Assistant Professor of Forest Biometrics
POSITION AND RESPONSIBILITIES: This is a 9-month tenure track appointment with expected research (45%), teaching (50%), and professional service (5%) responsibilities at the Assistant Professor level in the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources at the University of Georgia (UGA). This position will focus on the use of contemporary and advanced forest biometric methods to quantify and improve forest management through modeling, with an emphasis on pine plantations in the southern U.S. The candidate will use appropriate research methods to address diverse forest management, forest health, and carbon sustainability issues that are relevant to private landowners, forest industry, and governmental agencies. Candidates are expected to collaborate with the Plantation Management Research Cooperative (PMRC) and will have the opportunity to cooperate with the Southern Pine Health Research Cooperative (SPHRC) and the Wood Quality Consortium (WQC); these industry-supported cooperatives focus on pertinent research issues relevant to Georgia, the southeastern U.S., and internationally. The candidate will teach the core timber management course (with a computer lab), a graduate course in advanced forest modeling, and have the option to teach a course on the use of R in natural resources and/or aid with the undergraduate capstone course. Advising of undergraduate students and establishing and supporting an active, externally-funded graduate research program in forest biometrics are expected. Professional service relates to scientific societies, the peer review process, and service on Warnell and UGA committees.
QUALIFICATIONS: Prior to appointment, applicants must have a Ph.D. in Forest Biometrics, Forestry, or a closely related field with a strong research background in forest growth and yield modeling, biometric sampling and estimation that relates to forest dynamics. The successful candidate must have a strong background in statistics and quantitative modeling to support land management decision-making systems for intensively managed plantation forests. Demonstrated multidisciplinary collaborative work is preferred, with expectations for similar continued efforts with faculty in Warnell, including the PMRC, SPHRC, and WQC, and across the University. Strengths in oral and written communication must be evident, and evidence of excellence in and commitment to teaching is preferred. Evidence of activities in research design, grant development, presentation of results at scientific meetings and publication of results in leading peer-reviewed journals or industry experience are preferred.
THE STATE & UNIVERSITY: Georgia is well-known for its quality of life, both in terms of outdoor and urban activities (www.georgia.gov). The University of Georgia (www.uga.edu) is a land/sea/space grant institution comprised of 18 schools and colleges. Athens is a diverse community of approximately 150,000 people located less than 65 miles from Atlanta. UGA enrolls over 40,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. The Warnell School is a professional school with 69 faculty, 100 support staff, 325 undergraduates, and 220 graduate students (www.warnell.uga.edu). The Warnell School offers Bachelor of Science, Master of Forest Resources, Master of Natural Resources, Master of Science, and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in the areas of Forestry, Fisheries & Wildlife, Parks, Recreation & Tourism Management, and Natural Resource Management & Sustainability. The School manages approximately 18,000 acres of forestland across the state in support of its teaching, outreach, and research missions.
APPLICATION: Review of applications will begin on September 8, 2023. All applicants MUST apply online through UGAJobs (https://www.ugajobsearch.com/postings/330289). Candidates must submit a cover letter, CV, one-page statements of both teaching and research interests, unofficial transcripts of all college-level work, and names and contact information for three references. University policy requires all candidates to consent to and authorize a background investigation (www.hr.uga.edu). A background investigation and request of official transcripts will be conducted on a post-offer/pre-employment basis only. The preferred starting date is negotiable (January 1, 2024 preferred) but no later than August 1, 2024. For additional information contact the chair of the search committee, Dr. Bronson Bullock (BronsonBullock@uga.edu).
We strongly encourage and welcome applications from women, persons with disabilities, protected veterans, and underrepresented minorities.
The University of Georgia is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, genetic information, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation or protected veteran status. Persons needing accommodations or assistance with the accessibility of materials related to this search are encouraged to contact Central HR (hrweb@uga.edu). Please do not contact the department or search committee with such requests.