The Department of Environmental Conservation is seeking talented applicants qualified for a tenure-
track position at the Assistant Professor level, Population/Statistical Ecology. Earliest appointment date
is September 1, 2015. Under exceptional circumstances, highly qualified candidates at ranks above
assistant professor may receive consideration.
Candidates should care deeply about undergraduate and
graduate education, and be a teacher, mentor, and scientist. The candidate is expected to develop
independent and collaborative research programs that compete successfully for funding from state,
federal and non-governmental organizations; build departmental and interdisciplinary collaborations
with Environmental Conservation and Organismic & Evolutionary Biology graduate programs; and
develop an innovative teaching program that incorporates new initiatives in teaching and learning.
Teaching responsibilities include: 1) undergraduate Statistics for Life Sciences general education course
taught using Team Based Learning methods, 2) graduate-level course in Population and Community
Ecology, and 3) graduate-level course in Statistical Ecology designed to contribute to an existing
graduate-level sequence of courses in the design and analysis of ecological data. Successful applicants
will serve, as do all other faculty, as a mentor to minorities and other underrepresented groups within
the Department. The University of Massachusetts Amherst places special emphases on faculty-student
interaction and a commitment to teach and attract a diverse student body. Successful applicants will be
expected to supervise graduate students at the Master’s and Ph.D. levels.
The focus of this position is population and statistical ecology with an emphasis on applying modern
statistical modeling approaches to the study of population dynamics and species-environment
relationships with an emphasis on, but not limited to, land use/climate change impacts on terrestrial
vertebrates. This person might have expertise in analysis of temporal and spatial population data,
demographic modeling/metapopulation dynamics, quantification of spatial synchrony, modeling
dispersion across the landscape, survival analysis and other related statistical techniques and will be
encouraged to work with colleagues in the department to seek competitive funding on topics of mutual
interest. The applicant should demonstrate: 1) effective collaborations with other ecologists on diverse
ecological systems in which theoretical ideas are tested in a real-world context; 2) strength in the design
and statistical analysis of ecological data; 3) ability to establish close collaborations with state, federal,
and NGO conservation agencies; 4) potential to attract external funding; and 5) excellence in written
and verbal communication. Previous teaching experience at a university level is desirable. A doctoral
degree in ecology or closely related field is required.
Applicants should submit curriculum vitae, statements of research and teaching goals, and the names,
addresses and contact information of three references to:
http://umass.interviewexchange.com/jobofferdetails.jsp?JOBID=54412
Search questions can be addressed to: Kevin McGarigal, Chair, (413) 577-0655 or mcgarigalk@eco.umass.edu.
Applicants should apply by the priority deadline of January 5, 2015 to ensure consideration.
