Position Function:
Tenure-track Assistant/Associate Professor, Department of Forestry, College of Forest Resources, Forest and Wildlife Research Center, Mississippi State University. The anticipated start date is January 1, 2025, but shall be no later than August 16, 2025. Responsibilities will include participation in the Department’s teaching, research, and service activities. The successful candidate will be expected to teach on-campus and distance-learning undergraduate and graduate courses including Spatial Technologies in Natural Resources Management, Remote Sensing Applications, GIS for Natural Resources Management, and a graduate course in the candidate’s area of expertise. The successful candidate will also be expected to develop an extramurally funded research program in areas such as geospatial assessment of natural resources, precision forestry, or quantification of carbon storage and ecosystem services using passive (e.g., spectral reflectance) and/or active (e.g., LiDAR) sensors. Opportunities exist for research collaboration with the USDA Forest Service and other federal agencies, state agencies, forest industry, non-governmental organizations, forest landowners, and land and resource managers.
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 Forest and Wildlife Research Center and has excellent facilities in Thompson Hall, including the Measurements and Spatial Technologies Laboratory that houses a dual server for large data storage and PC workstations with GIS, image analysis, and statistical software packages. The Department has two SAF-accredited, undergraduate degree programs (Forestry and Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation). The John W. Starr Memorial Forest and Bulldog Forest properties are near the University and used for teaching, research and demonstration activities.
Mississippi State University is a Carnegie Very High Research Activity (R1) institution, a National Center for Excellence for the Federal Aviation Administration, and a land grant university that includes the Mississippi State University Extension Service and various facilities and research centers, such as the Forest and Wildlife Research Center, Geosystems Research Institute, High Performance Computing Collaboratory, and Raspet Flight Research Laboratory. The University is located in beautiful Starkville, Mississippi.
Area of Specialization:
Spatial Technologies in Forestry and Natural Resources
Anticipated Appointment Date:
January 1, 2025.
Tenure Track Status:
Yes.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Responsibilities will include participation in the Department’s teaching, research, and service activities. The successful candidate will be expected to teach on-campus and distance-learning undergraduate and graduate courses including Spatial Technologies in Natural Resources Management, Remote Sensing Applications, GIS for Natural Resources Management, and a graduate course in the candidate’s area of expertise. The successful candidate will also be expected to develop an extramurally funded research program in areas such as geospatial assessment of natural resources, precision forestry, or quantification of carbon storage and ecosystem services using passive (e.g., spectral reflectance) and/or active (e.g., LiDAR) sensors. Opportunities exist for research collaboration with the USDA Forest Service and other federal agencies, state agencies, forest industry, non-governmental organizations, forest landowners, and land and resource managers. The level of appointment and/or rank and salary will be commensurate with the individual's qualifications, background and experience.
Minimum Qualifications:
Ph.D. in Forestry, Natural Resources, or a closely related discipline. Demonstrated expertise in the use of GIS and remote sensing technologies in forestry and/or natural resource applications. ABD applicants will be considered.
ABDs or degree pending considered (all but DISS):
Yes.
Preferred Qualifications:
Record of scholarly publications; demonstrated ability or potential to secure extramural funding; experience in teaching at the university level; potential to develop a collaborative and interdisciplinary research program; research expertise in areas including collection and processing of terrestrial and aerial LiDAR data, management of geodatabases, and spatial statistics.
Instructions for Applying:
Link to apply: http://explore.msujobs.msstate.edu/
Screening of applicants will begin October 15, 2024, and continue until a suitable applicant is found. Applications must be made through the Mississippi State University Employment Opportunities website via the following link: http://www.msujobs.msstate.edu/ (PARF Number 508218). Applicants must submit a letter of application; CV; copies of unofficial transcripts (for all degrees); statements of 1) research and 2) teaching and mentoring (1 page each); and complete contact information for three professional references. For additional information, please contact Dr. Robert K. Grala
(r.grala@msstate.edu), search committee chair, Spatial Technologies in Forestry and Natural Resources. Applicant should redact their social security number if it appears on their academic transcript prior to submitting it online.
Screening Date:
October 15, 2024, 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 (ADA), 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.