Assistant Professor, Fish Ecology and Management

Position Description
Assistant Professor, Fish Ecology and Management
Department of Watershed Sciences
Quinney College of Natural Resources, Utah State University

Overview

The Department of Watershed Sciences (WATS) at Utah State University (USU) invites applications for an Assistant Professor in freshwater fish ecology and/or fisheries management. This tenure-track, full-time (nine-month) position is based at the USU main campus in Logan, Utah. The relative emphasis for the position is 50% research, 40% teaching, and 10% service. The position will start August 2020.

Responsibilities: 

• Develop an innovative, externally funded research program to support personal scholarship and graduate student education.
• Teach both undergraduate and graduate courses with a load of 7-8 semester hours per year. Topics may include fish diversity, fisheries management, general ecology, graduate seminars in the candidate’s area of specialization, or other courses as required.
• Service includes faculty duties on campus as well as engagement with professional societies, government agencies, and the public.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Earned doctorate in fish ecology, fisheries, aquatic ecology, or a closely related discipline.
• Strong background in limnology or stream ecology with a primary research focus on either non-game or sport fish. Areas of specialization may include physiological ecology of fish, trophic ecology, spatial ecology of fish species and communities, ecological response of fish to global change, and fish conservation andrestoration. Candidates who combine field-based and experimental approaches in their research are especially encouraged to apply.
• Record of peer-reviewed publication appropriate to career stage.
• Evidence of excellence in teaching or the ability to develop into an excellent teacher.
• Ability to communicate knowledge in a way that is useful for management and policy.
• Ability to collaborate in an interdisciplinary setting within a watershed context.

Preferred Qualifications

• Postdoctoral experience.
• Experience working with state and federal natural resource agencies.

Review of applications will begin October 10, 2019.
Queries about the position may be directed to the search committee chair, (TBD).

Required Documents

Along with the online application, please attach:

1. Cover letter
2. Curriculum vitae
3. Statement of research goals and interests. Include a description of how your specific research interests complement those of current faculty within the Watershed Sciences Department.
4. Statement of teaching philosophy. Include a description of your qualifications for teaching both undergraduate and graduate students.
5. Copies of three most significant publications.
6. Names, titles, phone numbers, and email addresses of three professional references.

Please do not attach required documents in the online candidate profile; you will be instructed to upload documents later in the application. 

**Document size may not exceed 10 MB.**

Department of Watershed Sciences

The Department includes 16 faculty members with diverse interests in aquatic and wetland ecology, fish biology and management, water quality, hydrology, geomorphology, climate science, water resource modeling, and watershed systems.  The Department offers BS degrees in Fisheries & Aquatic Sciences and in Management & Restoration of Aquatic Ecosystems. It offers MS and PhD degrees in Ecology and in Watershed Sciences. The Department is part of the S.J. & Jessie E. Quinney College of Natural Resources along with the Departments of Environment and Society and Wildland Resources. USU is Utah’s Land Grant University and the Department strongly supports the land-grant tradition of scholarship for the public good in collaboration with the USU Ecology Center, the Utah Agricultural Experiment Station, and USU Extension.

University Highlights

Utah State University (USU) was founded in 1888 and is honored to be Utah’s land-grant and space-grant university. USU is a Carnegie RU/H (Research University/High Research Activity) institution with approximately 28,000 students (25,000 undergraduates and 3,000 graduate students) on the Logan main campus, four regional campuses, two USU Eastern campuses, and 28 centers throughout the state. USU offers 162 undergraduate majors, 153 graduate programs, and a variety of innovative stackable associate and certificate credentials. The 2018 rankings from Washington Monthly ranked USU as one of the top 30 national universities and the 5th best public national university in the nation.   As one of the two premier research institutions in Utah, USU is proud to provide a high-quality education at an affordable price. Additional information about Utah State University can be found at: https://www.usu.edu/about/at-a-glance/.

A core characteristic of USU is engagement with communities and people in economic development, improvements to quality of life, and human capital. Through the practical application of knowledge, the University and its faculty engage and share expertise with the state, nation, and world, preserving the historical land-grant tradition of partnering with communities to address critical societal issues in the interest of the public good.

The USU main campus is located in Logan, Utah; a city of about 50,000 situated in a picturesque mountain valley about 80 miles north of Salt Lake City. Outstanding recreational opportunities abound in the nearby mountains and proximate region. Additional information about Logan can be found at:http://www.loganutah.org/visitors/about_logan/index.php.

USU recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the university’s academic mission of learning, discovery, and engagement (https://www.usu.edu/president/missionstatement/). USU is an AA/EO employer and does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, sexual orientation or gender identity/expression, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by University policy or local, state, or federal law. Learn more at www.aaeo.usu.edu/non-discrimination. USU is sensitive to the needs of dual career couples and provides a Dual Career Assistance program. Additional information can be found at: http://www.usu.edu/provost/faculty-life/dual-career-assistance.cfm.

ADA

The position primarily involves work indoors, protected from weather and/or contaminants. Field teaching and research is a typical component of this position, requiring the ability to perform research tasks in inclement weather, navigate uneven ground, and work from small craft on rivers and lakes.

Salary

Salary is negotiable and commensurate with qualifications and experience. USU offers competitive salaries and outstanding medical, retirement, and professional benefits (http://hr.usu.edu).

Application process

Applicants must submit all application materials electronically via the Utah State University Human Resources web site (https://jobs.usu.edu).