Universidad Nacional Agraria de la Selva, commonly known as UNAS, is a public university in Tingo María, Huánuco region of Peru. Established in 1964, it specializes in agricultural sciences, forestry, and related fields, making it a key institution for higher education in the Peruvian Amazon. Nestled in the heart of the jungle, UNAS plays a vital role in advancing sustainable development, biodiversity conservation, and food security in tropical environments. Jobs at Universidad Nacional Agraria de la Selva attract professionals passionate about applied research in agronomy, veterinary medicine, and environmental management.
The university's location in Tingo María provides unique opportunities for fieldwork in rich ecosystems, influencing the nature of employment here. Faculty and staff contribute to programs that address local challenges like crop improvement for Amazonian soils and wildlife health. With a student body of around 5,000 and multiple faculties, UNAS offers stable career paths in teaching, research, and administration.
Founded during Peru's push for regional development in the 1960s, UNAS emerged to meet the need for experts in jungle agriculture. Its creation was driven by the government's focus on colonizing and productively using the Selva (jungle) region. Over the decades, it has evolved into a leader in tropical sciences, with key milestones including the establishment of experimental farms in the 1970s and international partnerships in the 2000s for biodiversity studies.
The mission emphasizes integral formation of professionals committed to sustainable use of natural resources. This shapes jobs at UNAS, prioritizing candidates who align with eco-friendly practices and community engagement. Historical expansions, like the Veterinary Faculty in 1972, highlight its growth, creating diverse employment opportunities in specialized labs and extension services.
UNAS is organized into faculties such as Agronomy, Forestry Engineering, Animal Sciences, and Zootecnia (animal husbandry). Professional schools offer degrees in crop production, soil management, and aquaculture. This structure directly influences job openings, with departments like the Faculty of Agronomy frequently hiring for roles in plant pathology and sustainable farming.
Research centers, including the Amazonian Crops Station, support postgraduate programs (master's and PhDs), leading to positions in graduate teaching and funded projects. Understanding this hierarchy is essential for tailoring applications to specific jobs at Universidad Nacional Agraria de la Selva.
Employment at UNAS spans teaching, research, and support roles. Common positions include:
For a full breakdown of university job types, explore our comprehensive guide. Tenure-track professor jobs at UNAS often involve both classroom instruction and practical lab work, reflecting the university's hands-on approach.
Required Academic Qualifications: Most faculty jobs demand a PhD in relevant fields such as agronomy, forestry engineering, or veterinary medicine from accredited institutions. Master's degrees suffice for research assistants or adjunct roles.
Research Focus or Expertise Needed: Priority goes to expertise in tropical agriculture, soil fertility in acid soils, native crop domestication (e.g., sacha inchi), and forest restoration. UNAS emphasizes applied research addressing Peru's Amazon challenges like deforestation and food sovereignty.
Preferred Experience: 3-5 years of postdoctoral or teaching experience, with at least 5 publications in Scopus-indexed journals, grant experience from CONCYTEC (Peru's science council), and fieldwork in jungle environments.
Skills and Competencies:
These align with UNAS's goal of producing impactful research for Peru's agricultural sector.
Agronomy: The science of soil management and crop production, central to UNAS programs for optimizing yields in tropical conditions.
Zootecnia: Animal production science, focusing on livestock health and breeding in jungle settings.
Extension Services: University outreach programs providing training to farmers, often part of staff duties at UNAS.
CONCYTEC: National Council for Science, Technology, and Innovation in Peru, funding many UNAS projects.
The hiring process at UNAS follows Peru's public university standards: public calls published in El Peruano (official gazette), followed by document review, interviews, and teaching demos. Steps include:
Tips: Highlight Amazon-specific experience; network at Peruvian agronomy conferences; customize cover letter to UNAS's sustainability mission. Use our free resume template for academic CVs. Expect 3-6 months for full process.
UNAS advances inclusion through the 'Universidad para Todos' program, offering scholarships to indigenous and rural students from Huánuco. Hiring policies prioritize gender balance (40% women faculty goal) and support for disabled applicants via accessible facilities. Partnerships with AIDESEP (indigenous organization) ensure culturally sensitive recruitment. Recent initiatives include training workshops for women in STEM-agriculture, fostering diverse teams for equitable research.
In Tingo María's verdant setting, UNAS promotes balance with flexible hours for field researchers, 30 days annual leave, and family health coverage. Campus features sports fields, a botanical garden, and cultural events like jungle festivals. Employee wellness includes yoga sessions and psychological support. Proximity to Tingo María National Park allows nature escapes, while affordable housing (PEN 800/month) eases relocation. Community involvement via farmer cooperatives enhances job satisfaction.
UNAS supports growth via sabbaticals, international exchanges (e.g., with Brazilian ag universities), and promotion based on merit (publications, teaching evaluations). Salaries start at PEN 4,500 for assistants, rising to PEN 8,500+ for full professors. Perks include research stipends, housing subsidies, and pension contributions. Explore professor salaries for comparisons.
Recent expansions in aquaculture research open new postdoc opportunities. For advice, visit higher ed career advice.
UNAS combines impactful work with Peru's natural beauty, ideal for those dedicated to tropical sciences. With growing funding from international bodies like FAO, career prospects are promising. Check higher ed jobs, higher ed career advice, university jobs, or post a job on AcademicJobs.com for more. Relevant reads: employer branding secrets and winning academic CV.
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