Description
Position: This is a full-time, nine-month, tenure-track position at either the Assistant or Associate Professor level in the Department of Forestry, College of Forest Resources, Forest and Wildlife Research Center, Mississippi State University.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Responsibilities will include participation in the Department's teaching, research, and service activities. Teaching will consist of both undergraduate- and graduate-level courses on the forest recreation, non-market values of forests and natural resources, along with social aspects of decision-making across various landowner groups, including small-scale properties owned by private individuals and families, large-scale industrial and institutional forest landowners (e.g., TIMOs and REITs), and publicly held forestlands. The incumbent will also be expected to develop additional courses and establish strong mentoring programs for undergraduate and graduate students pursuing M.S. and Ph.D. degrees. The successful candidate will be required to grow an interdisciplinary and extramurally funded research program that supports sustainable forest recreation and ecosystem service valuation and assessment through collaboration with faculty from forestry, wildlife, and social and spatial technology sciences. Service responsibilities will include participation in department, college, and university activities; advising student organizations; participating in student recruitment activities; and networking with forestry and natural resource stakeholders, professional organizations, and agencies. Opportunities exist for research collaboration with the USDA Forest Service and other federal and state agencies, the forestry industry, non-governmental organizations, forest landowners, and land and resource managers.
Required Qualifications
A Ph.D. with a specialization in forest, natural resource, ecological, or environmental economics; outdoor recreation management; forestry with specialization in social sciences (e.g., human dimensions of forestry and natural resource management); or a closely related field. Experience in using spatial technologies (e.g., GIS, remote sensing, spatial statistics) to conduct research and/or provide instruction regarding forestry, natural resources, ecosystem services, and associated areas. At least one degree from a professional forestry or natural resources-related program is required. All but dissertation (ABD) applicants will be considered.
Preferred Qualifications
A strong record of scholarly publications, potential to secure extramural funding, demonstrated excellence in teaching both traditional and distance learning courses, potential to develop a collaborative and interdisciplinary research program, and excellent communication skills are recommended. Strong candidates will possess a background in areas such as non-market valuation techniques, outdoor recreation planning and management, and proficiency in applying spatial technologies to analyze social aspects of landowner behavior and supply and demand for ecosystem services, among others.
Rank and Salary
Tenure-track, full-time, 9-month appointment. Salary is negotiable and commensurate with qualifications and experience.
Departmental Profile
The Department of Forestry is one of three departments in the College of Forest Resources and the Forest and Wildlife Research Center at Mississippi State University. Faculty members have diverse expertise in teaching, research, and outreach, encompassing forest biology and watershed management, forest resource economics, management, and policy, as well as forest measurements, biometrics, and spatial technologies. The Department offers two undergraduate degree programs: Forestry, and Natural Resource and Environmental Conservation, both accredited by the Society of American Foresters. These programs serve approximately 200 students, including 40 graduate students in both on-campus and distance education programs. The University's John W. Starr Memorial Forest (an 8,000-plus-acre research and teaching forest), the 48,000-acre Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge, and the 67,000-acre Tombigbee National Forest are located in proximity to the University and used for teaching, research, service, and extension/outreach activities. The College of Forest Resources manages a 22,000-acre Bulldog Forest and has recently acquired a 14,000-acre research and teaching forest near the Wolf River in Southern Mississippi.
Mississippi State University
Mississippi State University is a Carnegie Very High Research Activity (R1) institution, a National Center for Excellence for the Federal Aviation Administration, and a land grant university that includes the Mississippi State University Extension Service and various facilities and research centers, such as the Forest and Wildlife Research Center, Geosystems Research Institute, and High Performance Computing Collaboratory. The University is situated in the beautiful city of Starkville, Mississippi.
Application Procedure
Screening of applicants will begin on January 2, 2026, and will continue until a suitable applicant is found. Applications must be submitted through the Mississippi State University Careers website via the link https://explore.msujobs.msstate.edu/en-us/listing/ (search PARF Number 510013), where the full position description can be viewed. Applicants should complete the online application and upload PDF files of the following documents: cover letter, curriculum vitae, unofficial transcripts for all degrees with social security numbers redacted (official copies will be required upon hire), a brief statement of research and teaching philosophy and interests, and contact information for three references. Questions may be directed to Dr. Robert K. Grala, Search and Screening Committee Chair, at r.grala@msstate.edu. Mississippi State University is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, sex, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, pregnancy, gender identity, status as a U.S. veteran, and/or any other status protected by applicable law. We always welcome nominations and applications from women, members of any minority group, and others who share our passion for building a diverse community that reflects the diversity in our student population.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:
Mississippi State University is an equal opportunity institution. Discrimination is prohibited in university employment, programs or activities based on race, color, ethnicity, sex, pregnancy, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, or any other status to the extent protected by applicable law. Questions about equal opportunity programs or compliance should be directed to the Office of Civil Rights Compliance, 231 Famous Maroon Band Street, P.O. 6044, Mississippi State, MS 39762, (662) 325-5839.
What do I do if I need an accommodation?
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If you have any questions regarding this policy, contact the Department of Human Resources Management at (662) 325-3713 or ada@hrm.msstate.edu. Upon request, sections of this job listing are available in large print, and readers are available to assist the visually impaired.
