Assistant Professor of Fire Ecology

Dept. of Forest Ecosystems and Society, Oregon State University

Oregon State University’s commitment to student success includes hiring, 
retaining, and developing diverse faculty to mentor and educate our 
undergraduate and graduate students from entry through graduation. Our 
Strategic Plan (http://oregonstate.edu/leadership/strategicplan/phase3)
articulates the strategies we believe critical to advancing and 
equalizing student success. As part of this commitment, OSU has 
established a hiring initiative for 2014-15 that is designed to support 
these strategies. In alignment with this initiative, the College of 
Forestry seeks to hire an Assistant Professor of Fire Ecology.

Position Summary: The Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society in the 
College of Forestry invites applications for a full-time (1.0 FTE) 9- 
month, tenure-track Assistant Professor of Fire Ecology.

The successful candidate is expected to establish and lead an innovative 
extramurally funded research program in fire ecology that is relevant to 
human use of forested landscapes, biodiversity conservation and global 
change. The candidate will be responsible for the delivery of two 
undergraduate courses in both the ‘Forest Landscape Processes and 
Management’ option within our Forest Management degree and a new 
interdisciplinary undergraduate degree program focusing on interactions 
among biophysical and social systems. The appointee will also teach an 
additional graduate course in her/his area of expertise. This position 
is part of a larger commitment by Oregon State University to hire, 
retain, and develop diverse faculty to mentor and educate our 
undergraduate and graduate students from entry through graduation. We 
invite you to visit the application website for further details on how 
to apply: 
https://jobs.oregonstate.edu/applicants/jsp/shared/position/JobDetails_c
ss.jsp?postingId=383203 

The Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society (FES) brings together 
students, staff and faculty with interest and expertise in forest 
ecology and social science to tackle some of the most pressing 
environmental challenges facing us today 
(http://fes.forestry.oregonstate.edu).  Our faculty are world leaders in 
a wide range of disciplines, including restoration ecology, forest 
social science, tree physiology, climate change and carbon dynamics, 
natural resource economics and policy, wilderness resource management, 
silviculture, wildlife ecology, and remote sensing.

We also have living laboratories used for classes and research that 
include the 11,500 acre McDonald-Dunn Forest, just 20 minutes from 
campus, the H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest in the Cascade Mountains (a 
National Science Foundation Long-term Ecological Research site), and a 
wide variety of cooperating public and private forest lands including a 
new Institute for Working Forest Landscapes. The position offers 
substantial potential for collaborative efforts with co-located science 
agencies such as the U.S. Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research 
Station, the USGS Forest and Range Ecosystem Science Center and the US 
Environmental Protection Agency.

The department has a large and diverse student body both on campus (>200 
undergraduates/ 80 graduates) and online (530 undergraduates/ 60 
graduates); thus, we seek an individual with an interest and commitment 
to teaching and innovation in both classroom and online education.

Minimum/ Required Qualifications
-       Ph.D. in a discipline relevant to disturbance and/or fire 
ecology
-       Demonstrated potential to develop a high-quality academic 
research program in fire ecology 
-       Commitment to promoting and enhancing diversity as it relates to 
teaching and mentoring students
-       Commitment to undergraduate and graduate student engagement and 
success
-       Excellent communication skills

Preferred Qualifications
-       Experience in fire ecology research conducted at multiple 
spatial scales
-       Evidence of research productivity 
-       Evidence of capacity to link basic and applied research
-       Experience with interdisciplinary research (particularly between 
social and ecological sciences)
-       Record of obtaining external funding
-       Relevant graduate and/or postdoctoral experience in teaching 
within and/or across disciplines
-       Experience in fostering diversity in teaching and mentoring 
(e.g., supervising underrepresented groups in research)
-       Evidence of fostering undergraduate success (e.g., sponsoring 
student research or internships, developing study abroad opportunities) 
-       Experience with natural resource management applications 

Special Instructions to Applicants
When applying you will be required to attach the following electronic
documents: 
(1) a cover letter addressing your qualifications and aspirations as 
they relate to the specific duties and responsibilities described in the 
position description;
(2) a full-length curriculum vitae (CV);
(3) a two-page teaching philosophy that specifically addresses the 
candidate’s commitment to fostering student success and enhancing 
diversity; Upload as Other Document 1
(4) a two-page research statement; Upload as Other Document 2
(5) up to four peer-reviewed publications; Upload combined pdfs as Other 
Document 3
(6) the names and contact information (email, telephone and mail) of 
three referees who may be contacted by the search committee; Upload as 
Other Document 4

Visit the application web site (http://oregonstate.edu/jobs/) for 
further details about the position (posting # 0013480). The position 
will remain open until filled. For full consideration, apply by January 
30, 2015. Applications will continue to be accepted after the full 
consideration date, until a sufficient applicant pool has been achieved 
or the position is filled. The closing date is subject to change without 
notice to applicants

For additional information please contact Matt Betts, 541-737-3841, 
[email protected]  

OSU commits to inclusive excellence by advancing equity and diversity in 
all that we do. We are an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer, 
and particularly encourage applications from members of historically 
underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, women, individuals with 
disabilities, veterans, LGBTQ community members, and others who 
demonstrate the ability to help us achieve our vision of a diverse and 
inclusive community.  

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