Location: Knoxville, TN
Open date: July 14, 2025
The School of Natural Resources at the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, located in Knoxville, Tennessee, invites applications for a full-time, 12-month, tenure-track faculty position as an Assistant or Associate Professor of Silviculture and Forest Ecology, with a 55% Teaching/45% Research appointment. The individual must be committed to excellence in teaching and research and have a commitment to educating and mentoring undergraduate and graduate students. The School of Natural Resources is devoted to providing a safe and welcoming environment for all.
The University of Tennessee is one of two land-grant institutions in the state and is the state’s public flagship university. The School of Natural Resources is the most comprehensive natural resources program in the state with 36 teaching, research, and Extension faculty, 19 professional staff, 8 administrative support staff members, and more than 325 students in our undergraduate and graduate programs. The school’s mission is to advance the science and sustainable management of natural resources to promote their health, utilization, and appreciation in Tennessee, the region, and beyond. Knoxville offers a pleasant mix of urban culture and wildland recreational opportunities within a region recognized as a global hot spot for biodiversity. UT is located within easy driving distance to Asheville, Nashville, Atlanta, and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. In addition, USDA Forest Service Forest Inventory and Analysis and U.S. Geological Survey scientists are located on or near campus, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory is nearby, offering excellent opportunities for collaborative efforts. Research activities are supported at ten AgResearch and Education Centers across the state.
The successful candidate will be responsible for leadership in planning, developing, and implementing education and research programs in silviculture and forest ecology. Expectations of the position include teaching undergraduate courses in dendrology and ecology, graduate courses in forest ecology and silviculture, and managing undergraduate internships. The successful candidate will also be expected to secure extramural funding and conduct research in silviculture and forest ecology, with a primary focus on hardwood forests.
Candidates must be committed to cooperating with diverse groups within and outside of the university and able to work with clientele regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, and parental status.
Required Qualifications: A Ph.D. in silviculture or forest ecology completed by December 31, 2025. Applicants must have a commitment to education as evidenced by their statement of teaching philosophy, a record of publication commensurate with experience, and practical silvicultural field experience in North American forested ecosystems. The Criteria for Appointment to Faculty Rank can be found in section 3.2 of the Faculty Handbook.
Preferred Qualifications: Applicants should have excellent oral and written communication skills and excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to develop collaborative relationships within the School and beyond. Applicants should demonstrate the ability to obtain external funding and publish research results. Preference will be given to applicants with at least one forestry degree from an SAF-accredited program; education and/or applied work experience within the eastern North American deciduous forest biome; and demonstrated experience in planning and implementing research and educational programs in the areas of hardwood silviculture and forest ecology. Familiarity with forest and wildlife interactions, fire ecology,
invasive species and/or hardwood field and nursery research, including artificial regeneration, would be beneficial.
To Apply: Upload a cover letter, a one-page statement of teaching philosophy, a one-page statement of research philosophy, copies of transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate course work, a curriculum vitae detailing educational background, work experience, publications and grants secured, and names and full contact information of three professional references, through the university’s online job portal. The review of applications will begin August 15, 2025, and continue until the position is filled. Salary and level of appointment will be commensurate with experience. Questions regarding this position may be directed to the Search Committee Chair, Professor Jennifer Franklin, jafranklin@utk.edu.
