Assistant Professor - Forest Ecosystem Sustainability

Assistant Professor

Forest Ecosystem Sustainability

School of the Environment and Sustainable Development

Section of Natural Resources and the Environment

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University

Position : Assistant Professor, Tenure-track.

Location : Ithaca, NY, USA. The academic home for this position is the School of the Environment and Sustainable Development, Section of Natural Resources and the Environment in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS), housed on the Ithaca campus of Cornell University.

Position Description and Responsibilities :

We invite applications for a 9-month, full-time tenure-track position at the level of assistant professor. The position will be 50% research and 50% teaching on a 9-month academic year basis. The School of the Environment and Sustainable Development, Section of Natural Resources and the Environment (SESD NRE) () is located within the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences () at Cornell University with our collective expertise in the environmental and social sciences and a strong program of transdisciplinary, engaged scholarship. We are seeking a highly collaborative scholar to conduct research and teach in the area of forest ecosystems, with relevance to sustainable practices, conservation, and the impact of human activities on forested areas.

The successful candidate will develop and lead an internationally recognized, externally funded interdisciplinary research program related to the forest community and/or forest ecosystem function. The program should advance theory, with potential applications, covering topics that might include forest biogeochemical cycling, carbon sequestration, invasive species and community dynamics, among other topics. We seek applicants who can build upon their knowledge of forest science and passion for improving the health of forests by understanding natural or managed forests. The successful candidate must have a strong analytical background and field experience. The research of the successful candidate is not limited to a particular scale, although candidates should work across multiple scales. The successful candidate’s program, including research, teaching, advising, and student engagement, is expected to include a field methods component. Local on- and off-campus forest lands can be utilized for program research and teaching, which include the extensive Cornell Natural Areas () and the Arnot Teaching and Research Forest (), along with numerous local and regional forested lands near the Cornell campus.

A track-record of publishing outstanding peer-reviewed scholarship is expected, as is excellence in, and commitment to, teaching, translation of knowledge, and advising and mentoring of students. We seek colleagues with a record demonstrating success and promise across all these areas, and who will be supported by and contribute to a vibrant culture of inclusive excellence at Cornell. As such, candidates are expected to engage in service and leadership activities within their school, the college, and university, and relevant professional societies. The successful candidate will be expected to teach two undergraduate courses annually, one in the area of forest ecology and one upper-level Capstone course that supports and strengthens the cross-college Environment and Sustainability (E&S) undergraduate major—as well as develop and teach one graduate seminar every other year.

Qualifications :

The successful candidate will have a Ph.D. in a related field completed by the date of appointment and show promise of developing a national and international reputation in forest science. Applicants should demonstrate capacity to apply cutting-edge methods in novel ways that advance understanding of forest communities and ecosystems. Ability to teach at undergraduate and graduate levels is required. The Section of Natural Resources and the Environment particularly seeks applicants whose record in research and teaching prepares them to contribute to Cornell’s institutional commitments as the Land Grant University, and to our school’s commitment to work across the social and biophysical sciences.

Applications and Starting Date :

The anticipated starting date for this position is July 2026 or as negotiated. Qualified applicants should submit: 1) a cover letter briefly summarizing background, vision, and relevant qualifications, 2) a Curriculum Vitae, 3) a research statement outlining experience, interests, and goals, 4) a teaching statement outlining experience, interests, and goals, 5) three representative publications, and 6) names and contact information for three references. Materials should be submitted online to: .

This is an in-person position. The successful candidate will be expected to relocate to within commuting distance of Ithaca, NY. Relocation assistance may be provided. Finalists for this position will be asked to sign an affidavit that they have not been found to have violated employer policies at their previous institutions.

Applications received by September 15, 2025 , will be given full consideration. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

Inquiries may be directed to:

Dr. Joseph Yavitt ( [email protected] )

Section of Natural Resources and the Environment

CALS hiring range for position:

In compliance with New York's Pay Transparency Law, the annual base salary range for this assistant professor position is $90,000 - $135,000. This pay range represents base pay (for 9 months). Cornell University considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, as well as market and organizational considerations when extending an offer.

Cornell University seeks to meet the needs of dual career couples, has a Dual Career program, and is a member of the Upstate New York Higher Education Recruitment Consortium to assist with dual career searches including positions available in higher education in the upstate New York area.

The new faculty member will join a collaborative, interdisciplinary community on the main campus in Ithaca, New York. Cornell University is an innovative Ivy League and Land-grant university and a great place to work. Our inclusive community of scholars, students, and staff impart an uncommon sense of larger purpose and contribute creative ideas to further the university's mission of teaching, discovery, and engagement.

Cornell’s regional and global presence includes state-wide Cornell Cooperative Extension programs and offices in all counties and boroughs, global partnerships with institutions and communities engaged in life-changing research and education, the medical college’s campuses on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and Doha, Qatar, and the Cornell Tech campus on Roosevelt Island in the heart of New York City.

With a founding principle of “…any person…any study,” Cornell is an equal opportunity employer .