Position Description:
The Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources at North Carolina State University invites applicants for a 9-month, tenure-track position Assistant or Associate Professor in Forest Resource Economics and Director of the Southern Forest Resource Assessment Consortium (SOFAC). SOFAC develops forest sector market models to address the impact of emerging issues on the largest timber-producing region in the world.
The realm of relevant research is broad and includes the impacts of shocks to forest extent and both market and non-market attributes of the southern forest ecosystem. The core of SOFAC research is understanding how this dominantly privately owned resource responds to changes in climate, policy, trade, and emerging and diminishing markets. The new director should have experience as, or show potential to become, a leader in policy and market discussions of emerging issues. S/he will advance the scientific basis for forward looking resource assessments in a dynamic market, policy, and climate context.
The 20+ SOFAC members include the major corporate forest landowners and wood consumers, consulting firms, and the southern group of state foresters. These members provide a funding base for advancing research methodologies that address likely southern forest futures at a scale relevant for strategic decisions. The appointment is 45% research, 45% teaching and 10% service. The candidate must have a strong background in (i) forest economics, (ii) analytical modeling that integrates forest biology and economics to guide strategic thinking of both public and private decision-makers. and (iii) strong leadership skills and forward-looking vision to lead SOFAC.
Beyond NC State’s traditional strength in statistics and economics; the Research Triangle region provides collaborative opportunities with colleagues at Duke University, the largest USDA Forest Service economics research unit in the US https://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/econ/, and Research Triangle Institute’s resource economics group that focuses on agriculture and forest sector modeling for at national and global scales https://www.rti.org/service-capability/economic-analysis.
Teaching and Mentoring Responsibilities:
The candidate will teach undergraduate and graduate courses across the forest management and natural resources curricula. Possible courses include an undergraduate forest economics course, an undergraduate / graduate course in natural resources assessment and management, or a graduate course in the
area of the candidate’s area of research. The candidate will be responsible for advising and mentoring forestry undergraduate and graduate students.
Research Responsibilities:
The candidate is expected to develop an internationally recognized, externally-funded research program, in addition to SOFAC, in forest and natural resource assessment and economics. The candidate is strongly encouraged to collaborate with other forest management and natural resources faculty in the Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources, and other scientists at the North Carolina State University, southeastern US, and the world.
Service Responsibilities:
The candidate is expected to serve on academic (e.g. departmental, college, and university), and professional society committees and activities.
Salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications. Benefits include retirement program (choice of defined-benefit or defined-contribution); health insurance; workers’ compensation; paid vacation and sick leave; and other optional benefit programs.
Qualifications:The candidate must have: (1) a Ph.D. degree in forest or natural resource economics, or closely related discipline, and preferably with at least two years of post-doctoral experience, (2) a proven track record of high-impact publications, (3) demonstrated experience or potential to serve as Director of SOFAC and attract external funding, (4) demonstrated experience and desire to interact with forest management undergraduates students, (5) excellent problem-solving and oral and written communication skills; and (6) desire to collaborate in teaching, research, and service missions of NC State.
The Department, College, and University:
The Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources (www.cnr.ncsu.edu/fer/) has 61 full time teaching and research faculty with a wide variety of strengths in forest management, forest genetics and biotechnology, natural resource policy and economics, forest watershed and wetlands, wildlife management and conservation biology, environmental science and management, public science, and geospatial analytics. The Department offers undergraduate, masters and doctoral degrees, and currently has approximately 750 undergraduate and 150 graduate students. Active research programs within the Department generate about $6 million annually in extramural funds. The Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources hosts four forest industry cooperatives and consortiums whose combined membership totals more than 100 state and federal agencies, private forest industries, REITs and TIMOs with forestlands primarily in North America, Central America and South America. North Carolina State University is one of the nation's leading public land-grant universities with a total enrollment of approximately 34,000 students. The university is located in the capital city of Raleigh (http://www.webs4you.com/raleigh/ and http://triangle.citysearch.com/). Additional information about the department and university can be found at www.cnr.ncsu.edu/fer/ and www.ncsu.edu.
To Apply:
Applicants should submit a letter of application, curriculum vitae, statement of research interest and teaching philosophy, copies of college transcripts, and names and contact information for at least three references through the online application site at https://jobs.ncsu.edu/postings/125687. Questions about the position or application process should be directed to Dr. Robert Bardon, Search Committee Chair, 919-513-0098, or S. Tom Gower, Department Head, 919-515-3873, stgower@ncsu.edu. Review of applications will begin on Sept 5, 2019 and will continue until the position is filled. Targeted starting date is August 15, 2020.