Position Summary
The Department of Biological & Ecological Engineering invites applications for a full-time (1.00 FTE), 9-month, tenure-track Assistant, Associate or Full Professor position (depending on qualifications).
As part of a cluster hire of five positions at OSU addressing water quality, the Department of Biological & Ecological Engineering (BEE) is recruiting for a tenure-track Assistant Professor in the area of Water Quality Engineering. An exceptionally well qualified candidate may be hired at the Associate or Full Professor level and be eligible for appointment as the Miner Endowed Professorship in Water Quality. This position will maintain and augment the capabilities and leadership of the College of Agricultural Sciences (CAS) in the field of water resources, specifically related to water quality engineering and the development and assessment of new, innovative approaches for improving water quality in natural and managed systems. This position will address the stated goals of our department, CAS, and the university as a whole, while addressing priorities of national and global relevance. This position will directly strengthen Oregon’s agricultural competitiveness and resilience through interactions with the state and region’s many stakeholders while maintaining key ecosystem services in our landscapes. Activities of the incumbent in this position may include but are not limited to: biological/ecological treatment; ecotoxicology/watershed health; fertility/nutrient management; water/energy/food nexus; developing efficient, cost effective treatment methods for irrigation and food processing to meet new Food Safety Modernization Act rules; assessing land management impacts on drinking water watersheds; designing cost-effective water treatment systems for small private and community water systems; water reuse/“One Water” concept; groundwater/surface water interactions and implications for water quality management; pollutant fate and transport; engineered systems and technologies for local-and landscape-scale water quality management.
This position will provide economic, environmental and social value to the people of Oregon by supporting the sustainable management of our State’s water resources, which are necessary for agricultural production, environmental protection, and supporting the life and livelihoods of urban and rural water users. Furthermore, integrative water quality research across Oregon’s diverse geology is transferable globally to arid and wet landscapes and locations.
The incumbent will be responsible for teaching one to two classes related to water quality engineering per year in BEE.
This position fills a pressing need in water quality research that has largely been lost on campus over the last decade. The incumbent will support water stakeholders across the state and contribute to maintaining the globally-recognized Water Resources Graduate Program at OSU and BEE’s leadership in water resources.
The incumbent serves as an investigator for at least one USDA–NIFA Hatch collaborative or Hatch multistate project.
College of Agricultural Sciences faculty are committed to enhancing student success by engaging students in quality academic, research, internships, global studies, and other experiential learning opportunities. Positions with primary responsibility for extension and outreach are likewise committed to learner success through programming appropriate for diverse audience.
Position Duties
1) Research (60%) – Establish nationally recognized, externally funded research program in one or more of the topical areas listed above; generate scholarly outputs, in the form of peer-review journal articles and other accepted forms of scholarship reflecting research activities. Serve as an investigator on a USDA–NIFA Hatch collaborative or Hatch multistate project.
2) Teaching (20%) – Develop and deliver ~2 courses per year related to water quality management and technology.
3) Supervisory Responsibilities (10%) Advise/mentor graduate students, post-doctoral scholars, and others involved in research program.
4) Service (10%) – Provides service to the department, College, OSU, and the profession through participation on committees; organizing sessions at professional meetings, and similar activities.
The incumbent is expected to generate external grants and/or contracts for any appointment during the summer months. The incumbent is expected to be responsive to and contribute to OSU initiatives for promoting student success and enhancing diversity at OSU.
Minimum/Required Qualifications
- Ph.D in Biological, Ecological, Agricultural, Civil, or Environmental Engineering or a related field.
- Demonstrated scholarship in water quality engineering consistent with this PD.
- Excellent communication skills.
- Commitment to promoting and enhancing diversity.
- This position is designated as a critical or security-sensitive position; therefore, the incumbent must successfully complete a criminal history check and be determined to be position qualified as per OSU Standard 576-055-0000 et seq. Incumbents are required to self-report convictions and those in youth programs may have additional criminal history checks every 24 months.
- For appointment as Associate/Full Professor:
• Demonstrated record of national and/or international leadership in water quality engineering.
• Demonstrated productivity in all critical aspects of the research enterprise.
Preferred (Special) Qualifications
- Experience working in multidisciplinary teams.
- Sufficient training/experience to qualify for the Professional Engineering Examination.
- Record of work with underrepresented/underserved students or other audiences.
- Life experience, education, or training that broadens capacity to equalize student success or impact underserved audiences.
