Assistant Professor in Forest Ecology and Restoration

Open Rank Early Career Position in Forest Ecology and Restoration (Assistant Professor or Post-doctoral Fellow)

Applicants for tenure track positions are generally expected to have documented post-doctoral research experience. However, we encourage applications from candidates earlier in their career particularly where they bring diversity to our community and profession. Applicants without post-doctoral experience may discuss appointment as a Post-Doctoral Fellow to provide them with time and mentoring support to develop their research program before transitioning to a tenure-track position.

The successful candidate will develop a research and teaching program with an emphasis on the ecology and restoration of forest ecosystems. The essence of the position is the discovery and sharing of new knowledge concerning the ecological basis for forest ecosystem restoration. For applicants appointed as an Assistant Professor this will be a 50% Research, 50% Teaching; full-time, tenure-track, 9-month appointment.

The School of Environment and Natural Resources is committed to addressing the lack of gender, racial and ethnic diversity in forestry and restoration science. As a result, we are particularly interested in applications from individuals with diverse life experiences and whose research demonstrates evidence of engaged, field-based scholarship with diverse forest restoration stakeholders. This could include research that addresses forest management and restoration issues affecting and prioritized by women, indigenous people, and marginalized minorities. Examples could include, but are not limited to, research on traditional ecological knowledge or ethnobotany in forest restoration; using forest restoration to enhance the economic and social well-being of under-privileged communities; the role of indigenous people in structuring reference conditions for forest restoration.

Our aim is to recruit, support and retain a scholar that will broaden the scope of forest management and restoration research within our school and university. To that end we also encourage applications from scholars whose research presents new perspectives on current priorities in the School. These include understanding inter-relationships between the structure, function and dynamics of forest ecosystems, and determining how management and restoration can enhance the resilience of forest ecosystems to biotic, abiotic and human disturbances. We encourage applicants to use OSU’s extensive forest properties (e.g., Pomerene Forest Laboratory) in their research and teaching program.

The incumbent will become an integral component of the SENR Forest Science (https://senr.osu.edu/graduate/forest-science) and Ecological Restoration (https://senr.osu.edu/graduate/ecological-restoration) specialization groups. They will also be a member of a growing team of SENR faculty working on collaborative research and outreach related to complex socio-environmental issues in working landscapes. Based on The Ohio State University’s Wooster Campus as part of the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC; https://oardc.osu.edu), the incumbent will be expected to contribute to SENR’s research, teaching and advising programs. The successful candidate should complement current strengths in forest and environmental sciences and be able to cross traditional disciplinary boundaries. They will be expected to apply for external research grants, support and integrate with OSU extension colleagues, advise graduate students, and be committed to undergraduate education. We particularly welcome applicants who are enthusiastic about assisting to develop initiatives that widen participation in our graduate and undergraduate forestry and restoration programs.

Specific expectations and responsibilities include:

1. Developing an independent research program in forest ecosystem science and restoration that includes a strong graduate student program.
2. Presenting research results at national and international meetings, securing extramural funding, and producing impactful publications.
3. Teaching graduate and undergraduate courses in areas of forest biology, ecology and restoration, including required courses in our two Society of American Foresters accredited forestry curriculums. Applications from candidates with experience of, or interest in, alternative modes of teaching (e.g., experiential learning, field-based courses, on-line courses) to enhance opportunities of teaching across Columbus and Wooster are encouraged.
4. Advise graduate and undergraduate students, including honors students.
5. Contribute to increasing access and opportunity and to enhancing diversity and inclusion within SENR.
6. Work collaboratively with University faculty and staff, OSU extension educators, government agencies, non-government organizations, and citizen groups to advance the land grant mission of the University.
7. Serve the School, University and professional communities through committee work and other appropriate responsibilities and activities.

Required qualifications:

• Earned Ph.D. in forestry, ecology, natural resources or a closely related discipline.
• Demonstrated expertise conducting applied and/or basic forestry ecology research with strengths in fieldwork and quantitative analysis.
• Evidence of potential for excellence in research and teaching.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and a willingness and ability to work closely with other people.
• Demonstrable interest in and/or experience of teaching, recruiting, mentoring, and advising diverse underserved students, including women, students of color and non-traditional students.
• Preferred qualifications include experience integrating research, teaching, and outreach programs; experience or demonstrated interest in working with natural and social scientists on interdisciplinary research teams.

For further details and to apply please see: https://www.jobsatosu.com/postings/104153