Extension Assistant Professor - Biodiversity Conservation

UMass Amherst•Amherst, NY

1d•$79,350 - $116,164

About The Position

The Department of Environmental Conservation at the University of Massachusetts Amherst invites applications for a full-time Extension faculty position at the rank of Extension Assistant Professor. We are looking for a candidate who will develop an integrated research and extension program in Biodiversity Conservation in which academic research is integrated with educational programs, resources, tools and/or technologies that meet the needs of key stakeholders such as landowners, municipal officials, community leaders, conservation organizations, government agencies, natural resource professionals, and policy-makers. The successful candidate will participate as a full member of the University of Massachusetts faculty with a 12-month, non-tenure track appointment. A typical Extension faculty appointment is 30% teaching, 20% research, and 50% extension and service. Extension is a targeted form of public education, university outreach, and community engagement with sustained efforts to produce tangible outcomes that address critical issues in the region. Extension activities are based on pressing environmental challenges, stakeholder needs, and the academic strengths of departments and other units of UMass Amherst. Extension faculty play a catalytic and integrative role within departments including: (1) identifying critical issues in the Commonwealth and the Northeastern U.S., (2) convening dynamic teams of researchers and collaborators to engage in research that addresses critical issues, (3) securing grants to fund research and extension activities, and (4) working strategically with stakeholders and extension professional staff to deliver research-based information to inform decisions that address critical issues. The role of Extension faculty is to extend the work of the land grant university into the field of practitioners, a role that can be fulfilled both by individual research and outreach efforts, as well as by coordinating and collaborating with other faculty and staff at UMass. Massachusetts includes a wide array of ecosystems, including forests, rivers and lakes, freshwater and saltwater marshes, and coastal beaches intermixed with urban and suburban landscapes. Potential programming opportunities for an extension faculty member in biodiversity conservation may therefore include work in any of these ecosystems related to: ecological restoration, landscape-scale connectivity, prioritization of conservation activities, wetland assessment, biodiversity monitoring, endangered species conservation, and reducing impacts of development on ecosystems and biodiversity. As climate change is an important consideration for species and ecosystem management, there are opportunities for collaboration with the Northeast Climate Adaptation Science Center (NECASC), which is currently located at UMass ( https://necasc.umass.edu/ ). These biodiversity conservation programming areas are core to the Department of Environmental Conservation’s mission, and to the University’s goals for a “sustainable and just future for all.” In addition to developing and implementing an integrated extension and research program, the successful candidate will be expected to bring their applied experience and professional relationships into the classroom to teach one course per semester in wetlands and/or wildlife ecology and conservation (as guided by departmental needs and candidate expertise), mentor undergraduate and graduate students, and contribute to the department/college/university and profession through service. We share a fundamental commitment to teach and serve a diverse student body, professional practitioners, and the broader public.

Requirements

An earned M.S. or Ph.D. in ecology, natural resources conservation, environmental science or related fields by the time of hire.
Direct experience in biodiversity conservation.
Experience in extension, public education, community engagement, and/or outreach.
Ability to teach courses in wetlands ecology and/or wildlife conservation.
Excellent writing and communication skills.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge and experience that span diverse species and ecosystems.
Experience in applied research.
Demonstrated ability to acquire extra-mural funding to support extension and research programs.
Demonstrated ability to collaborate with external partners including environmental organizations, state and federal agencies, natural resource professionals, conservation commissions and other municipal boards, regional planning agencies, and environmental consultants.
Potential for effective collaboration with faculty and professional staff in the Department of Environmental Conservation, UMass Extension and other UMass Amherst departments and centers.

Responsibilities

Develop an integrated research and extension program in Biodiversity Conservation.
Perform academic research that is integrated with educational programs, resources, tools and/or technologies that meet the needs of key stakeholders such as landowners, municipal officials, community leaders, conservation organizations, government agencies, natural resource professionals, and policy-makers.
Teach one course per semester in wetlands and/or wildlife ecology and conservation.
Mentor undergraduate and graduate students.
Contribute to the department/college/university and profession through service.
Work collaboratively and effectively to promote teamwork, equality and inclusiveness.
Work in partnership with colleagues within the CNS community and across the campus to support the Dean’s strategic priorities.
Perform other duties as assigned in support of the mission and goals of the College of Natural Sciences.

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