Assistant Professor, Rangeland Ecology & Management

The University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) appreciates your interest in employment at our growing institution. We want your application process to go smoothly and quickly. Final applications must be submitted prior to the close of the recruitment.

If you need assistance or have questions regarding the application process, please contact our recruitment helpline at (775) 784-1495 or [email protected] . For UNR Med professional job postings, please contact the Office of Professional Recruitment at (775) 784-6778. 

Job Description

The Department of Agriculture, Veterinary, and Rangeland Sciences is seeking to fill an Assistant Professor position in Rangeland Ecology & Management. The position a tenure-track appointment in the Department of Agriculture, Veterinary, and Rangeland Sciences at the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR). Summer salary is dependent upon availability of research and Extension grants. We are seeking a rangeland scientist/ecologist dedicated to educating, advising, and mentoring undergraduate and graduate students primarily in rangeland science, but also related fields. The position will consist of teaching, research, and service/outreach.

Responsibilities: The department seeks a dynamic individual to provide leadership in teaching, research, and outreach/service related to rangeland ecology and management in the Great Basin and Intermountain West. The department’s expectation is that the research conducted by the person in this position will integrate domestic and wild animal nutrition, sustainable livestock production systems on arid lands, invasive species, fuels management, fire rehabilitation, restoration of native sagebrush grassland plant communities, and rangeland management programs already in place in the department. The position will have the expectation of developing a program in rangeland rehabilitation and improvement, including areas such as: rangeland fire rehabilitation, mined-land reclamation, and other restorative techniques and applications germane to rangeland ecology and management.

Research activities may be conducted at any or all of Nevada Agriculture Experiment Station’s facilities, including the Gund Ranch and the Great Basin Research and Extension Center; and in cooperation with State and Federal land and natural resource management agencies and private operations. The successful candidate will be expected to collaborate with departmental faculty, USDA Agriculture Research Service scientists, USDA Plant Materials personnel, Bureau of Land Management/Forest Service managers, and livestock producers, while developing research projects appropriate for Great Basin, intermountain and international semi-arid- and arid land ecosystems. Outreach to stakeholders, primarily rangeland and livestock managers regarding research needs/priorities/interests and encouraging their involvement is expected. The successful candidate must be able to conduct research in remote locations characterized by challenging terrain and weather. Expected scholarship includes communication of research results through peer-reviewed journals, presentations at scientific conferences, workshops, field days and other extension or outreach programs, and supervision of graduate student research. The successful candidate will be expected to teach core undergraduate rangeland ecology and management courses as well as graduate courses, while also mentoring graduate students and contributing to curriculum development. Undergraduate mentoring may include career counseling, Range Club Advisor, or other activities as determined by the Department Chair. Acquisition of grant funding will be essential in order to maintain active research and outreach programs that meet the expectations for this position. Outreach activities are expected to cover local to international challenges and locations, and therefore may require extensive travel throughout Nevada and perhaps, beyond.

Required Qualifications

• A completed Ph.D. in Rangeland Ecology and Management or closely related discipline. Must have degree by July 1 2024.

• Working knowledge, demonstrated field experience, and applied training in ecology and management of rangelands and other natural resources.

• Demonstrated potential to produce a strong publication record.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated potential to teach undergraduate and graduate courses in rangeland ecology and management or related fields such as fire ecology, range-livestock interactions, and soils in an effective manner.

• Demonstrated ability to teach using more than one delivery method including face-to-face, virtual, and field based labs is preferred.

• Demonstrated ability to work productively with land management agencies and various stakeholder groups. 

• Demonstrated ability to articulate natural resource science and management to diverse audiences in the classroom and with stakeholders.

• Demonstrated ability to develop an innovative range management/natural resource outreach program throughout the state of Nevada and beyond.

• Experience working in multi-disciplinary teams. Demonstrated potential for securing competitive funding for research and Outreach.

Compensation Grade

Assistant Professor

To view the salary schedule for this position, please visit: Salary Schedules and select Academic Faculty. Salary is competitive and commensurate with related education and experience.

Remarkable Retirement

Our retirement plan is beyond compare. Your 17.50% contribution is generously matched by the University.   With the faculty retirement plan, you are 100% vested your first day. Sit back and watch your retirement dollars grow!  All permanent employees on an annual "A" or "B" contract who are employed at least 50% full-time are eligible to participate in the NSHE retirement program unless they are members of PERS of Nevada. 

“I had no idea the values of the faculty retirement plan when I joined UNR. On my first day, I found out I was fully vested in my contributions and the companies 17.5% matching. I have watched my retirement grow over the years, not only in contributions, but with investments.  It is hard to put into words how appreciative I am to feel so secure in my future” – Michelle B.

Perks of Working at UNR

• Health insurance options including dental and vision - Health Insurance

• Sick leave and life insurance – Faculty Benefits

• E. L. Wiegand Fitness Center offers annual or semester memberships and spouse/domestic partner membership options.  E.L. Wiegand Fitness Center

• Reno is proud to be a University town! Many local businesses offer discounts to WolfCard holders

• Mountain EAP supports employees (and eligible dependents) through life's difficult moments. Mountain EAP is located in Reno and specializes in counseling and advising services for personal or interpersonal issues.

• Several Diversity Committees and Affinity Groups focusing on campus-wide diversity initiatives to ensure we are working to create a diverse and welcoming campus climate. Diversity Groups

• Faculty Senate is the principal representing body for faculty. Its membership includes representatives from each academic and administrative major unit of the University. Faculty Senate

• No state income tax!

Grants-in-aid for Faculty Employees

The University is proud to provide a reduced-rate tuition benefit to faculty and qualified dependents. Faculty can take up to six credits per semester at a reduced rate. Dependents of faculty have unlimited credits, but in order to be eligible children must be unmarried and under the age of 24 and must receive at least 50% of their financial support from the employee and/or employee’s spouse or domestic partner.  Faculty Grants-in-Aid

Faculty Dual Career Assistance Program

The University of Nevada, Reno recognizes the importance of addressing dual-career couples’ professional needs. We offer a dual career assistance program to newly hired faculty spouses/partners that provides resources and assists them to identify career opportunities in Northern Nevada. Dual Career Assistance Program

Department Information

The mission of the Department of Agriculture, Veterinary and Rangeland Sciences is to demonstrate a commitment to excellence and innovation while meeting the needs of the citizens of the State of Nevada and the Nation.  This mission is accomplished by: (1) Providing strong educational programs in the disciplines of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences and Rangeland Ecology and Management at the undergraduate, graduate and internship levels.  (2) Training students to meet state and national needs by increasing the work force of agriculturalists and animal healthcare professionals.  (3) Conducting innovative research in the departmental disciplines providing local, national and global impact.  (4) Addressing critical issues identified by the citizens of the State of Nevada through continued teaching, scholarly activities and service.

Department Contract

For questions, please contact: Dr. Tamzen Stringham, [email protected] or Dr. Paul Meiman, [email protected]  

Exempt

Yes

Full-Time Equivalent

100.0%

Required Attachment(s)

Please note, that once you submit your application, the only attachment/s viewable to you will be the attachment/s to the resume/CV section of the application. Any additional required attachment/s to the cover letter, references, or additional documents sections of the application will not be viewable to you after you submit your application. All uploaded attachment/s will be on the application for the committee to review. Before the committee reviews applications, don't hesitate to contact the candidate helpdesk at [email protected] to request attachment updates.

Attach the following attachments to your application

1) Resume/CV

2) Cover Letter

3) Contact Information for Three Professional References

4) Please write a brief statement (one-page maximum) about how you would contribute toward our mission of creating a culturally inclusive environment in the role for which you are applying.

5) A statement of teaching interests and philosophy

6) A statement of research interests

This posting is open until filled

Qualified individuals are encouraged to apply immediately. This search will close without notice when a sufficient number of applications are received or a hiring decision has been made.

For full consideration of application, all materials must be submitted by May 31, 2024

Posting Close Date

05/31/2024

Note to Applicant

A background check will be conducted on the candidate(s) selected for hire.

  

HR will attempt to verify academic credentials upon receipt of hiring documents. If the academic credentials cannot be verified, HR will notify the faculty member that an official transcript of their highest degree must be submitted within thirty days of the faculty member’s first day of employment.

  

References will be contacted at the appropriate phase of the recruitment process.

Applicants hired on a federal contract may be subject to E-Verify.

  

As part of the hiring process, applicants for positions in the Nevada System of Higher Education may be required to demonstrate the ability to perform job-related tasks.

  

For positions that require driving, evidence of a valid driver's license will be required at the time of employment and as a condition of continued employment.

    

Schedules are subject to change based on organizational needs.

The University of Nevada, Reno is committed to providing a place of work and learning free of discrimination on the basis of a person’s age (40 or older), disability, whether actual or perceived by others (including service-connected disabilities), gender (including pregnancy related conditions), military status or military obligations, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, race (including hair texture and protected hairstyles such as natural hairstyles, afros, bantu knots, curls, braids, locks and twists), color, or religion (protected classes). 

About Us

The University of Nevada, Reno is a leading American public research university committed to the promise of a future powered by knowledge. Founded in 1874 as Nevada’s original land-grant university, the University serves 21,000 undergraduate and graduate students from all 50 states and 63 countries.

Classified by the Carnegie® Classification of Institutions of Higher Education as an R1 (“Very High Research”) university, it is also recognized in the Carnegie® Community Engagement classification. The University is also ranked by U.S. News & World Report among the “Best National Universities” and “Best National Public Universities.” It also ranks in the top tier of the WSJ/Times Higher Education World University Rankings and the New York Times’ “Top Colleges for Economic Diversity.”

Since 2009, nearly $1 billion has been has invested in advanced labs, facilities, and residence halls on the main campus. The University is home to Nevada’s first medical school – the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine – and it delivers on its original land-grant mission with outreach across the state through the University of Nevada, Reno Extension, Nevada Agricultural Experiment Station, Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology, Nevada Small Business Development Center, the Nevada Seismological Laboratory, and Wolf Pack Athletics.

The main campus is in Reno, Nevada, a burgeoning global technology hub with a vibrant midtown and downtown. Found where the high desert of the Great Basin meets the High Sierra and Lake Tahoe, the beautiful, 290-acre main campus is also a Nevada State Arboretum. In recent years, the University has expanded to include two additional locations: the Redfield Campus in south Reno and the Wayne L. Prim campus in Incline Village, which is the home of the University of Nevada, Reno at Lake Tahoe.

 As part of the Nevada System of Higher Education – comprised of two research universities, one state college, four community colleges and an environmental research institute –  the University is committed to developing strong partnerships with each of these institutions for the benefit of all Nevadans.

Through its commitment to high-impact education, world-improving research and creative activity, and outreach that’s transforming Nevada’s communities and businesses, the University continues its nearly 150-year tradition of benefitting our state, nation and world.

The University recognizes that diversity promotes excellence in education and research. The inclusive and engaged community on campus recognizes the added value that students, faculty, and staff from different backgrounds bring to the educational experience.

Today, the University delivers on its original land-grant mission of access to education and knowledge by investing in the academics, facilities, support, engagement and vibrant campus life that promote our diverse students’ cognitive growth and academic achievement – all while remaining one of the best values in American higher education.

For more information, please visit the University’s website .

University of Nevada, Reno