Assistant Professor - Forestry

Assistant Professor - Forestry

Texas A&M AgriLife Research is seeking an outstanding, innovative, and dynamic individual to fill a 12-month, non-tenure track faculty position at the rank of Assistant Professor in Forest Ecology and Modeling Research. This 100% research appointment will be administratively based at the Blackland Research and Extension Center in Temple, Texas, with academic affiliation in the Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology at Texas A&M University in College Station, TX, and collaborative ties to the Texas A&M Forest Service.

The successful candidate will be expected to develop a nationally recognized, externally funded research program that is collaborative, interdisciplinary, and self-sustaining. The program should address critical challenges related to the sustainability, health, productivity, and marketability of forested landscapes in Texas and beyond. The position will offer opportunities to work closely with faculty and researchers across the Texas A&M University System, including AgriLife Research, AgriLife Extension, and the Texas A&M Forest Service. This is a unique opportunity to contribute to applied forest science in a region facing significant ecological and economic shifts, and to support the development of resilient forest landscapes through cutting-edge research in forest ecology and modeling.

Responsibilities include the collection, analysis, and organization of data, as well as the development and application of algorithms and models to realistically simulate forest ecosystem dynamics under varying conditions of land use change, forest and land management, climate variability, and other environmental stressors.

Required Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in an area of forest science or a closely related field by hire date. Candidates with a degree in a closely aligned field must demonstrate a strong academic background or research program explicitly focused on forestry applications.
• Strong knowledge of forest ecology and related fields of study.
• Research experience in forest modeling, including expertise in biometrics and geospatial analysis.
• Evidence of, or the ability to produce, peer-reviewed publications of original research.
• Valid driver's license or the ability to obtain a valid driver's license.
• Excellence in verbal and written communication.
• Team-building skills, collaboration capacity, and project management abilities.
• Strong communication skills.
• Highly organized.
• Professional demeanor.
• Ability to multi-task and work cooperatively with others.
• Ability to establish effective working relationships.
• Knowledge and understanding of the mission and role of the Land Grant University System.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Prior academic, post-doctoral, or professional experience.
• Experience working with federal agencies or in other multi-agency collaborative settings.
• Modest teaching experience that will enhance graduate student success.
• Modest outreach experience with stakeholder interaction.
• Grant writing experience and evidence of the ability to attract external funding.

Location and Facilities:

This position will be affiliated with the Texas A&M University (TAMU) Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology and contribute to departmental programs. Stationed at the Texas A&M AgriLife Blackland Research and Extension Center in Temple, the proposed faculty member will work with other Blackland faculty and collaborate with USDA-ARS scientists, USDA-NRCS, and Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board staff in Temple. The Blackland Research Center and the collocated USDA-ARS Grassland, Soil, and Water Research Laboratory have a long history of modeling crop and grazing land production and their effects on soil and water resources. The Blackland/Grassland team of agricultural and natural resources scientists anticipate expanding the modeling program with a forest scientist equipped to take the lead in the simulation of forest systems production and environmental impacts from Texas, throughout the United States, and in tropical and arctic environments. The candidate will seek cooperators at all appropriate AgriLife units (especially Texas A&M Forest Service), both in College Station and across the State, as well as with Blackland collaborators in Texas, the United States, and internationally. Collaboration with industry and non-governmental organizations will also be encouraged. These proposed activities will support the missions and strategic plans of Blackland Research and Extension Center and Texas A&M AgriLife Research.

The Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology (ECCB) in College Station, Texas is a nationally ranked program that engages in interdisciplinary research spanning the entire spectrum of ecological levels, from the smallest genetic components to entire ecosystems. Through these efforts, our students, staff, and faculty are dedicated to safeguarding biodiversity, sustaining essential ecosystem services, and preserving our precious natural resources in a changing world. ECCB has 34 faculty, 298 undergraduate and 86 graduate students, and is growing. The Ecology and Conservation Biology program is one of four tracks under the umbrella B.Sc. degree in Ecology and Conservation Biology. The other tracks are Vertebrate Zoology, Ecoinformatics, and the Forest Resources program. The Department is engaged in the campus-wide interdisciplinary programs of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Genetics, and Applied Biodiversity Science Program. The Department houses the Biodiversity and Teaching Collections and S.M. Tracy Herbarium, which are among the top 10 university-based biodiversity collections in the USA. World-class research programs in the department address fundamental questions in ecology, and related areas, at every level of ecological organization from genes to ecosystems, producing knowledge that is immediately applicable to the most pressing 21st century grand challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, ecological restoration, and integrative approaches to conservation.

Salary: Compensation for this position is commensurate based on the selected candidate's qualifications.

Why Work at Texas A&M AgriLife?

When you choose to work for Texas A&M AgriLife, you become part of an organization that is an established leader in agriculture and life sciences with a wide range of capabilities to meet the needs of our statewide, national, and international constituents.

In addition, Texas A&M AgriLife offers a comprehensive benefit package including the following:

• Health, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance with Texas A&M AgriLife contributing to employee health and basic life premiums
• 12-15 days of annual paid holidays
• Up to eight hours of paid sick leave and at least eight hours of paid vacation each month
• Automatic enrollment in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas
• Employee Wellness Initiative for Texas A&M AgriLife

Applicant Instructions:

Applicants must upload a cover letter (two-page limit), curriculum vitae, including a list of three references and their contact information, and a vision statement of research and service (two-page limit).

The application screening process will begin on October 1, 2025, and the position will remain open until a suitable candidate is identified.

Questions:

Address inquiries to Search Committee Chair: Dr. Gurjinder Baath, Texas A&M AgriLife Blackland Research and Extension Center, Temple, , .

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution's verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution's procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.