Assistant Professor of Silviculture

The Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation in the College of Natural Resources and Environment at Virginia Tech invites applicants for the position of Assistant Professor of Silviculture. This is a full-time, tenure-track, 9-month appointment with primary responsibilities in research (50%) and teaching (50%). The Department is committed to building an inclusive community through programs and activities that are integrated into our research, education, and outreach efforts. We welcome applications from persons identifying with groups underrepresented within the discipline, including but not limited to Black, Indigenous, people of color, first-generation, and underrepresented genders.

The successful candidate will lead a vibrant, externally funded research program that is recognized for scientific excellence, mentor a diverse population of graduate and undergraduate students, and provide high-quality instruction. Course contributions will be defined during the hiring process, but expectations include an undergraduate silviculture class and a graduate course in the candidate’s area of expertise. Strong communication and interpersonal skills are necessary; international engagement and recognition are encouraged and expected as the candidate’s career advances. The incumbent will be expected to engage in service to their profession as well as to the department, college, and university.

• A Ph.D. or equivalent at the time of appointment in forestry or a closely related discipline.
• A record of scholarship and peer-reviewed publications in silviculture.

• Demonstrated potential to acquire research funding to support graduate students and develop a discipline-leading research program.
• Demonstrated potential for effective and inclusive teaching and mentoring.
• Demonstrated commitment to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive university community

Regular

$90,000

Review date will begin on November 30, 2024 and continue until the position is filled. 

Inquiries can be directed to the search committee chair, Randolph Wynne (wynne@vt.edu, 540-231-7811).

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

About the Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation

The Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation is a high-performing group of approximately 45 faculty and 12 administrative and research staff. The department has a strong culture of interdisciplinary collaboration around foundational research in forest, natural resource, and social sciences. The department’s academic programs house roughly 330 undergraduates in five majors, including Forestry, and 60 graduate students. The department benefits from strong relationships with stakeholders and agency personnel, as well as longstanding leadership in forest industry cooperatives such as the Forest Productivity Cooperative, the Forest Modeling and Research Cooperative, and the Forest Operations and Business Research Cooperative.

About the College of Natural Resources and Environment

CNRE is one of nine academic colleges at Virginia Tech and has four academic departments covering a range of interests and disciplines: Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation, Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Geography, and Sustainable Biomaterials. The college employs more than 300 faculty and staff, including 83 tenure-track faculty. Approximately 1,000 undergraduate students in 11 majors and 200 graduate students in traditional master’s and doctoral programs are enrolled in the college at the Blacksburg campus. An additional 200 graduate students are pursuing professional master’s degrees at the Center for Leadership in Global Sustainability in the greater Washington, D.C., metro area. The college is a national leader in the natural resources fields, one of the top five producers of graduates nationally, and had expenditures of approximately $23 m in research during the 2023-2024 academic year.

About Virginia Tech

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges, a school of medicine, a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School, and Honors College. The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including the Innovation Campus in Northern Virginia; the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke; sites in Newport News and Richmond; and numerous Extension offices and research centers. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $500 million in research annually.

Virginia Tech endorses and encourages participation in professional development opportunities and university shared governance.  These valuable contributions to university shared governance provide important representation and perspective, along with opportunities for unique and impactful professional development.