College of Agriculture & Natural Resources Department of Forestry

Assistant Professor – Silviculture / Applied Forest Ecology

Hiring Organization: Department of Forestry
Employment type: Full-Time
Application Due Date: December 1, 2023

Position description 

The Department of Forestry at Michigan State University (MSU) invites applications for a full‐time, 9-month tenure track Assistant Professor with a 40% research, 30% teaching, 20% Extension and 10% service assignment.  The position start date is anticipated to be 16 August 2024.

We seek candidates in silviculture or applied forest ecology focused on managing forests for adaptation to climate and other environmental stresses (e.g., drought, fire, other natural hazards) and for mitigation of climate change, including improved forest health, productivity, hydrology and resilience.  Silviculture provides tools for climate mitigation through ensuring productive forests that sequester carbon and for adaptation to ensure resilience in the face of environmental changes.  

The successful candidate will be expected to develop an internationally recognized research program that informs management of northern forests with a focus on Great Lakes forest ecosystems and co-creates research questions with natural resource management agencies and landowners, particularly continuing and/or initiating new collaborative research projects with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR).  

Hallmarks of an internationally recognized research program include securing competitive external funding, publishing in leading peer‐reviewed journals, making substantive contributions to advance understanding of applied forest ecology and silviculture and recruiting and mentoring graduate students and postdoctoral researchers.  Teaching responsibilities are an annual undergraduate course and field lab (Applied Forest Ecology: Silviculture) and a capstone field project course. 

Both courses support key learning outcomes for accreditation by the Society of American Foresters.  Extension responsibilities include stakeholder‐engaged research and outreach with the MDNR and other forest managers and partners.  All faculty members are expected to participate in university governance and engage in professional service (e.g., manuscript and grant reviews, professional society committees).

Required qualifications

An earned Ph.D. in forestry, silviculture, applied forest ecology or a closely related field.  A demonstrated record of research, including peer-reviewed journal articles and experience with research grant applications.  Applicants also should have experience or a demonstrated interest in teaching and outreach/extension.

The Department of Forestry is a vibrant, growing, internationally recognized unit committed to interdisciplinary education, research and extension to understand and resolve environmental and natural resource issues.  Established in 1902, MSU’s Department of Forestry was among the first undergraduate forestry programs in the U.S. and continues to innovate and lead in education, research and extension.  Michigan State University has a strong plant science focus (160+ faculty) of international stature, including relevant interdepartmental centers and programs (e.g., Plant Resilience Institute; Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior Program; Environmental Science and Policy Program).

MSU will extend its plant science leadership through a five-year recruiting initiative, bringing together new talent and current MSU experts around key research priorities. Learn more about the MSU Plant Science Excellence Initiative and join the mailing list to receive alerts about open positions. 

Location 

The position will be based at Michigan State University in East Lansing, MI, USA.  Michigan State University is one of the top research universities in the world and home to nationally ranked and recognized academic, residential college and service-learning programs.  MSU is a diverse community of dedicated students, scholars, athletes, artists and scientists who provide regional, national and international leadership in basic and applied research and excellence in teaching.  In addition, consistent with its Land Grant origins, the MSU community pursues international engagement and provides strong extension programs that partner with diverse stakeholders to provide much needed research in the areas of food, energy, water and the environment.  MSU enjoys a park‐like campus with outlying research facilities and natural areas.  The campus is in the city of East Lansing, adjacent to the capital city of Lansing.  The Lansing metropolitan area has a diverse population of >500,000.  Local communities have excellent school systems and place a high value on education.  The University is proactive about its obligations under the ADA and provides individual accessibility plans to students and employees with disabilities.  Michigan State University is also proactive in exploring opportunities for employment for dual career families, both inside and outside the University, and respects all family forms.  Information about MSU’s dual career support and other types of support for balancing work and personal lives at MSU can be found at http://worklife.msu.edu/

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

The College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR) at Michigan State University is committed to achieving excellence by creating and sustaining an accessible and inclusive culture that values cultural and academic diversity.  We are an equal opportunity affirmative action employer.  The CANR is particularly interested in candidates of all backgrounds who are committed to the principle that academic excellence is achieved through open access and proactive inclusion.  Candidates are invited to view Department of Forestry community norms at https://www.canr.msu.edu/for/dei/community-norms.  

Salary and Benefits 

Salary will be commensurate with qualifications.  MSU offers a generous benefits package (details at https://hr.msu.edu/benefits/index.html).

To Apply

For consideration, submit your application online. Upload the following required documents:  a) letter of interest that includes qualifications for the position; b) statements of Teaching, Research, and Extension philosophy highlighting how your experiences align with the position (2-pages maximum for each – total 6 pages); c) current curriculum vitae; d) a description of how you will contribute to our diversity, equity and inclusion goals (2-page maximum) and e) contact information for three professional references. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Review of Applications

The search committee will begin reviewing applications on 01 December 2023 and continue until a suitable candidate is selected.

Questions regarding this position can be addressed to the Search Committee Chair:  Dr. Emily Huff, Department of Forestry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA, ehuff@msu.edu, 413-320-2396.

MSU is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer, committed to achieving excellence through a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture that encourages all people to reach their full potential.  We actively encourage applications from, and nominations of, women, persons of color, veterans, persons with disabilities and other individuals who can contribute to the intellectual diversity and cultural richness at Michigan State University.  MSU is committed to providing a work environment that supports employees’ work and personal life and offers employment assistance to the spouse or partner of candidates for faculty and academic staff positions.