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Asst. Professor - Soil Health Scientist

Employer
The University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Location
Lincoln, NE

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Job Details

Working Title:

Asst. Professor - Soil Health Scientist

Department:

School of Natural Resources-0844

Requisition Number:

F_210121

Posting Open Date:

09/21/2021

Application Review Date: (To ensure consideration, please submit all application materials before review date):

12/01/2021

Open Until Filled:

Yes

Description of Work:

The Soil Health Scientist is a member of a cohort of scientists working on soil health related research and education in cropping and grassland ecosystems. This tenure-track assistant professor position has 60% extension duties and 40% teaching duties.

In the Extension appointment (0.60 FTE) the incumbent leads statewide collaborative efforts on soil health within Nebraska Extension, including support for training stakeholders on soil health science within and outside the university, collaborating with specialists, extension educators, and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) personnel engaged in related IANR Extension programs. Using a systems approach the incumbent develops, evaluates, and communicates the impact of management practices on soil ecosystem services, developing and recommending tools to assess improvement in soil ecosystem services across land management practices; providing leadership on soil health technology policies to Soil Conservationists for planning, developing, and implementing a soil health program dedicated to soil health conservation requirements. The incumbent also represents Nebraska Extension to foster interactions among government and non-government entities to encourage cooperative efforts and continuity of messages in addressing soil health issues.

In the Teaching appointment (0.40 FTE) the incumbent’s contributions to teaching support holistic land management that connects soil health and environmental quality, and contributes to Agronomy and Horticulture (AGH), School of Natural Resources (SNR), and other degree programs. The incumbent provides leadership in teaching and/or team-teaching to deliver courses and experiences related to soil resources management, soil ecology and biodiversity including plant-microbe interactions, and soil processes governing soil carbon storage and greenhouse gas emissions applicable to a broad range of ecosystems with focus on agronomic, rangeland, and grassland systems, but as appropriate including forest, horticultural, turfgrass, and urban landscapes. Additionally, the incumbent contributes to recruiting, advising, and mentoring graduate and under-graduate students. Specific course assignments may change according to program needs.

In the area of work covered by the position the incumbent seeks and establishes effective disciplinary and multi-disciplinary collaborations including integration with local stakeholders, complementary research groups, extension teams, educational programs, and other partners. The incumbent accepts committee assignments, reporting responsibilities, and other special ad hoc assignments as requested at the administrative unit, college/division, institute, and/or university levels.

Recognizing that diversity within a context of inclusivity enhances creativity, innovation, impact, and a sense of belonging, the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources (IANR), Agronomy and Horticulture, and the School of Natural Resources are committed to creating learning, research, Extension programming, and work environments that are inclusive of all forms of human diversity. We actively encourage applications from and nominations of qualified individuals from underrepresented groups including racial and ethnic minorities, women, sexual minorities, persons living with disabilities, and veterans.

As an EO/AA employer, qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and/or political affiliation. See http://www.unl.edu/equity/notice-nondiscrimination.

Minimum Required Qualifications:

  • A Ph.D. in soil science or directly related field at time of appointment.
  • Expertise in soil health and management and thorough knowledge of soil ecology, soil biogeochemistry, and/or agronomy.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Ability to engage in scientific teamwork with natural resource scientists and agronomists to address major issues related to soil health.
  • Experience and demonstrated commitment to excellence in teaching.
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills with emphasis on communication with a variety of stakeholders.
  • Experience in course design, development, and management.
  • Experience working with resource management organizations (e.g., local, state, federal).
  • Evidence of work with diverse or underrepresented communities or groups.

Criminal History Background Check Required:

No

How to Apply:

Click “Apply to this Job” and complete the information form. Attach the following documents:

  1. A letter of interest that describes your qualifications for the job, anticipated contributions, and the value you place on diversity and your anticipated contributions to creating inclusive environments in which every person and every interaction matters (3 page maximum; see https://ianr.unl.edu/tips-writing-about-commitment-to-deib for guidance in writing this statement).
  2. Your curriculum vitae.
  3. Contact information for three professional references.

For questions or accommodations related to this position contact:

Jodi Mackin
jmackin1@unl.edu

Job Category (old):

Faculty Tenure/Tenure Leading

Job Type:

9 Month

Position funded by grant or other form of temporary funding?:

No

Organization

Working at University of Nebraska-Lincoln

For 150 Years, A Leader in Higher Education 
Always a place of high ambition, University of Nebraska was one of the first institutions west of the Mississippi River to award doctoral degrees - the first was granted in 1896. The University of Nebraska established the world's first undergraduate psychology laboratory. The discipline of ecology was born here, and the campuses reflect that tradition, being recognized as botanical gardens and arboreta. An early institutional interest in literature and the arts provided the foundations for today's Prairie Schooner literary magazine, for the University of Nebraska Press, and for the Sheldon Museum of Art, which houses one of the world's most significant collections of 20th century American art.

Today, Nebraska is one of the nation's leading teaching institutions, and a research leader with a wide array of grant-funded projects aimed at broadening knowledge in the sciences and humanities. Nebraska is also a land-grant university and a member of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU). The university is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

Benefits
The University of Nebraska offers an extensive benefits package that includes health, life, disability and long term care insurance; retirement accounts; tuition reimbursement for employees and their spouses and dependent children; and reimbursement accounts for health care and dependent day care. Leave policies are designed to help employees deal with personal or family events or crises.

Diversity and Inclusion
In the spirit of the phrase "Every Interaction Matters", UNL has an enacted commitment to diversity and inclusive excellence for our faculty, staff, and students. On our campus, diversity and inclusion are important priorities. Examples include: Husker Dialogues, which is an event that helps first-year students focus on diversity and inclusion and practice handling difficult conversations around difference; three Chancellor's Diversity Commissions that are charged with informing and advising the Chancellor and addressing issues of constituent campus communities; and the establishment of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion whose leader operates at the Vice Chancellor level. At the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, we strive for excellence in all that we do. True excellence requires that each individual be able to work and learn in an atmosphere of respect, dignity, and belonging. Our commitment to diversity and inclusion requires each of us to continuously ensure our interactions are respectful, protect free speech, and inspire academic freedom.

About Lincoln
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln is located in an up-and-coming and safe city of 300,000 people that has many of the cultural and entertainment benefits of a much larger city, with the feel of a friendly Midwestern community. The Pinnacle Bank Arena, opened in 2013, routinely hosts major touring acts. A buzzing entertainment district, the Railyard, connects the arena area to the Historic Haymarket. Cuisines from all continents provide the entree to dynamic urban nightlife and a wide variety of ways to enjoy time with friends. Nebraska's City Campus is one with Lincoln's city center, as it has been since the university was founded.Lincoln has more parkland per capita than Austin, Texas; Portland, Oregon; and all but a handful of U.S. cities. The well-manicured Pioneers Park, the native woods of Wilderness Park and the open grassland of Nine-Mile Prairie are each within a 10-minute trip from campus. Connecting many of these parks is an extensive trails network.

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