Assistant Professor - Forest Resource Economics

Position Function:

Full-time, 12-month, tenure-track Assistant Professor position in the Department of Forestry, College of Forest Resources, on Mississippi State University’s main campus in Starkville, Mississippi. The appointment will be 87.5% Extension and 12.5% Teaching. The anticipated start date is July 1, 2023, but can be negotiated when a formal offer is made.

Salary Grade : UC

Please see Staff Compensation Structure or Skilled Crafts and Service Maintenance Compensation Schedule for salary ranges. For salary grade UC, these positions are "Unclassified" and salary ranges are determined by the hiring department.

Department Profile:

The Department of Forestry is one of three departments in the College of Forest Resources and Mississippi State University’s Forest and Wildlife Research Center. The Department has two SAF-accredited undergraduate degree programs (Forestry and Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation), offers MS and Ph.D. degrees in Forestry, conducts research, and houses Mississippi’s Extension Forestry programs. The Department has excellent facilities in Thompson Hall on the Mississippi State University campus. A new greenhouse complex dedicated to forestry provides multiple environments for research. The University’s John W. Starr Memorial Forest, an 8,244-acre research, teaching, and demonstration forest; the Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge; and Tombigbee National Forest are nearby and used for teaching, research, demonstration, and outreach activities. The University also owns Bulldog Forest properties throughout the state that may be available for research and outreach activities.
Mississippi State University is a Carnegie Very High Research Activity (R1) institution and a land grant university, which includes Mississippi State University Extension. The University is located in Starkville, a beautiful college town in northeast Mississippi, conveniently located to the Gulf Coast as well as the metropolitan areas of Atlanta, Birmingham, Memphis, and New Orleans. The city hosts several events including the Cotton District Arts Festival and Bulldog Bash. Visit www.starkville.org for more information regarding Starkville and its attractions.

Area of Specialization:

Forest Resource Economics

Anticipated Appointment Date:

July 1, 2023.

Tenure Track Status:

Yes.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

The successful candidate will participate in the Department's statewide Extension Forestry and research programs in the specialized areas of forest resource economics and finance and related subjects. Responsibilities include assessing the educational needs of various forestry audiences and constituencies along with planning, developing, and implementing educational/outreach programs to meet the needs of targeted audiences. Travel related to stakeholder educational programming is expected. Program methods and techniques will include short courses, workshops, field days, participation in professional meetings and conferences, demonstrations, mass media, publications, in-service training, and individual contacts. Audiences and collaborators will include Department of Forestry faculty, landowners, natural resources professionals, public and private organizations, 4-H and youth organizations, and general public. Evaluating program quality and effectiveness over the short, intermediate, and long-term will be an essential duty to ensure accountability and program assessment and improvement.
The successful candidate will be expected to develop a regionally, nationally, and internationally recognized Extension Forestry program in forest resource economics that will involve both applied research and outreach. The candidate will also be expected to seek and obtain extramural funding to enhance their Extension Forestry program. In addition, the successful candidate will be expected to teach one course per year to support the Department of Forestry’s academic programs that can potentially also meet graduate-level campus and distance education forestry requirements. In-service education to external audiences will also be expected. Opportunities exist for research collaboration with the College of Forest Resources faculty, federal and state agencies, forest industry, resource managers and practitioners, private landowners, and non-governmental organizations.
The successful candidate will develop and teach educational programs to the appropriate clientele and county Extension Agents based on national, state, and county needs assessments. These documented Program Plans will include documented curricula that can be delivered and evaluated by the successful candidate and/or county Extension Agents resulting in measured impacts.

Minimum Qualifications:

A Ph.D. specializing in forest resource economics, management, and policy or a closely related natural resource economics area. At least one degree in Forestry is required. Importance will be placed on demonstrated excellence in outreach, program team participation, oral and written communications, and interpersonal skills. All But Dissertation (ABD) applicants may apply.

ABDs or degree pending considered (all but DISS):

Yes.

Preferred Qualifications:

Education, experience, and/or a desire to build capacity in areas that include, but are not limited to, timber price analysis; economic analysis of forest policy and program impacts; forest taxation; financial and economic impact analysis of forest management practices and investments; or forest products markets and trade. Experience or willingness to effectively work as part of an Extension team to serve diverse forest stakeholder groups and understand their forest management needs; this includes spending time away from campus on select evenings and weekends to meet Extension programmatic needs. It is preferred that the candidate have an established record of scholarly publications; demonstrated potential to secure extramural funding; and experience in teaching at the University level.

Instructions for Applying:

Link to apply: http://explore.msujobs.msstate.edu/

Screening of applicants will continue until a suitable applicant is found. Applications must be submitted through the Mississippi State University Careers website via the link https://explore.msujobs.msstate.edu/en-us/listing/ (search PARF Number 505566), where the full position description can be viewed. Applicants should complete the online application and upload PDF files of the following documents: cover letter; curriculum vitae; unofficial transcripts for all degrees with social security numbers redacted (official transcripts will be required upon hire); a statement of research (no more than one page); a statement of outreach and teaching (no more than one page); and contact information for three references. Questions may be directed to Dr. Eric McConnell, Search and Screening Committee Chair, at eric.mcconnell@msstate.edu.

Screening Date:

March 31, 2023 until filled.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

MSU is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, sex, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, pregnancy, gender identity, status as a U.S. veteran, and/or any other status protected by applicable law. We always welcome nominations and applications from women, members of any minority group, and others who share our passion for building a diverse community that reflects the diversity in our student population.

What do I do if I need an accommodation?

In compliance with the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position with Mississippi State University, please contact the Department of Human Resources Management at tel: (662) 325-3713 or ada@hrm.msstate.edu .

If you have any questions regarding this policy, contact the Department of Human Resources Management at (662) 325-3713 or ada@hrm.msstate.edu . Upon request, sections of this job listing are available in large print, and readers are available to assist the visually impaired.