Assistant Professor of Environmental Water Systems Science

Job description

Position Details


Position Information




Announcement Number FAC - VA - 26025

For questions regarding this position, please contact:
Rob Payn
rpayn@montana.edu
406-994-7197


Classification Title

Working Title Assistant Professor of Environmental Water Systems Science

Brief Position Overview
The Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences at Montana State University Bozeman invites applications for a tenure-track position at the level of Assistant Professor with expertise in Environmental Water Systems Science for a preferred start date of August 2026.


Faculty Tenure Track Yes

Faculty Rank TT

Position Number 4A3491

Department Land Resources & Environ Sci

Division College of Agriculture/MAES

Appointment Type Faculty

Contract Term Academic Year

Semester

If other, specify From date

If other, specify End date

Union Affiliation Exempt from Collective Bargaining

FTE 1.0

Benefits Eligible Eligible

Salary Salary commensurate with experience, education, and qualifications.



Contract Type MUS

If other, please specify

Recruitment Type Open




Position Details




General Statement
The faculty of the Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences at Montana State University seek a collaborative colleague working at the forefront of environmental water systems science.

The assistant professor accepting this position will be expected to lead a nationally recognized program in water systems research and education, providing expertise relevant to the role of groundwater in managing water resource availability for Montana agriculture, communities, and ecosystems.


Duties and Responsibilities
55% research ( MAES ), 35% teaching ( COA ), 10% service
The core disciplinary expertise for this position is basic and applied hydrologic science that informs agricultural or land management strategies that are resilient to competing priorities for a limited water supply.

Candidates with expertise in subsurface hydrology of soils and groundwater relevant to resource management decisions in dryland and irrigated agroecosystems, forests, rangelands, or urbanizing landscapes will be especially complementary to existing foci across the department, university, and the vibrant Montana water science community.

The position is open to candidates with research emphases on the systems driving water quantity and/or quality, recognizing that sustainability of water resources is inextricably tied to both.

In their research program, the assistant professor will have the opportunity to integrate with existing department, college, and university strengths in agronomy, precision agriculture, pedology, watershed hydrology, ecohydrology, ecosystem ecology, biogeochemistry, microbiology, land-atmosphere interactions, soil chemistry and nutrient management, restoration ecology, invasive plants, entomology, data and spatial sciences, and environmental modeling.

As part of their education program, the faculty member will be asked to integrate their research emphases into innovative classes that train students on the systems thinking necessary to understand the resilience of water quantity and quality to pressures related to changes in water use, land use, and climate.

This faculty member will have the opportunity to fill current curricular gaps in subsurface hydrology and reactive transport at the graduate level, as well as contribute more generally to critical needs for classes that improve the quantitative literacy of both the undergraduate and graduate student body.


Required Qualifications – Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills
1.

PhD degree with an emphasis on quantitative hydrology or a closely related field.

2.

Demonstrated potential for research achievement in environmental water systems science.

3.

Evidence of strong skills in communication of research, including peer-reviewed publications.

4.

Demonstrated potential for effective mentoring and training of students, employees, or early career professionals.


Preferred Qualifications – Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills
1.

Record of conducting innovative, transdisciplinary research that advances fundamental understanding of environmental water systems.

2.

Demonstrated potential to secure funding via successful grant proposals.

3.

Demonstrated ability and interest to work collaboratively across disciplines and take on leadership roles in interdisciplinary teams.

4.

Demonstrated ability to teach and mentor undergraduate and graduate students with differing backgrounds.


The Successful Candidate Will
Be a dynamic scientist and educator who will:

+ Help MSU continue to provide outstanding teaching, scholarship, engagement, and service in meeting the goals of the MSU Strategic Plan.

+ Have excellent written and oral communication skills.

+ Have effective interpersonal skills including the ability to interact collegially with faculty, students, and stakeholders with differing backgrounds.

+ Demonstrate commitment to integrating the experiences of faculty, students, and stakeholders with differing perspectives into collaborative research, teaching, engagement, and service.



Position Special Requirements/Additional Information
This job description should not be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements, but a general description of the job.

Nothing contained herein restricts Montana State University’s rights to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.


Physical Demands
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodations.

The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.


The Program

The Department
The Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences ( LRES ) is in the College of Agriculture.

Our work spans land resources and environmental science and management, and includes cutting-edge, innovative teaching, fundamental and applied research, and highly effective outreach and service to a broad range of public and private entities.

Our faculty offer broad expertise related to soils, microorganisms, insects, plants, climate and water to achieve an integrated multi-scale and multi-disciplinary approach to understanding and managing ecosystems.

We address issues related to natural and managed landscapes such as cropland, rangeland, forests, reclaimed land, polar and geothermal environments, and protected natural areas, with fundamental and applied investigations in agriculture, environmental science, land management, and natural resources.

We advance scientific understanding across spatial and temporal scales, and apply this understanding for effective land management, informed adoption of sustainability practices, and broad education of students in preparation for careers in the agricultural and environmental sciences.

LRES consists of 35 research and teaching faculty, about 300 undergraduate students, 25 thesis M.S., 100 professional M.S., and 25 Ph.D. graduate students, and 40 technical and postdoctoral scientists, and has a strong tradition of interdisciplinary collaboration within the department and across the institution and State.

The Department is supported through the College of Agriculture, the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station, and the Extension Service, which work together to generate and disseminate superior knowledge and technological solutions to increase the competitiveness of Montana agricultural and natural resource enterprises.


The College
MSU was founded in 1893 as the Agricultural College of the State of Montana.

Today, the College of Agriculture is an integral part of fulfilling MSU’s land grant mission serving the communities of our state.

The Montana Agricultural Experiment Station ( MAES ) creates opportunities for students and faculty to excel through hands-on learning; to serve through campus and community engagement; to explore unique solutions to distinct and interesting questions; and to connect Montanans with the global community.





Posting Detail Information




Number of Vacancies 1

Desired Start Date Upon completion of a successful search.



Position End Date (if temporary)

Open Date

Close Date

Applications will be:
Screening of applications will begin on December 5, 2025; however, applications will continue to be accepted until an adequate applicant pool has been established.




Special Instructions
This position is not eligible for sponsorship.

To apply, please submit the following:
1.

A cover letter highlighting elements of your experiences that will specifically address each required and preferred qualification for this position (two-page limit).

2.

A statement of your past research accomplishments and vision of future research for this position (two-page limit).

3.

A statement of your teaching philosophy including the mentorship of undergraduate and graduate students (two-page limit).

4.

A current curriculum vitae.

5.

Contact information for four professional references.

Please prioritize references with whom you have had the most extensive direct professional interactions.

We will only contact references for applicants rated in the top tier.


EEO Statement
Montana State University is an equal opportunity employer.

MSU does not discriminate against any applicant on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, political ideas, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, national origin, physical or mental disability, or any other protected class status in violation of any applicable law.

In compliance with the Montana Veteran’s Employment Preference Act, MSU provides preference in employment to veterans, disabled veterans, and certain eligible relatives of veterans.

To claim veteran’s preference, please complete the veteran’s preference information located in the Demographics section of your profile.

Required Skill Profession

Other General