Posting Number F2423P
Working Title Assistant Professor in Ecosystem Ecology
Department Ecology-Odum School of Ecology
About the University of Georgia
Since our founding in 1785, the University of Georgia has operated as Georgia’s oldest, most comprehensive, and most diversified institution of higher education (https://www.uga.edu/). The proof is in our more than 235 years of academic and professional achievements and our continual commitment to higher education. UGA is currently ranked among the top 20 public universities in U.S. News & World Report. The University’s main campus is located in Athens, approximately 65 miles northeast of Atlanta, with extended campuses in Atlanta, Griffin, Gwinnett, and Tifton. UGA employs approximately 3,100 faculty and more than 7,700 full-time staff. The University’s enrollment exceeds 41,000 students including over 31,000 undergraduates and over 10,000 graduate and professional students. Academic programs reside in 19 schools and colleges, including our newly formed School of Medicine.
About the College/Unit/Department
Georgia is well known for its quality of life (exploregeorgia.org). UGA is a land and sea grant institution (www.uga.edu) located in Athens, 70 miles northeast of Atlanta, the state capital, and Athens is frequently ranked as one of the best places to live in the US (www.visitathensga.com). UGA routinely ranks in the top 25 on national rankings of public research universities (http://www.uga.edu/profile/pride/rankings/)
College/Unit/Department website
Posting Type External
Retirement Plan
Employment Type Employee
Benefits Eligibility Benefits Eligible
Underutilization
Advertised Salary
Anticipated Start Date 08/01/2026
Effective End Date (for Limited-Term postings)
Job Posting Date 07/15/2025
Job Closing Date
Open until filled Yes
Special Instructions to Applicants
Required materials:
(1) a cover letter (2 pages maximum) highlighting contributions to inclusive excellence and student success.
(2) a curriculum vitae,
(3) a research statement (2 pages maximum) highlighting contributions to ecosystem ecology.
(4) a teaching statement highlighting a philosophy and specific active learning methods that will be used in the classroom (1 page maximum).
(5) PDF copies of three representative publications and
(6) names and contact information for three references.
Questions about the search can be directed to the chair of the search committee, Dr. Nina Wurzburger, at ninawurz@uga.edu. To receive full consideration, applications should be submitted by September 5, 2025.
Location of Vacancy Athens Area
EEO Statement
The University of Georgia is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or veteran status or other protected status. Persons needing accommodations or assistance with the accessibility of materials related to this search are encouraged to contact Central HR (hrweb@uga.edu).
USG Core Values Statement
The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 26 institutions of higher education and learning, as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found online at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct.
Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found online at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.
Classification Title Assistant Professor
FLSA
Faculty Rank Assistant Professor
Contract Type Academic (9 mo.)
Tenure Status Tenure Track
Minimum Qualifications
Applicants must have a Ph.D. in Ecology or a related field.
Position Summary
The Odum School of Ecology at the University of Georgia invites applications for four tenure-track positions in Ecosystem Ecology at the Assistant Professor level. These are academic year, 9-month appointments that would begin on either August 1, 2026 or August 1, 2027. We seek to hire two colleagues with expertise in aquatic ecosystems (i.e., freshwater, marine, or wetland), and two with expertise in terrestrial ecosystems. We are willing to consider one hire at the Associate Professor level for an exceptional candidate who is a recognized leader in their field. Successful candidates will build on the long-standing legacy of ecosystem ecology in the school and will have opportunities to forge collaborations with faculty in other units on campus, such as Forestry and Natural Resources, Marine Sciences, Crop and Soil Sciences, Plant Biology, Entomology, and Geography.
Appointees will have the opportunity to utilize UGA-affiliated field sites (such as Horseshoe Bend, The Jones Center at Ichauway, Coweeta Hydrologic Lab, Savannah River Ecology Lab, the UGA Skidaway Institute of Oceanography, UGA Marine Institute, and Whitehall Forest), as well as analytical and computational facilities on campus (such as the Georgia Genomics and Bioinformatics Core, the Center for Applied Isotope Studies, the Complex Carbohydrate Research Center and the Georgia Advanced Computing Resource Center).
Successful candidates will be expected to engage in synergistic collaborations, share instrumentation, and leverage existing strengths within the school.
Additional Requirements
Relevant/Preferred Education, Experience, Licensure, and/or Certification
Preferred Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and/or Competencies
Applicants must have a Ph.D. in Ecology or a related field, with a demonstrated record of scholarship, synergistic activities, and the potential to maintain an active, externally funded research program. Applicants must have expertise in ecosystem ecology, which includes broadly defined topics such as biogeochemical cycles, land-atmosphere interactions, pollutant cycling, microbial processes, and ecosystem resilience in the context of global changes, among others. We invite applications from candidates who use a broad array of research approaches, including field work, lab methodologies, and/or computational or theoretical methods. Prior postdoc work is preferred.
Physical Demands
Is this a Position of Trust? No
Does this position have operation, access, or control of financial resources? No
Does this position require a P-Card? No
Is having a P-Card an essential function of this position? No
Is driving a responsibility of this position? No
Does this position have direct interaction or care of children under the age of 18 or direct patient care? No
Does this position have Security Access (e.g., public safety, IT security, personnel records, patient records, or access to chemicals and medications) No
Credit and P-Card policy
Be advised a credit check will be required for all positions with financial responsibilities. For additional information about the credit check criteria, visit the UGA Credit Background Check website.
Background Investigation Policy
Offers of employment are contingent upon completion of a background investigation including, a criminal background check demonstrating your eligibility for employment with the University of Georgia; confirmation of the credentials and employment history reflected in your application materials (including reference checks) as they relate to the job-based requirements of the position applied for; and, if applicable, a satisfactory credit check. You may also be subject to a pre-employment drug test for positions with high-risk responsibilities, if applicable. Please visit the UGA Background Check website.
Duties/Responsibilities
The faculty member will contribute to teaching ecology courses at the graduate and undergraduate levels, including mid- and large-enrollment courses for non-majors. The successful candidate will be expected to develop and maintain an extramurally funded research program that is recognized nationally and internationally.
Percentage Of Time 100
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