The Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation at Virginia Tech invites applications for a tenure-track position at the level of Assistant Professor in the area of wildlife ecology. The department values diversity and continually strives to maintain and promote an inclusive learning and research environment that embraces all students, faculty, and staff. We are particularly interested in applications from persons identifying with groups currently underrepresented in wildlife conservation, including but not limited to, Black, Indigenous, people of color, and underrepresented genders. We seek a candidate with research interests in wildlife ecology that can inform conservation and management. This can include research that bridges basic and applied science and may include empirical or theoretical research on game or non-game species at any geographical scale (e.g., local to global) or in any region (e.g., Virginia, North America, international). The selected candidate will complement current departmental strengths in wildlife ecology; international conservation; habitat, quantitative, community, disease, spatial, behavioral and population ecology; wildlife restoration; population dynamics; human dimensions; physiology; and toxicology. Researchers who can collaborate with a range of scientists and stakeholders, and that can secure funding from national and international sources are encouraged to apply. Preference will be given to individuals with an established record of using interdisciplinary and cutting-edge research methods and a demonstrated ability or potential to secure extramural funding, publish in high quality journals, and effectively disseminate research results to wildlife managers and the general public. The selected candidate is encouraged to pursue cross-disciplinary collaborations within Virginia Tech, including but not limited to, affiliations with the Global Change Center, Center for Coastal Studies, and Center for Emerging, Zoonotic and Arthropod-borne Pathogens. This is a full-time, tenure-track, 9-month appointment with primary responsibilities in teaching (40%), research (50%), and service (10%). The successful individual will teach undergraduate and graduate courses in their area of expertise with an average teaching load of 1.5 to 2 courses per year. Advising and mentoring of both graduate and undergraduate students is required. Participation in departmental, college and university affairs is strongly encouraged and expected.
Required qualifications: 1. Ph.D. in wildlife conservation or management, ecology, natural resources or related field by the time of appointment. 2. Demonstrated actions to create or contribute to a diverse, equitable and inclusive community. 3. Demonstrated ability and interest in developing and teaching lecture, lab and field-based courses in wildlife ecology and/or management, or closely related content areas. 4. Demonstrated ability and interest to collaborate in research with state or federal agencies, foreign governments, NGOs, private industry, or some combination of these groups. 5. Demonstrated potential to attract research funding adequate to support an active research program, including graduate students. 6. Demonstrated ability and desire to contribute to the peer-reviewed literature. Preferred Qualifications: 1. Demonstrated teaching effectiveness at the university level. 2. Demonstrated record of research and/or teaching and/or mentoring addressing needs of under-represented communities, including racial, ethnic, and religious minorities, immigrants, and LGBTQ+ individuals. 3. Postdoctoral research experience. 4. Experience advising and directing the research of undergraduate and/or graduate students. 5. Research competencies that complement existing program strengths. 6. Teaching competencies related to wildlife habitat ecology and management, including, but not limited to, wildlife urban habitat issues to complement new initiatives underway in Urban Natural Resource Management in the College of Natural Resources and Environment.
Application materials should include a cover letter, curriculum vitae, statement of interests and experience as described below, and the names, addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses of three professional references. The applicant should address their interest in the position by preparing a single written statement of interests and experience related to teaching, research, and diversity, equity and inclusion. This statement should address qualifications relative to the position description and be limited to three pages. All application materials must be submitted electronically, using the online system at www.jobs.vt.edu, referring to posting No. 517504. Review of candidate files will begin on October 15th, 2021, and continue until a suitable candidate is identified. University transcripts (undergraduate and graduate) may be requested after initial review of applications.
More information about the position can be found at: www.fishwild.vt.edu. Nominations and inquiries should be directed to Dr. Sarah Karpanty, Chair, Search Committee: Wildlife Ecology, Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, College of Natural Resources, Virginia Tech, 100 Cheatham Hall (0321) Blacksburg, VA 24061. Phone: 540-231-4586 or email: karpanty@vt.edu.