Tenure Track Faculty Positions in Climate Change at UNH (1) Agricultural Engineering (2) Environmental Economics (3) Quantitative Ecology (4) Forest Ecosystem Health
The UNH College of Life Sciences and Agriculture (COLSA) seeks to hire four new tenure‐track assistant professors with demonstrated interests and expertise in diverse areas of the agricultural and ecological sciences. We intend to build and reinforce strengths related to climate change impacts, mitigation, and adaptation. We anticipate filling these positions in the Fall of 2015. Because multiple positions are available, we will strongly consider the recruitment of a cluster of faculty members with overlapping and synergistic research programs. Changes in the physical and chemical climate, along with human population and land use, are transforming ecosystems and pose significant challenges in agricultural and natural resource‐based systems. It is our vision that UNH should build on existing strengths in sustainable agriculture, forestry, and ecology to address these challenges through engaged scholarship and excellence in teaching. The University actively creates and nurtures a dynamic learning environment in which qualified individuals of differing perspectives, life experiences and cultural backgrounds pursue goals with mutual respect and a shared spirit of inquiry. Minimum Qualifications: Candidates must have a Ph.D. in the appropriate field, and demonstrated potential to develop and lead strong and productive research programs. Working under the auspices of the New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station, the successful candidates will be expected to compete successfully in national and regional funding initiatives, achieve national and international prominence in their fields, and provide leadership in engagement with our stakeholders. They will embrace interdisciplinary approaches, and will be expected to interface with broad segments of the science‐to‐policy spectrum. Successful candidates will be expected to train graduate students and to develop and teach outstanding courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Integrating areas of research strength with academic programs is a key goal of the UNH Academic Plan. The new faculty will be located within the College of Life Sciences and Agriculture, matched with the department that best suits their position, interests and expertise. Likely home departments are Natural Resources and the Environment (NREN) and Biological Sciences (BS). Disciplinary Emphasis The college seeks excellent candidates in the following areas of emphasis: Agricultural Engineering We seek a tenure‐track agricultural engineer to support multiple programs related to sustainable agriculture and food systems. The primary responsibilities of this position will be the development of a productive and externally funded research program, and a teaching program of interest to multiple undergraduate and graduate programs in the College of Life Sciences and Agriculture (COLSA) as well as other units across campus. We seek candidates who will conduct research in the areas of information and technology development related to energy efficiency and climate impacts adaptation and risk mitigation, as appropriate for the small‐scale agricultural systems typical of the northeastern United States. Expertise in the areas of scalable nutrient capture and reuse systems, protected agricultural systems, and alternative agricultural energy systems is highly desirable. Research should have direct, relevant, and beneficial impact on regional stakeholders producing or consuming a variety of animal, horticultural, and agronomic products. Teaching assignments will include a mix of undergraduate and graduate courses consistent with the expertise of the candidate and with departmental and college needs. We anticipate significant synergies with faculty and specialists working in diverse areas of resilient agricultural systems, including those in the New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station (NHAES; local facilities include the Fairchild Dairy, Kingman Farm, Organic Dairy Research Farm, Macfarlane Greenhouses and Woodman Farm), UNH Cooperative Extension, the USDA Northeast Climate Hub and others within and outside New Hampshire. A related Research Faculty hire in agricultural engineering and sustainable agricultural technologies will provide further collaborative opportunities. Environmental Economics We seek a tenure‐track economist whose research addresses environmental sustainability and its interaction with climate change. Although all areas of environmental economics will be considered, we have a particular interest in candidates who conduct research in the areas of climate impacts and energy, especially as they relate to agriculture, forestry, and natural resource use. The primary responsibilities of this position will be the development of a productive and externally funded research program, and a teaching program of interest to multiple undergraduate programs in the COLSA as well as graduate students working across multiple disciplines and study ecosystems. Successful candidates will be expected to train graduate students and to develop and teach outstanding courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Teaching assignments will include a mix of other undergraduate and graduate courses consistent with the expertise of the candidate and with departmental and college needs. Quantitative Ecology We seek a tenure‐track quantitative ecologist whose research contributes to the sustainable management of natural resources under changing climatic conditions. We particularly seek candidates whose research integrates empirical and theoretical approaches, spans a range of spatial and temporal scales, and involves large datasets. We encourage applicants with expertise in population, community, or ecosystem ecology, with preference given to those whose research naturally crosses disciplinary lines and can thus best support multiple program initiatives within COLSA. The primary responsibilities of this position will be the development of a productive and externally funded research program, and a teaching program of interest to multiple undergraduate programs in COLSA as well as graduate students working across multiple disciplines and ecosystems. Teaching assignments will include a mix of undergraduate and graduate courses in ecology and quantitative methods, consistent with the expertise of the candidate and with departmental and college needs. Forest Ecosystem Health We seek a tenure‐track forest health ecologist whose research addresses emerging forest health threats and their interaction with climatic change. The primary responsibilities of this position will be the development of a productive and externally funded research program, and a teaching program of interest to multiple undergraduate programs in the College of Life Sciences and Agriculture (COLSA) as well as to graduate students working across multiple disciplines and ecosystems. We anticipate significant synergies with faculty working in natural resource landscapes, sustainable agriculture and food systems, and with colleagues at the Northern Research Station of the USDA Forest Service located in Durham. Successful candidates will be expected to train graduate students and to develop and teach outstanding courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Teaching assignments will include an upper‐level integrated course on forest health targeting the needs of students in our S.A.F.‐accredited Forestry program as well as other majors, and a mix of other undergraduate and graduate courses consistent with the expertise of the candidate and with departmental and college needs. Application Instructions Information, including detailed position descriptions and complete application information is available at http://www.colsa.unh.edu/employment. All applicants will be required to apply online at https://jobs.usnh.edu. The online application will ask for: 1) a letter of application; 2) current vitae; 3)statement of teaching interests and philosophy; 4) research statement and 5) names, addresses, email and phone numbers of (5) five professional references. The candidate will be notified before any references are contacted. Review of applications will begin on January 20, 2015 and will continue until the positions are filled. About UNH and COLSA The University of New Hampshire, located in Durham, is a Research‐I, Land, Sea and Space Grant University that has been recognized both nationally and internationally for research excellence and a commitment to sustainability. The College of Life Sciences and Agriculture is organized into four interacting academic units and includes the states Agricultural Experiment Station. The University actively seeks excellence through diversity among its administrators, faculty, staff, and students and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, veteran status, or marital status. Application by members of all underrepresented groups is encouraged. Please direct all inquiries to: Climate Change Search Jane Garnett, COLSA Search Coordinator [email protected] 603‐862‐5417
