POSITION AND RESPONSIBILITIES: This is a 9-month tenure track appointment with expected research, teaching, and professional service responsibilities at the Assistant or Associate Professor level in the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources at the University of Georgia (UGA). This position will focus on the development of theories, methods, and applications that combine economics, operations research, and biometrics to natural capital opportunities
available to forest landowners and issues related to the forest-based supply chain involving products, services, and markets within the southern United States. The candidate will help address the challenges of forest landowners to increase profitability, to improve sustainability, and transition to the next generation of forest-based products and services. The candidate will engage with academia, industry, and non-governmental organizations to: (a) investigate opportunities for forest landowners to capitalize on natural capital income opportunities and associated income streams, and (b) investigate broader supply chain issues through research on and modeling of the wood supply system of the southern United States. The candidate would ideally be or become an expert on emerging markets for small and large public and private landowners alike and be capable of applying innovative empirical methods for addressing economic issues of importance to southern forest landowners that involve the production of carbon, water, timber, electricity (solar), wind, mitigation banking, easements, and other ecosystem goods and services. The candidate is expected to collaborate with faculty associated with the Harley Langdale Jr. Center for Forest Business (CFB), Plantation
Management Research Cooperative (PMRC), and others across campus.
The candidate will teach an undergraduate and graduate course focused on natural capital. Coursework delivery will be a combination of in-person, hybrid, and/or online. The advisement of undergraduate students and Masters of Forest Resources (MFR) non-thesis master's students is expected. The establishment and continued support of an active, externally funded graduate research program supporting MS and PhD students in natural capital and supply chain modeling is also expected. The candidate will engage in professional service by actively assisting or leading scientific societies, engaging in the peer review process, and providing service to the Warnell School and UGA committees.
This position is part of a cluster hire in the general area of sustainable forestry. There will be an opportunity to collaborate with new hires in sustainable forestry, advanced forest biomaterials, and precision forestry. For more information on these related opportunities, follow this link: https://warnell.uga.edu/careers.
QUALIFICATIONS: Prior to appointment, applicants must have a Ph.D. in forestry, natural resources, or a closely related field with expertise in the academic areas listed above. The successful candidate must have a strong background in statistics, mathematical optimization, and quantitative modeling to support the modeling efforts that will be required of the research focus of this position. Demonstrated multidisciplinary collaborative work is preferred, with expectations for
similar continued efforts with faculty in the Warnell School, including the PMRC, other units across the University, and colleagues throughout the forestry profession. 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 a record of industry excellence is preferred.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS: Appointment at the Associate Professor level requires a record consistent with promotion to Associate Professor at the Warnell School such as strong evidence of emerging stature as a regional/national authority, acquiring and administering external funding, ability to produce and communicate research, and excellence in teaching and working with students. Service at the Associate Professor level for at least 1-2 years is preferred for this rank.
THE UNIVERSITY: The University of Georgia (www.uga.edu) is a top 20 ranked public land/sea/space grant institution comprised of 18 schools and colleges and designated as a Carnegie Very High Research Activity (R1) institution with strong community engagement. Athens is a diverse community of approximately 150,000 people located less than 75 miles from Atlanta. UGA enrolls approximately 41,200 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. The Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources is a professional school with world-class research, teaching, and outreach programs in natural resources conservation and is committed to inclusive excellence. The Warnell School is comprised of 68 faculty, 100 support staff, 265 undergraduates, and 240 graduate students (www.warnell.uga.edu). The 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 over 17,000 acres of forestland across the state in support of its teaching, outreach, and research missions.
APPLICATION: Review of applications will begin on Monday, November 11, 2024. All applicants MUST apply online through UGAJobs https://www.ugajobsearch.com/postings/401642. 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. The candidate given an offer will be required to submit official college transcripts. 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/preemployment basis only. The preferred starting date is negotiable but no later than August 1, 2025. For additional information contact the chair of the search committee, Dr. Bronson Bullock (BronsonBullock@uga.edu).
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 request