University of Kentucky Seeks Forestry & Natural Resources Faculty, Forest Products Utilization
Assistant or Associate Professor, Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Kentucky. This is a 12-month tenure-eligible appointment in the Extension Title Series with an anticipated starting date is July 1, 2022 or as negotiated.
Responsibilities
The position is 75% extension/outreach, 20% teaching, and 5% service subject to annual evaluation and modification. The successful candidate will be expected to lead state, regional/national forest products utilization efforts, providing expertise and knowledge in critical issues facing the hardwood industry. The successful candidate will evaluate forest industry needs and develop appropriate priorities, strategies and solutions including effective Cooperative Extension Service programs, scholarly resources, extramural funding acquisition, contribution to and/or conduct applied research. This will be accomplished while building, maintaining, and leading effective partnerships with aligned industries, agencies, and organizations such as the Ohio Valley Lumber Drying Association, Kentucky Forest Industries Association, and James B. Beam Institute for Kentucky Spirits. The University promotes an interdisciplinary environment with faculty, staff, and professionals within the department and Cooperative Extension Service and the successful candidate will be required to build both internal and external collaborative efforts to address forest product utilization issues affecting the general public and technical issues impacting individual businesses or industry sectors. Knowledge of wood science fundamentals and industrial operations will facilitate problem-solving. Instructional responsibilities will also include undergraduate instruction associated with the department’s accredited B.S. program, examples include Forest Products, Wood Science, Forest Operations and Utilization. The position is also expected to support the Department’s graduate programs, including the recently implemented doctoral program, and aligned certificate programs (ex. Distillation, Wine and Brewing Studies). This position is one of four faculty hires undertaken by the department this academic year providing a unique opportunity to collaboratively strengthen the department’s long-term effort to enhance the ecological, economic, and social benefits of forests and related natural resources.
Qualifications
Ph.D. degree in forest products and utilization, wood sciences, or a closely related discipline. Candidates should have demonstrated expertise in the broad field of forest products, forest industry operations, or forest resource utilization.
The Department of Forestry and Natural Resources
The forest industry sector contributes nearly 13 billion annually to Kentucky’s economy. The department recognizes the importance of this sector and this position, and has significant resources available to support the position including the Wood Utilization Center at the Robinson Center for Appalachian Resource Sustainability, significant industry partnerships, and an award-winning team of forestry Extension faculty and staff including forest products Extension associates. The Department of Forestry and Natural Resources is one of 14 academic departments in the College of Agriculture, Food and Environment providing undergraduate and graduate instruction in forestry and natural resources, maintains Kentucky’s only Society of American Foresters accredited forestry program and contributes to inter-departmental programs and certificates. Faculty of the Department conduct basic and applied research to support our understanding and use of forest ecosystems and develop education and outreach solutions to address critical forest resource issues. For information about the Department and the University of Kentucky, see forestry.ca.uky.edu and www.uky.edu. For information about living in Lexington, see www.lexingtonky.gov and www.visitlex.com.
Application Procedure
To apply for job FE02780, submit a UK Online Application at www.uky.edu/ukjobs. Closing date is December 17, 2021. Interested applicants should attach the following documents: a letter of application (Cover Letter), curriculum vitae (Resume), statement of Extension/outreach philosophy (Specific Request 1), statement of teaching philosophy (Specific Request 2), and unofficial transcripts (Specific Request 3), names and contact information for three references (Specific Request 4).
Questions about the position should be directed to Dr. Jeff Stringer, Search Committee Chair, stringer@uky.edu, (859) 257-7596
The University of Kentucky is an equal opportunity university. We encourage applications from women, minorities, and all interested and qualified people. The EEO Coordinator is Tim West, S-105 Agricultural Science North, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546-0091.