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Montana State University - Office of Student Engagement

Assistant Professor of Environmental Water Systems Science

Montana State University - Office of Student Engagement, Bozeman, Montana, us, 59772

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Assistant Professor of Environmental Water Systems Science

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Montana State University – Office of Student Engagement . 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. The preferred start date is August 2026.

Position Overview The faculty of the Department seek a collaborative colleague working at the forefront of environmental water systems science. The assistant professor will lead a nationally recognized program in water systems research and education, providing expertise relevant to groundwater management for Montana agriculture, communities, and ecosystems.

Duties and Responsibilities 55% research (MAES), 35% teaching (COA), 10% service.

The core disciplinary expertise is basic and applied hydrologic science that informs agricultural or land management strategies resilient to competing priorities for limited water supply. Candidates should have expertise in subsurface hydrology of soils and groundwater relevant to resource management decisions in dryland and irrigated agroecosystems, forests, rangelands, or urbanizing landscapes. Research will integrate with existing strengths in agronomy, precision agriculture, pedology, watershed hydrology, ecohydrology, ecosystem ecology, biogeochemistry, microbiology, land‑atmosphere interactions, soil chemistry, nutrient management, restoration ecology, invasive plants, entomology, data and spatial sciences, and environmental modeling.

Education responsibilities include integrating research emphases into innovative classes that train students on systems thinking needed to understand the resilience of water quantity and quality to climate, land‑use, and water‑use changes. The candidate will fill current curricular gaps in subsurface hydrology and reactive transport at the graduate level and contribute more broadly to quantitative literacy for undergraduate and graduate students.

Required Qualifications – Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills

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

Demonstrated potential for research achievement in environmental water systems science.

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

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

Preferred Qualifications – Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills

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

Demonstrated potential to secure funding via successful grant proposals.

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

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

Successful Candidate 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 from diverse backgrounds.

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

Application Requirements

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

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

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

A current curriculum vitae.

Contact information for four professional references. Prioritize references with whom you have had extensive direct professional interactions. The top‑tier references will be contacted.

Contact Information Rob Payn rpayn@montana.edu 406‑994‑7197

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.

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