Assistant Professor (Wildlife Conservation and Management)

Description

Assistant Professor of Wildlife Conservation and Management, nine (9) month, tenure track effective January 1, 2027. The Forestry Program and Center for Wildlife Sustainability Research at Southern Illinois University seeks a candidate to establish an externally funded research program in wildlife conservation and management to address applied questions related to practices of sustainable forestry, specifically, the impact of forest restoration and forest stand improvement on wildlife in Illinois, the Midwest region, and beyond. A research focus on private lands forest management is desirable but not required.

This position is represented by SIU Carbondale Faculty Association/IEA-NEA.

Examples of Duties

The expected teaching load is three courses during the academic year (2/1). The candidate will teach undergraduate courses supporting the Forestry Program’s Wildlife Habitat Management and Conservation specialization, with options including, but not limited to, Wildlife Habitat and Populations and a field-based Wildlife Monitoring course.

Additionally, the successful candidate will be expected to develop two rotating graduate courses within their area of expertise. The selected candidate is also expected to contribute teaching efforts during the Forestry program’s required two-week summer field course. The incumbent is expected to advise/mentor graduate and undergraduate students, and serve on Program, College, and University-wide committees.

Although no formal extension duties are outlined in the position, outreach and service to the School, University, and the public are essential aspects of this position. The successful candidate will have a 49% research appointment in the Center for Wildlife Sustainability Research and a 51% teaching and research appointment in the School of Forestry and Horticulture with an expectation that the candidate will collaborate with faculty across units.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

1. Ph.D. in Wildlife Management, Forestry, Ecology, Conservation Science, or other closely related natural-resources field by the effective date of hire. ABD applicants will be considered if all doctoral degree requirements are completed by the time of hire.
2. Demonstrated experience working with silvicolous species and/or in forested ecosystems;
3. Demonstrated experience or ability in teaching relevant coursework;
4. Strong communication skills and interest in instruction and advisement of undergraduate and graduate students;
5. Demonstrated ability and strong interest in collaborative research with natural resource research scientists and other natural resource professionals to develop and maintain an active research program.

Preferred Qualifications:

1. Candidates with post-doctoral experience are strongly preferred;
2. Record of publications in refereed journals and securing of external research grants;
3. Wildlife conservation and management research and teaching in forested ecosystems, with a particular emphasis on forest management practices.

Required Documents: Submit a letter of application, CV, statement of research interests, statement of teaching accomplishments and philosophy, and contact information for three references.