Richard and Suzanne Belcher Endowed Chair in Environmental Sustainability

The Department of Forestry and Natural Resources at Purdue University invites applications for

the Richard and Suzanne Belcher Endowed Chair in Environmental Sustainability. The position

is an academic-year, tenure-track appointment at the associate or full professor level with

primary research and secondary teaching responsibilities.

The Department of Forestry and Natural Resources (FNR) at Purdue University is a leader in

natural resource sciences. It consists of 35 faculty members, 49 administrative, professional,

clerical, and extension staff, and 290 undergraduate and 87 graduate students. The Department

currently has endowments exceeding $74 million that provide substantial resources used to

support core departmental missions. The Department’s interests and expertise are diverse and

encompass teaching, research, and extension. Purdue FNR aims to advance knowledge of

environmental, social, and natural resource sciences associated with the study, conservation, and

sustainable management of ecosystems. Three undergraduate curricula are offered: aquatic

sciences, forestry, and wildlife. The Hardwood Tree Improvement and Regeneration Center, the

Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant Program, and the Indiana Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research

Unit are examples of federal-state-industry-university partnerships integrated within the

Department. Purdue FNR is committed to inclusive excellence in all areas of faculty effort,

including scholarship, instruction and engagement and promoting a diverse and equitable internal

environment, as well as across the communities with which it interacts. The departments

strategic plan can be accessed at https://ag.purdue.edu/department/fnr/_docs/strategic-plan-fnr-

2021-26.pdf.

Preferred Skills: Qualified candidates will have demonstrated internationally recognized

research accomplishments - as evidenced by high-profile publications and significant grants -

related to environmental sustainability across spatial and temporal scales. Qualified candidates

will have established a research and teaching program using advanced quantitative and

computational methods to improve our understanding of sustainability, biodiversity, disease

ecology, invasive species, human-environment interactions, natural resource policy, the impacts

of global change on ecological systems, or other closely related natural and social sciences

research topics.

Responsibilities:

• Engage with agencies and organizations to develop partnerships that address emerging

environmental threats and collaborate on solutions.

• Lead an active, externally-funded research program in the candidate’s areas of expertise, and

facilitate research and teaching integration across academic units.

• Mentor graduate students and postdoctoral research.

• Teach graduate and/or undergraduate course(s) in the candidate’s area of expertise. Potential

exists for teaching distance courses.

Required Qualifications:

Ph.D. or equivalent degree in Biology, Ecology, Wildlife, Forestry, Aquatic Sciences,

Geography, Environmental Sustainability, or a related field, and experience in applications

germane to grand challenges of environmental sustainability.

The College:

The Department is an integral part of the College of Agriculture, one of the world’s leading

colleges of agricultural, food, life, and natural resource sciences and ranked fifth in the world in

the 2023 QS World University Rankings. The College is deeply committed to the three land-

grant missions (teaching, research, and extension), to international activities and perspectives

that span all missions, and to excellence in all we do. The College of Agriculture and the

Department of Forestry and Natural Resources are committed to diversity, equity, inclusion and

belonging. Our leadership, faculty, staff, and students are engaged in many efforts that are

consistent with this commitment. The College has 11 academic departments and includes 309

faculty, 2889 undergraduate students, and 700 graduate students. The College’s current strategic

plan can be accessed at Strategic Plan (purdue.edu). Purdue is an ADVANCE institution—

https://www.purdue.edu/advance-purdue.

Application Process:

Submit: 1) letter of application, 2) vision statement (a statement of research goals and objectives

for this position, two pages maximum), 3) statement of teaching philosophy (two pages

maximum), and 4) curriculum vitae containing a complete publication list and the names and

contact information for three professional references.

Application review will begin February 1, 2024 and continue until a suitable candidate is found.

Questions may be directed to the Search Committee Chair, Dr. Zhao Ma (via telephone at 765-

496-41790 or email zhaoma@purdue.edu). Applicants must apply electronically at

https://careers.purdue.edu/job-invite/29063/. A background check will be required for

employment in this position.

Purdue University is an EOE/AA employer. All individuals, including minorities, women,

individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply.