From our host institution:
Tenure Track Faculty Positions— Environmental Science and Sustainability
The Appalachian Laboratory (AL) of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES) invites applications from individuals who demonstrate vision for carrying out innovative research and broadening participation in any area of Environmental Science and Sustainability. These positions will be the first of multiple strategic faculty hires at AL. We aim to fill most positions at the tenure-track assistant professor level, but outstanding applicants at higher levels will be considered. Research at AL is inter- and trans-disciplinary, with multiple collaborations within AL and across UMCES, spanning a “genes to ecosystems” continuum in a diverse array of terrestrial, freshwater, and marine environments, locally, regionally, and globally. Hallmarks of AL’s research include an emphasis on quantitative analysis across broad spatiotemporal scales, projecting ecological and environmental change, and a commitment to engaged scholarship that informs environmental policy and natural resource management. We envision the successful candidates will contribute to one or more of our existing research areas including, but not limited to (1) watershed and water resource science, (2) application of molecular tools to the study of freshwater and/or terrestrial organisms and ecosystems, (3) interactions of air, land, and water, biodiversity, and/or ecosystem function as informed by emerging remote sensing technologies, (4) forecasting of ecological and environmental change, and (5) interdisciplinary social and socio-economic challenges related to environmental management and sustainability. Each position has the potential to contribute to UMCES’s Chesapeake Global Collaborative initiative, which aims to use big data to solve big problems by engaging diverse voices, novel approaches, and innovative tools.
UMCES is Maryland’s graduate university for the environment and one of the twelve institutions of the University System of Maryland (USM). Maryland’s people and environments are diverse, including urban-to-rural and mountains-to-sea gradients. The UMCES mission includes advancing world-class fundamental and applied research, promoting graduate-level education, furthering community engagement and science application, and providing scientific expertise for environmental policies on topics such as air, land, water, and wildlife management in the Chesapeake Bay watershed and beyond. UMCES scientists are developing solutions to help guide our state, nation, and world toward a more environmentally sustainable and equitable future through six highly collaborative, distributed research centers—AL, Chesapeake Biological Laboratory, Horn Point Laboratory, Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology, Integration and Application Network, and Maryland Sea Grant College. The AL is the terrestrial and freshwater anchor of research at UMCES, and collaborations across disciplines, media, and geographies are common among UMCES faculty. As a comparatively small, independent research and education university within a sizable, highly respected public higher education system, UMCES has both flexibility and excellent institutional support to continue to play an outsized role in environmental research, education, and problem solving. There is a strong commitment to advance objectives in support of diversity, equity, inclusion, and environmental justice within UMCES, USM, and the state.
The AL is in Frostburg, Maryland, in the heart of the central Appalachian Mountains. The AL is committed to increasing the diversity of our campus community and to supporting efforts to further equity and inclusion. AL scientists have multiple collaborations with our neighboring system institution, Frostburg State University. There are excellent recreational (e.g., cycling, hiking, kayaking, fishing) and cultural (e.g., art and music festivals) activities in the area. The region offers small-town living, little traffic, small K-12 schools, and affordable housing, with easy access to the greater Baltimore/Washington DC and Pittsburgh areas. The AL offers exceptional administrative support and outstanding laboratory, computing, and teaching facilities. Faculty positions at AL provide a unique opportunity to focus primarily on research; AL faculty are also expected to mentor graduate students, co-teach with other UMCES faculty a relatively light load of graduate-level classes, and participate in collaborative application and outreach of science.
The successful candidate should have a demonstrated commitment to scientific excellence and productivity, the ability to establish a well-funded research program that aligns with the position description, interest in mentoring graduate students and teaching graduate-level courses, potential to collaborate with other AL faculty, and the ability to broaden participation and contribute to a campus climate of inclusivity. A Ph.D. or equivalent terminal degree in Environmental Science, Ecology, Sustainability Science, or related fields is required. Applicants should submit the following electronically via UMCES employment portal - https://umces.peopleadmin.com/postings/1769 : (1) cover letter; (2) curriculum vitae; (3) statements of how their scientific and professional contributions (up to 2 pages) and experiences in teaching and education of graduate students (up to 1 page) align with the job ad and these hiring considerations; and (4) names of three references (including title, affiliation, telephone, and e-mail address). Review of applications will begin on November 1, 2023 and will continue until filled. These positions will begin in/around fall 2024. Inquiries may be addressed to the search committee chair, Dr. Katia Engelhardt (kengelhardt@umces.edu).
