Assistant/Associate Professor - Natural Resources and the Environment

Faculty Position Available

Assistant/Associate Professor

Forest Ecosystem Sustainability

Department of Natural Resources and the Environment

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University

Position :              Assistant/Associate Professor, Tenure-track.

Location :             Ithaca, NY, USA. The academic home for this position is the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS), housed on the Ithaca campus of Cornell University.

Position Description and Responsibilities : 

We invite applications for a 9-month, full-time tenure-track position at the level of assistant/ associate professor. The position will be 50% research and 50% teaching. The Department of Natural Resources and the Environment (DNRE) (https://dnr.cals.cornell.edu/ ) is a leader of sustainability science within the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (https://cals.cornell.edu ) at Cornell University due to our collective expertise in the environmental and social sciences and a strong program of transdisciplinary, engaged scholarship. We aim to build on this capacity by hiring a tenure-track assistant/associate professor whose work advances understanding of forest ecosystems.

The successful candidate will establish an internationally recognized, externally funded interdisciplinary research program that advances theory, methods, and practice related to forest ecosystems. The position is premised on our department’s commitment to examining both ecological and social dynamics of natural resources. We seek applicants who investigate the direct/proximate drivers of forest ecosystem degradation related to natural disturbances, such as insect induced mortality, as well as anthropogenic forces, such as climate change and forest harvesting/management, as well as the implications of those changes in terms of carbon sequestration, displacement of people and communities, and/or ecological function. The research of the successful candidate is not limited to a particular scale, although we seek candidates with the ability to work across scales. The successful candidate’s program is also expected to include a field research component. Local on- and off-campus forest lands can be utilized for program research and teaching that are part of the Cornell Botanic Gardens (https://cornellbotanicgardens.org ) and the Arnot Teaching and Research Forest (https://blogs.cornell.edu/arnotforest/ ). In addition to the candidate’s knowledge and passion for trees and forests, experience with other diverse biophysical components of forest ecosystems are welcome.   

Outstanding research scholarship is expected, as is excellence in and commitment to teaching, translation of knowledge, and advising and mentoring of students. We seek colleagues with a record demonstrating success and promise across all these areas, and who will be supported by and contribute to a vibrant culture of inclusive excellence at Cornell. As such, candidates are expected to engage in service and leadership activities within their department, the college and university, and relevant professional societies. The successful candidate will teach two undergraduate courses (one of which will be in the area of forest ecology) that will strengthen the cross-college Environment and Sustainability (E&S) undergraduate major and will develop one graduate seminar.

The successful candidate will have a Ph.D. in a related field. Applicants should demonstrate capacity to apply cutting-edge methods in novel ways that advance understanding of forest ecosystems. Ability to teach at undergraduate and graduate levels is required. We seek candidates able to support a diverse student body through culturally aware advising and inclusive teaching strategies. The Department of Natural Resources and the Environment particularly seeks applicants whose record in research, teaching, and outreach prepares them to contribute to Cornell’s institutional commitment to diversity and equity, and to our department’s commitment to work across the social and biophysical sciences.

Starting Date and Applications :

The anticipated starting date for this position is January 2025 or as negotiated. Applications are encouraged from candidates of all backgrounds. Qualified applicants should submit: 1) a cover letter briefly summarizing background, vision, and relevant qualifications, 2) a Curriculum Vitae, 3) a research statement outlining experience, interests, and goals, 4) a teaching statement outlining experience, interests, and goals, 5) a statement supporting diverse communities (this can be a stand-alone document (preferred) or the information can be embedded in other parts of the application materials) outlining how, through research, teaching, service. mentoring, extension, and/or outreach, the candidate has and will contribute to support Cornell’s historical mission of “any person … any study”, 6) three representative publications, and 7) names and contact information for three references. Materials should be submitted online to: https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/26799

Applications received by January 31, 2024, will be given full consideration. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

Inquiries may be directed to:

Dr. Marianne E. Krasny ([email protected] ) or Dr. Joseph B. Yavitt ([email protected] )

Department of Natural Resources and the Environment

CALS hiring range for position:

Assistant Professor: $79,400 - $135,000

Associate Professor: $97,500 - $148,500

Cornell University offers a competitive salary and benefits package. Support for start-up costs will be available. Salary is commensurate with experience.

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) is a pioneer of purpose-driven science and Cornell University’s second largest college. We work across disciplines to tackle the challenges of our time through world-renowned research, education, and outreach. The questions we probe and the answers we seek focus on three overlapping concerns: We believe that achieving next-generation scientific breakthroughs requires an understanding of the world’s complex, interlocking systems. We believe that access to nutritious food and a healthy environment is a fundamental human right. We believe that ensuring a prosperous global future depends on the ability to support local people and communities everywhere. By working in and across multiple scientific areas, CALS can address challenges and opportunities of the greatest relevance, here in New York, across the nation, and around the world.

Cornell University seeks to meet the needs of dual career couples, has a Dual Career program, and is a member of the Upstate New York Higher Education Recruitment Consortium to assist with dual career searches including positions available in higher education in the upstate New York area.

Cornell University is an innovative Ivy League and Land-grant university and a great place to work. Our inclusive community of scholars, students, and staff impart an uncommon sense of larger purpose and contribute creative ideas to further the university's mission of teaching, discovery, and engagement.

Cornell’s regional and global presence includes state-wide Cornell Cooperative Extension programs and offices in all counties and boroughs, global partnerships with institutions and communities engaged in life-changing research and education, the medical college’s campuses on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and Doha, Qatar, and the Cornell Tech campus on Roosevelt Island in the heart of New York City.

Diversity and Inclusion are a part of Cornell University’s heritage. We are a recognized employer and educator valuing AA/EEO, and we do not tolerate discrimination based on any protected characteristic, including race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship and immigration status, color, sex/gender, pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, age, creed, religion, actual or perceived disability (including persons associated with such a person), arrest and/or conviction record, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender expression and/or identity, an individual’s genetic information, domestic violence victim status, familial status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations in accordance with applicable law. 

Cornell University embraces diversity and seeks candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff to all identities and backgrounds. We strongly encourage individuals from underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply.

Pay Range:

Refer to Posting Language

Pay Ranges:

The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined considering the following criteria:

• Prior relevant work or industry experience.
• Education level to the extent education is relevant to the position.
• Academic Discipline (faculty pay ranges reflects 9-month annual salary)
• Unique applicable skills.

Familiarize yourself with Cornell's COVID-19 workplace guidance as well as the university's COVID-19 services and information .

Employment Assistance:

For general questions about the position or the application process, please contact the Recruiter listed in the job posting or email [email protected] .

If you require an accommodation for a disability in order to complete an employment application or to participate in the recruiting process, you are encouraged to contact Cornell University's Office of Institutional Equity and Title IX at voice (607) 255-2242, or email at [email protected] .

Applicants that do not have internet access are encouraged to visit your local library, or local Department of Labor. You may also request an appointment to use a dedicated workstation in the Office of Talent Attraction and Recruitment, at the Ithaca campus, by emailing [email protected] .

Notice to Applicants:

Please read the required Notice to Applicants statement by clicking here . This notice contains important information about applying for a position at Cornell as well as some of your rights and responsibilities as an applicant.

EEO Statement:

Diversity and Inclusion are a part of Cornell University’s heritage. We are a recognized employer and educator valuing AA/EEO, and we do not tolerate discrimination based on any protected characteristic, including race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship and immigration status, color, sex/gender, pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, age, creed, religion, actual or perceived disability (including persons associated with such a person), arrest and/or conviction record, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender expression and/or identity, an individual’s genetic information, domestic violence victim status, familial status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations in accordance with applicable law. 

Cornell University embraces diversity and seeks candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff to all identities and backgrounds. We encourage individuals from underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply.

2023-12-12