Assistant/Associate Professor - Urban Forestry

The incumbent is expected to develop an extramurally funded research program in the broad field of urban forestry and wildland-urban interface (WUI) issues, with a focus on urbanization and changing land use. Potential topics include public policy, physical and social costs/benefits of urban trees, comprehensive planning, urban forest health, ecosystem functions in urban environments, control of invasive organisms, or other topics associated with increasing human influences on forests.

The University of Florida

Gainesville, FL

Deadline: 2005/11/15

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: This is a full-time (12 month), tenure-accruing position in the School of Forest Resources and Conservation (SFRC) with responsibilities in research (45% - Florida Agricultural Experiment Station), teaching (20% - College of Agricultural and Life Sciences), and extension (35% - Florida Cooperative Extension Service). The incumbent is expected to develop an extramurally funded research program in the broad field of urban forestry and wildland-urban interface (WUI) issues, with a focus on urbanization and changing land use. Potential topics include public policy, physical and social costs/benefits of urban trees, comprehensive planning, urban forest health, ecosystem functions in urban environments, control of invasive organisms, or other topics associated with increasing human influences on forests. The incumbent is expected to collaborate with other faculty. Teaching responsibilities include instruction of an undergraduate course in urban forestry and wildland-urban interface issues and a graduate level course in urban forestry. The faculty member will actively participate in graduate education by chairing and serving on graduate committees, supervising thesis and dissertation research, and publishing the results with their graduate students. Extension responsibilities include developing and coordinating a statewide urban forestry extension program, in collaboration with state and federal agencies, which offers training programs and materials to extension agents, foresters, and urban foresters. The initial assignment may change over time depending upon needs of the School and/or opportunities for the chosen faculty member.

QUALIFICATIONS: An earned Ph.D. in forestry, urban forestry, natural resources, forest management, silviculture, landscape architecture, environmental engineering, fire science, forest ecology, urban planning, nature-based recreation, forest pathology or entomology, horticulture, botany or an associated field of natural resources is required. Postdoctoral experience is desirable. The candidate must demonstrate interest in collaborating with colleagues within academia, as well as professionals in government and private organizations; excellent verbal and written communication skills; an ability to procure external funding to sustain programs; and the ability to work within the US. Candidates must be supportive of the mission of the Land-Grant system and have a commitment to IFAS' core values of excellence, diversity, global involvement, and accountability.

OTHER INFORMATION: Florida has 16 million acres of forestland comprising a diversity of ecosystems. Forest management in Florida (including timber, recreation, and associated public services) is a significant part of Florida's economy contributing more than $16 billion in total economic impact to the state in addition to social and environmental values. However, with a loss of 40,000 acres per year to urbanization and the increasing WUI, Florida's forests face significant challenges in the future. The

USDA Forest Service has identified the greatest threat to Florida's forests as urban development. This position provides an opportunity for a motivated person to address the issues associated with urbanization in a teaching, research, and extension format. While the individual hired for this position will report to the Director of the School of Forest Resources & Conservation (http://www.sfrc.ufl.edu), funding for this position is collaborative with the Florida Division of Forestry (http://www.fl-dof.com/) and the USDA Forest Service - Southern Center for Wildland-Urban Interface Research and Information (SCWUIRI, http://www.interfacesouth.org/). The position will be located at SCWUIRI on the University of Florida campus. The individual hired for this position will be expected to work closely with these two government agencies, and will assist them in service to their stakeholders whenever possible. Staff support will be available to assist the new faculty member.

The University of Florida is a Land-Grant institution with an enrollment in excess of 49,000 students and is a member of the Association of American Universities. The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (http://www.ifas.ufl.edu) includes 16 academic units, 9 interdisciplinary centers, 13 research and education centers throughout the state, and Cooperative Extension units in each of Florida's 67 counties and with the Seminole Tribe. IFAS employs over 3400 people, including approximately 950 faculty and 2450 support personnel. As one of the nation's largest agricultural and natural resources research and education organizations, IFAS is administered by a Senior Vice President and four Deans for the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, Extension, Research, and the College of Veterinary Medicine. The School, one of IFAS' academic units, is located in Gainesville, a culturally diverse community in north central Florida. The School has teaching, research, and extension education programs with 35 faculty members, 30 affiliate and courtesy faculty and 200 students. Educational programs are provided at the main campus in Gainesville, as well as research and education centers in Milton and Plant City. The School administers the nearby 2000 acre Austin Cary Memorial Forest and enjoys excellent working relationships with federal, state, industry, and private forest land owners across the state.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES: Nomination of candidates is encouraged. All applications must be submitted to the Chair of the Search Committee at the address listed below. Application materials should include a letter of intent, curriculum vitae, samples of publications, names and contact information for four references, and transcripts of all college work. For full consideration the above materials must be received by November 15, 2005. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.

Refer to Position # 0002-0067 RETURN INQUIRIES TO:

Dr. Alan J. Long

Chair, Search and Screen Committee

School of Forest Resources & Conservation

PO Box 110410

Gainesville FL 32611-0410

Phone: (352) 846-0891

Fax: (352) 846-1277

Email: ajl2@ufl.edu

For more information, visit: http://www.sfrc.ufl.edu/Acrobat/UrbanForestry%20PositionDescription%209-21-05.pdf