Assistant Professor-Forest Biogeochemistry, West Virginia University

The Department of Biology at West Virginia University invites applications for an Assistant Professor of Biology with a specialization in Forest Biogeochemistry starting August 11, 2023. This is a 9-month, full-time, tenure-track position with full benefits. The successful candidate will strengthen the Department’s existing focus on forest ecological research. We seek a scholar who uses empirical and advanced analytical techniques to investigate the role of microbes and/or trees in driving the response of forest biogeochemical cycles, particularly coupled carbon-nutrient cycles, to global change across multiple levels of biological organization ranging from genes to ecosystems.

The Department of Biology offers both Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees and maintains approximately 650 majors annually. We also serve over 1000 students through non-majors coursework. We offer students areas of emphasis in Genomics, Cellular and Molecular Biology, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, and Neuroscience, which are aligned with the Department’s research foci. The Department of Biology has over 40 graduate students in M.S. and Ph.D. programs with a strong track record of students receiving prestigious Department of Education, National Institutes of Health, and National Science Foundation fellowships. In addition to our research and teaching greenhouse, The Department is home to the WVU Genomics and Bioinformatics Core Facility and the Earl L. Core Arboretum which includes an old growth forest preserve that supports research, teaching, and service. Our Ecology and Evolutionary Biology group has benefited from the proximity of world-class field sites including the Fernow Experimental Forest which has gauged watershed experiments, the West Virginia University Forest which has multiple manipulations of forest management, and the new Summit Bechtel Reserve where a new 20ha forest dynamics plot has been recently established.

WVU is a R1 research land grant university located within 90 minutes of Pittsburgh and 3.5 hours from the Washington/Baltimore area. Morgantown has been recognized as one of the most livable small cities in the U.S. There are extensive recreational opportunities, excellent public schools, and a supportive University environment in which to develop a visible and productive career. The WVU Dual Career Program is available to assist candidates with suitable employment opportunities for spouses or partners. 

To apply, please visit WVU Careers, and individually upload a 1) cover letter; 2) curriculum vitae; 3) up to three representative publications; 4) a statement of future research plans (3 page maximum); 5) a teaching statement (1 page maximum); 6) contact information for three references.  

The screening process will begin October 24, 2022, and continue until the position is filled. For more information, please visit our website, https://biology.wvu.edu/news-and-events/jobs, or contact the chair of the search committee, Eddie Brzostek at erbrzostek@mail.wvu.edu. 

WVU is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and the recipient of an NSF ADVANCE award for gender equity. The university values diversity among its faculty, staff, and students, and invites applications from all qualified individuals, including minorities, females, individuals with disabilities, and veterans.