ANNOUNCEMENT OF FACULTY VACANCIES TREE AND ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION PROGRAM

The State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY ESF) in Syracuse, NY is building a faculty cluster in the Tree and Ecosystem Restoration Program (TERP). This cluster will enhance SUNY ESF's leadership role in addressing tree and ecosystem restoration at state, national and international levels. We are hiring five tenure-track positions in three departments: Forest Biotechnologist & Director of TERP, Plant Tissue Culture and Transformation Biologist, and Restoration Ecologist in the Department of Environmental Biology; Plant Biochemist in the Department of Chemistry; and Arboriculturist/Urban Forester in the Department of Sustainable Resource Management. Successful candidates are expected to participate actively in this interdisciplinary cluster initiative. Full details on this cluster hire are available at www.esf.edu/HR/clusterhire. We invite applications for three different positions. 

DIRECTOR OF TERP & PART-TIME ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF PLANT TRANSFOMATION This position is a half-time, calendar-year (12 mo) tenure-track position as Assistant Professor of Forest Biotechnology and Director of the College’s Tree and Ecosystem Restoration Program (TERP), an expansion of the American Chestnut Research and Restoration Project (https://www.esf.edu/chestnut/about.asp ). The remaining 50% of the position will be covered by extramural funding currently established and continuing extramural support obtained by the Director. The Director’s primary duties will be to manage the American Chestnut Research and Restoration Program established by the NY State Senate (Bill #5470, June 11, 1997) and its expansion into the TERP. This position will manage current spin-off tree restoration programs for the American elm, the Ozark Chinquapin, the Tree Restoration Center, and consolidate them under TERP. This position will direct new proposals for extramural funding through the College Foundation and the Research Foundation at ESF and oversee management their budgets, supply and equipment orders, lab space, and hiring, with the help of project staff. The position will also manage USDA APHIS field permits and U.S. regulatory reviews by the USDA APHIS BRS, EPA, and FDA. The position will direct and mentor visiting scientists, post-doctoral fellows, research and administrative staff, graduate students, undergraduate students, high school interns, and public volunteers working in the program. This position will be the main contact for collaborations with other universities, NGOs, and businesses. This position will teach one graduate seminar per year of their choice, such as the current “Presenting Research to the Public”. A strong interest in collaborative research within TERP, the faculty in Environmental Biology, within ESF, and with other institutions is expected.

Responsibilities: The workload for this half-time position is 90% managing TERP, research, and scholarship, 10% teaching and service. Specific research, teaching, and service responsibilities include: 1) Manage TERP, 2) secure extramural research funding and publish in high impact journals, 3) mentor graduate student research, 4) teach a graduate seminar/course in the candidate’s area of expertise, 5) advise undergraduate students in Plant Biotechnology and related majors, and 6) service to the department, college, professional societies, and governmental/non-governmental partners.

Required Qualifications:

• PhD in plant biotechnology, or related area of biology
• Experience with USDA APHIS field permits for transgenic plants
• Experience writing, submitting, and shepherding regulatory petitions through the USDA APHIS BRS, EPA, and FDA regulatory processes
• Record of publication in plant biotechnology
• Demonstrated management skills
• Demonstrated ability to communicate science effectively to both the public and science communities

Preferred Qualifications:

• Direct experience with tree species, such as the American chestnut, American elm, or others.
• Postdoctoral or professional research experience plant biotechnology

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF RESTORATION ECOLOGY This is for an academic-year (10 mo) tenure-track position as Assistant Professor of Restoration Ecology. Individuals with strong interests in restoring forests in the northeastern United States and beyond through substantial participation in the ESF’s Tree and Ecosystem Restoration Program (TERP), an expansion of the American Chestnut Research and Restoration Project (https://www.esf.edu/chestnut/about.asp), are encouraged to apply. We seek a teacher-scholar strongly committed to both research and engaging students in the classroom and through mentorship at the undergraduate, MS, and PhD levels. The successful candidate will be expected to build an internationally recognized extramurally funded research program in forest restoration ecology. Research foci might include establishment and early management of natural or novel forest communities that maximize ecological function, are best adapted to climatic change, or are more resilient to a wide array of modern forest stressors. It is expected that the individual would have strong expertise with above and/or below ground macro and/or micro processes of terrestrial forest restoration; however, applicants with extensive forest wetland restoration experience will also be considered. It is anticipated that this individual, if interested, would have access to blight-resistant American chestnut and other genetically-modified tree species developed at ESF and approved for reintroduction. A strong interest in collaborative research within TERP, faculty in the Environmental Biology (EB) and Sustainable Resources Management departments, others across the College, and with external institutions is expected. The individual is expected to have a significant role in ESF’s Restoration Science Center (https://www.esf.edu/research/restorationscience/index.php)

Responsibilities: The effort distribution for this position is 45% teaching, 45% research, and 10% service. Specific teaching responsibilities include: 1) one three-credit hour undergraduate course, i.e., Global Environment, a large service course in EB that is required by students multiple majors; 2) one advanced (graduate level) three or four credit hour course in ecological restoration that would serve EB and other departments on campus; and 3) a one credit hour graduate level seminar in the candidate’s area of expertise. Research expectations are fully described within the Environmental Biology’s Promotion and Tenure guidelines. Service responsibilities include advising undergraduate students, mentoring graduate students at the Master’s and Doctoral levels, and participating in department, college, community and professional service.

Required Qualifications:

• PhD in restoration ecology or related area.
• Evidence of effective teaching and mentoring.
• Strong record of publication.
• Strong evidence of potential to secure external funding to support research.
• Demonstrated interest in research integrating restoration ecology principles to organismal and ecological levels.

Preferred Qualifications:

• At least one year of postdoctoral or professional research experience.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate science effectively to multiple constituencies.
• Evidence of collegiality and dedication to professional service.
• Demonstrated experience fostering an inclusive environment, working with people from diverse backgrounds, and incorporating diverse perspectives in research.

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF PLANT TISSUE CULTURE AND TRANSFORMATION This is an academic-year (10-mo) tenure-track position as Assistant Professor of Plant Tissue Culture and Transformation. This position will contribute to supporting Forest Health in the northeastern United States and beyond through substantial participation in the TERP cluster, an expansion of the American Chestnut Research and Restoration Project (https://www.esf.edu/chestnut/about.asp). We seek a teacher-scholar with a strong commitment to both scholarship and engaging students in the classroom and through research mentorship at the undergraduate, MS, and PhD levels. The successful candidate will be expected to build an internationally recognized extramurally funded research program in tissue culture and transformation of keystone tree species threatened by pests, pathogens, and climate change. Current focal species include the American chestnut, American elm, and the Ozark chinquapin. Future interests include sugar maple, American beech, ash, and others.

Responsibilities: The workload for this position is 45% teaching, 45% research, and 10% service. Specific teaching responsibilities include: 1) two 3-credit undergraduate courses: Plant Tissue Culture and Plant Biotechnology, 2) a one-credit graduate-level seminar in the candidate’s area of expertise, and 3) a one-credit undergraduate level course in Research Design and Professional Development. Service responsibilities include advising undergraduate students, mentoring graduate students at the Master and Doctoral levels, and participating in department, college, and community service.

Required Qualifications:

• PhD in plant biotechnology or related area of biology, with experience using plant tissue culture and transformation techniques.
• Strong record of publication of plant biotechnology-related research.
• Strong evidence of potential to secure external funding to support research.
• Evidence of effective teaching and mentoring.
• Demonstrated interest in research integrating molecular and/or physiological processes to organismal and ecological levels.

Preferred Qualifications:

• At least one year of postdoctoral or professional research experience with proven track record in plant tissue culture and transformation research.
• Research experience and publications focused on temperate forest tree species.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate science effectively to multiple constituencies.
• Evidence of collegiality and dedication to professional service.
• Demonstrated experience fostering an inclusive environment, working with people from diverse backgrounds, and incorporating diverse perspectives in research.
• Familiarity with U.S. federal regulatory policy for genetically engineered plants

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR ARBORICULTURE AND URBAN FORESTRY ASSISTANT PROFESSOR

(Department of Sustainable Resources Management). Research focused on restoration and stewardship of suburban and urban areas with a focus on tree care and management. In addition to culturing and caring for trees in association with the Restoration Science Center, there will be large opportunities to work with other clusters at ESF at the nexus of water and energy/carbon (e.g., Water Science and Bioeconomy clusters). Teaching responsibilities include introductory classes in arboriculture and urban forestry.

Required Qualifications:

• PhD in arboriculture, urban forestry, forestry, natural resources or related field.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Track record of publications in high-impact journals and successful grant writing.
• Demonstrated capability as a teacher and mentor of both undergraduates and graduate students.
• Commitment to diversity and inclusiveness in research, teaching and service activities.

The Department, College, and broader Community: The successful candidate will join the faculty of the Department of Environmental Biology (www.esf.edu/efb/), which is also home to the Center for Native Peoples and the Environment (www.esf.edu/nativepeoples/), the American Chestnut Research and Restoration Program (https://www.esf.edu/chestnut/), and the historic Roosevelt Wild Life Station (www.esf.edu/rwls/). We seek to recruit and retain a diverse workforce to sustain program excellence and offer varied disciplines, perspectives, and ways of knowing. The Department hosts the oldest, and today one of the largest, combined programs in Fisheries, Wildlife Science, and Conservation Biology in the nation.

ESF is a specialized PhD-granting college within the 64-campus SUNY system, and is a Carnegie R2 “High Research Activity” Institution that consistently earns high rankings in US News and World Report, Forbes, Princeton Review, and other national college guidebooks. With a total enrollment of about 2,200 undergraduates and 400 graduate students, ESF provides an intimate small-college atmosphere while its immediate proximity to Syracuse University and Upstate Medical University fosters a vibrant, diverse, large-university setting. ESF’s more than 25,000 acres of forest properties, both close to Syracuse and across the Adirondack Park, provide numerous opportunities for experiential coursework and research. 

Located on the eastern edge of the Finger Lakes region, Syracuse is a small city in a rural region offering a diversity of natural and cultural amenities, a low cost of living, and a high quality of life – ranking among the top 10 percent of “Best Places to Live” in “The Places Rated Almanac.” Syracuse is situated with easy access to New York City, the Adirondack Park, and many other points of interest in the eastern United States and Canada.

Starting Salary: Commensurate with experience.

Application Procedure: Applications should include: 1) a cover letter summarizing your interest and qualifications, 2) a curriculum vitae with contact information (name, institution, email, phone, and address) for a minimum of three references who have agreed to send letters of recommendation when needed, 3) a statement of plans to foster diversity and inclusion through teaching, research, and service, 4) a statement of research interests and vision, and 5) a statement of teaching philosophy and vision. The diversity, teaching, and research statements should not exceed 2 pages each, and we welcome statements demonstrating integrative and collaborative approaches that complement departmental strengths. The entire application should be compiled as a single pdf document (not exceeding 10 MB) and submitted via the Human Resources online portal https://esf.interviewexchange.com/static/clients/444ESM1/index.jsp.

Application Deadline: To ensure optimal consideration, all application materials must be received by October 1, 2023, although this position will remain open until filled.