Assistant Professor of Soil Ecology

The Department of Agriculture, Landscape, and Environment at the University of Vermont invites applicants for the position of Assistant Professor in Soil Ecology. This is a full-time (1.0 FTE) 9-month, tenure track position with a 45% teaching, 45% research, and 10% service appointment. The faculty member is expected to establish an independent, competitively-funded research program, resulting in national recognition. Research should focus on the study of soil ecology and with a potential contribution to sustainable agriculture. Areas of interest may include, but are not limited to: soil health, ecosystem resilience, plant-soil interactions, soilborne disease management, nutrient cycling, and land management for ecological services and climate mitigation. Applicants with an interest in developing a research program on Vermont agroecosystems are especially encouraged to apply. The successful applicant will join a growing and vibrant department whose mission is to expand and integrate knowledge on the sustainable management of agroecosystems, environmental design within multifunctional landscapes, and reducing the environmental footprint of agriculture.

Applications will be reviewed beginning January 6 but will be accepted until the position is filled. The successful candidate is expected to start in August 18, 2025.

The successful candidate will be expected to teach courses including an upper division Soil Ecology course, along with another course in within a related field that would expand the offerings for undergraduate and graduate students interested in the contribution of soil ecology to sustainable agroecosystems.

Qualified applicants should hold a Ph. D. in soil ecology, soil biology, soil science, or a related area. Postdoctoral experience is preferred. The University encourages applications from candidates who can contribute to the diversity and excellence of the academic community through their teaching, research, and service.

Responsibilities

The Assistant Professor of Soil Ecology will be responsible for developing a nationally-recognized research program on soil ecology, teaching graduate and undergraduate courses within the soil science or soil ecology, and advising undergraduate Agroecology major and Soil Science minors.

Successful candidates will demonstrate the capacity to:

• Maintain a high-quality funded research portfolio Publish in appropriate refereed and other journals Teach a course in Soil Ecology along with another course approved by the Chair Collaborate effectively with diverse groups of colleagues, students, and community partners Embrace principles of inclusion, accessibility, and equity in teaching, research and collaboration Provide service at the departmental, college, and university levels

About Us

The Department of Agriculture, Landscape, and Environment (ALE) is part of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS), which oversees the Vermont Agricultural Experiment Station, UVM Greenhouse Facilities, Horticulture Research and Education Center, Proctor Maple Research Center, and Paul R. Miller Research and Education Center. Additional facilities include the Advanced Genome Technologies Core, Bioinformatics Shared Resource, Biostatistics Facility, and Vermont Advanced Computing Center.

Successful candidates will have the opportunity to work collaboratively across the department, college and university. The University hosts several Centers and Institutes, including the Soil Health Research and Extension Center, UVM Extension, Food Systems Research Center, Institute for Agroecology, Leahy Institute for Rural Partnerships, Water Resources Institute, and the Gund Institute for Environment.

Members of the University of Vermont community embrace and advance the values of Our Common Ground: Openness, Respect, Responsibility, Integrity, Innovation, and Justice. The successful candidate will demonstrate a strong commitment to the ideals of accessibility, inclusiveness, and academic excellence as reflected in the tenets of Our Common Ground. To learn more about Our Common Ground please visit: https://www.uvm.edu/president/our-common-ground

The University of Vermont is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other category legally protected by federal or state law.

Required Material

Applications must be submitted online at www.uvmjobs.com to posting number F3238PO.  Applicants must provide:

1. Cover letter specifically addressing the candidate’s interest and experience working in soil ecology.
2. Academic C.V. including teaching, publications, internal and external funding, and service activities.
3. Two-page research statement that discusses research interests, background experiences, and a vision for a research program on soil ecology that contributes to sustainable agriculture.
4. Teaching statement that discusses overall philosophy, approaches for engaging a diverse student body, and previous initiatives demonstrating effective teaching and mentoring across a wide range of students.
5. Names and (e-mail) addresses of at least three references who may be contacted after the initial application review. The names of the references must be entered into the UVMJobs system and the reference letters will be collected upon request and managed via that system.

Applications that lack any of these components will not be considered. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis; for full consideration applicants are strongly encouraged to submit all materials by December 31.   Salary will be made at a level appropriate to the successful applicant's qualifications and experience. For further information about this position, please contact: Dr. Yolanda Chen, Search Committee Chair: yolanda.chen@uvm.edu or Dr. Terence Bradshaw, Interim ALE Chair: Terence.Bradshaw@uvm.edu.