Assistant Professor, Environmental Data Science & Biostatistics

 

Summary

The College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science (CFRES) at Michigan Technological University (MTU) invites applications for a tenure track Assistant Professor faculty position in Environmental Data Science and Biostatistics, with an anticipated start date of August 2025. CFRES offers B.S. degrees in Forestry, Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Applied Ecology and Environmental Science, Natural Resources Management, Sustainable Bioproducts, Environmental Science and Sustainability and Environmental Data Science. We additionally offer Master’s degrees in Forest Ecology and Management, Applied Ecology and Forest Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology, and doctoral degrees in Forest Science and Forest Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology. MTU is located in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, providing access to diverse natural environments for hands-on learning, field-based research, and outdoor adventure, fostering a unique and immersive experience for students and faculty alike.

Michigan Tech attracts world-class faculty and staff who enrich the educational experience of smart, motivated, and adventurous students. Applicants who are committed to promoting a sense of belonging and contributing to an equitable and inclusive learning environment for all are strongly encouraged to apply (See Engagement and Belonging).

Responsibilities 

The candidate will teach classes that contribute to a new B.S. degree in Environmental Data Science (EDS) including the EDS Cornerstone introductory class and the senior EDS capstone class. Responsibilities will also include teaching a 3-4 credit course in the candidate’s area of expertise and participating in service to the department, university, and broader academic community.

Required Education, Certifications, Licensures

A Ph.D. in a field related to environmental data science, biostatistics, or similar disciplines.

Required Experience

Evidence of scholarly productivity, commensurate with experience level, with a research emphasis related to environmental data science and the potential to generate external grant funding for this work.

Desirable Education and/or Experience

Experience teaching undergraduate courses as the lead instructor or as a teaching assistant.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and/or Abilities

Demonstrated experience with R, Python, Julia, and/or other programming languages used in data science.

Desirable Knowledge, Skills, and/or Abilities

Ability to engage with and mentor undergraduate and graduate students across major disciplines within CFRES such as Forestry, Wildlife, Genetics, and Applied Ecology.

Ability to effectively communicate in writing and speaking, information that conveys the potential for research and teaching excellence.

Research specializations that complement existing strengths across CFRES disciplines; may include but are not limited to forest biometrics, macrosystems ecology, plant-animal interactions, land-atmosphere interactions, landscape modeling, Earth systems modeling, or natural climate solutions.

Potential to support interdisciplinary research that is aligned with one of Michigan Tech’s Research Centers; there are several research centers at Michigan Tech that facilitate research, teaching, and mentoring collaborations across campus. These include the Ecosystem Science Center, Great Lakes Research Center, Institute of Computing and Cybersystems, and the Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences Institute.

Experience writing grant applications.

Demonstrated success in, or potential future contributions to, working with persons from diverse backgrounds, creating a sense of belonging, and fostering a fair, objective, welcoming place to work for persons with a wide variety of personal characteristics and viewpoints.

Language, Mathematics and/or Reasoning Skills

 

Work Environment and/or Physical Demands

The work environment is that of a typical office and/or classroom setting. The noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate.

Required Training and Other Conditions of Employment

Every employee at Michigan Technological University will receive the following 4 required trainings; additional training may be required by the department.

Required University Training:

• Employee Safety Overview

• Anti-Harassment, Discrimination, Retaliation Training

• Annual Data Security Training 

• Annual Title IX Training

 

Background Check:

Offers of employment are contingent upon and not considered finalized until the required background check has been performed and the results received and assessed.

Other Conditions of Employment:

The successful applicant will be responsible for ensuring eligibility for employment in the United States on or before the effective date of the appointment. This is not an E-Verified Position.

Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) % (1=100%)

 

FLSA Status

Exempt

Appointment Term

9 months

Shift

 

Pay Rate/Salary

 

Title of Position Supervisor

College Dean

Posting Type

Internal & External

Dependent on Funding

False

Special Instructions to Applicants (if applicable)

Review of applications will begin November 20, 2024.  For full consideration please apply by this date. 

Applicants must upload the following documents and provide the names and contact information for up to three reference providers.
• Curriculum Vitae
• Cover Letter
• Research & Teaching Statements
• One or two top publications to which they have made significant contributions

Additional Information

Michigan Technological University, one of the four major research universities in the State of Michigan, is located in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula adjacent to Lake Superior. The community offers a small-town environment with outstanding four-season recreational opportunities. Michigan Tech is located in Houghton, MI on the south shore of Lake Superior.

Michigan Tech is proud to be an ADVANCE Institution that has thrice received National Science Foundation support to increase diversity, inclusion, and the participation and advancement of women and underrepresented individuals in STEM. (see https://www.mtu.edu/advance/).

Michigan Tech recognizes the importance of supporting faculty members’ partners; candidates selected for on-campus interviews will be invited to bring a guest. Additional details on our Partner Engagement Program can be found at https://www.mtu.edu/provost/programs/partner-engagement/.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Michigan Technological University is an Equal Opportunity Educational Institution/Equal Opportunity Employer that provides equal opportunity for all, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.  

If you require any auxiliary aids, services, or accommodations during Michigan Tech’s hiring process please notify the Human Resources office at 906-487-2280 or hr-help@mtu.edu.

Required Education, Certifications, Licensures* (minimum requirements)