Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society, College of Forestry, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, United States.

The Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society invites applications for a full-time (1.00 FTE), 9-month, tenure-track, Assistant Professor (Socio-Ecological Systems of Forested Landscape) position.

The College of Forestry at Oregon State University is home to one of the top-ranked forestry programs in the world, with strengths spanning forest ecosystems, conservation science, recreation and tourism management, natural resources, wood science, and sustainable land management. The Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society is a collaborative and interdisciplinary unit where faculty work across traditional disciplinary boundaries to address complex environmental and societal challenges. Faculty benefit from strong partnerships with public agencies, Tribal Nations, industry, non-governmental organizations, and communities, as well as other units across campus.

We seek a scholar whose research and teaching examine interactions among people, institutions, and forested ecosystems, including areas such as social, behavioral, economic, organizational, conservation, recreation, climate solutions, or other human dimensions of natural resource management. We also welcome candidates who bring interdisciplinary perspectives and innovative approaches to understanding and addressing contemporary environmental challenges through the integration of social and biophysical sciences.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain an active, externally funded, nationally recognized research program on socio-ecological systems of forested landscapes and related human-environment interactions.
• Conduct and publish innovative scholarship that advances understanding of social, behavioral, economic, governance, and ecological dimensions of natural resource and environmental challenges.
• Teach undergraduate and graduate courses in areas aligned with the candidate’s expertise and departmental needs, including for both on-campus and E-campus instruction.
• Recruit, advise, mentor, and support the professional development of undergraduate researchers, graduate students, and/or postdoctoral scholars.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams in the department, college, and across campus, as well as with Tribal, governmental, non-governmental, community, and industry partners.
• Support departmental, college, and university goals to incorporate diverse perspectives and foster a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community in the department, college, and university.

Qualifications

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• A PhD or equivalent in sociology, psychology, geography, forestry, environmental sciences, natural resources or closely related field, earned by the time of appointment. 

• Demonstrated potential to conduct effective research and scholarly work in area of disciplinary expertise. 

• Demonstrated potential to effectively teach undergraduate and graduate level courses (online and in-person) in a manner that is consistent with the principles identified in the OSU Quality Teaching Framework. 

• Evidence of effective interpersonal and communication skills (written and verbal).  

This position is designated as a critical or security-sensitive position; therefore, the incumbent must successfully complete a criminal history check and be determined to be position qualified as per University Standard: 05-010 et seq. Incumbents are required to self-report convictions and those in youth programs may have additional criminal history checks every 24 months.

This position requires driving a university vehicle or personal vehicle on behalf of the university; therefore, the incumbent must successfully complete a motor vehicle history check, possess and maintain current, valid driver’s license in their state of residence, be determined to be position qualified and self-report convictions as per University Policy 05-030. 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Demonstrated potential to integrate social, ecological, and natural resource fields to address environmental challenges in forested landscapes.
• Demonstrated potential to work effectively in collaborative interdisciplinary teams.
• Expertise in qualitative and quantitative social science approaches.
• Experience teaching undergraduate and graduate level courses (online and in-person).
• Experience with curriculum and/or course development.
• Evidence of success obtaining external research funding.
• Evidence of success mentoring undergraduate and/or graduate students.

Working Conditions/Schedule:

Travel may be required for research, teaching, and outreach.

Field research may require working outdoors in uneven and rugged terrain to collect field data or samples.

Work schedule and location are flexible to meet the requirements of active research projects.

Salary Range: $89.000 – $99,000

Anticipated Start Date: 1 January 2027.

Application deadline 1 October 2026.