pests and pathogens, invasive plants, climate change, and novel disturbances on regional and global forest ecosystems. We are particularly interested in candidates whose work complements the department's existing strengths in forestry, forest entomology, land use change, urban forestry, climate change, and coupled social-ecological systems, and with the potential to form collaborations with state, federal, and non-governmental agencies. Candidates with collaborative experiences in interdisciplinary settings that span the natural, physical, and social sciences will be reviewed favorably. The successful candidate will be encouraged to work with colleagues in the department to seek competitive funding on topics of mutual interest. We strongly encourage applications from candidates with lived experience with marginalized identities or experience mentoring students from a wide array of backgrounds, including those traditionally underrepresented in scientific fields.

This is a full-time (9-month academic-year) tenure-track position with an appointment breakdown of 40% research, 40% teaching, 20% service. Teaching will consist of 2-3 courses per year, including an introductory forest ecology course and an upper-level course in forest insect management, and will be based on the new faculty member's background and department's programmatic needs. The ECo department and UMass Amherst place special emphasis on faculty-student interactions and a commitment to teaching and mentoring. Service activities encompass advising and supporting an increasingly diverse student body, as well as contributions to the university's mission, to one's profession, and to society. We are committed to the retention of new faculty, and the successful candidate will be provided with a departmental mentoring committee and have access to extensive university programs and mutual mentoring opportunities through the College of Natural Sciences and the University's Office of Faculty Development. The earliest start date is September 1, 2025.

Requirements

Candidates must have a Ph.D. in forestry, entomology, ecology and conservation, or a closely related field, preferably with demonstrated teaching experience at the university level. Relevant research experience and a publication record is required; a demonstrated ability to secure funding is desirable. A candidate must have an aptitude for interdisciplinary problem solving; experience with applying modern statistical approaches; and a passion for environmental stewardship and sustainability in the natural environment. As we have an increasingly diverse student population, we strongly encourage applications from candidates with experience mentoring students from underrepresented backgrounds in science.

Salary Information

Salary is commensurate with experience. The University offers a competitive salary with an attractive benefits package.

Application Instructions

Along with the application, please submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae, separate statements of research and teaching (2-3 pages each), a statement of Contributions to Inclusive Excellence (see below), and contact information for three (3) professional references. Applicants should apply by the priority deadline of October 20, 2024 to ensure consideration.

Search questions can be addressed to: Timothy Randhir, Search Chair, randhir@eco.umass.edu.

At UMass Amherst and in CNS, we strive to be a community where every individual feels a sense of belonging, where every individual is included, and where every individual is valued. You can find these values and goals here: https://www.umass.edu/strategicplan/strategic-plan. For this reason, we request that all applicants submit a Contributions to Inclusive Excellence Statement that addresses how you see yourself contributing to our community and campus climate and/or our shared goals of building a more inclusive, equitable, and diverse community.

UMass Amherst is committed to a policy of equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, age, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, disability, military status, or genetic information in employment, admission to and participation in academic programs, activities, and services, and the selection of vendors who provide services or products to the University. To fulfill that policy, UMass Amherst is further committed to a program of affirmative action to eliminate or mitigate artificial barriers and to increase opportunities for the recruitment and advancement of qualified minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and covered veterans. It is the policy of the UMass Amherst to comply with the applicable federal and state statutes, rules, and regulations concerning equal opportunity and affirmative action.