Assistant Professor of Watershed Science and Management

Assistant Professor of Watershed Science and
Management

College: College of Science and Engineering - 323
College

Dept/School: Environmental Sciences - 32351

Vacancy Number: 16F-790

Position Number: 676

Location of Workplace: Main UNCW Campus

Brief Summary of Work for this Position:

The Department of Environmental Sciences at the University of North
Carolina Wilmington seeks to hire a nine-month
tenure-track Assistant Professor of Watershed
Science and Management starting 9 August
2027. The workload for this position is 50% teaching, 40%
research, and 10% service.

This is not a remote position, and the candidate may need to teach
both in person and online. The successful candidate is expected to
teach 5 courses per year (fall and spring
semesters). Courses taught will include Introduction to
Environmental Sciences (EVS 195), Wetlands Ecology and Management
(EVS 489), and one or more of the following courses:• EVS 410:
Environmental Modeling• EVS 518: Fundamentals of Applied
Environmental Research• EVS 519: Advanced Applied Environmental
Research

This position requires a strong commitment to teaching and
mentoring students through applied coursework and research.
Candidates must maintain an active, applied, field-based
research program that broadly informs watershed
conservation and management and provides meaningful research
opportunities for undergraduate and non-thesis graduate
students. While supervision of thesis-based master's or
doctoral students is not a primary expectation, such opportunities
may be available through collaborations with other departments or
the Center for Marine Science. Scholars focused on theory
or basic ecology/biology/physical science need not
apply.

The successful candidate will also contribute to departmental,
college, university, and professional service and be expected to
work effectively in an interdisciplinary environment.
Community-engaged research and partnerships with
relevant stakeholders are encouraged.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements:

Candidates may be ABD but must have a doctoral degree, or
equivalent, in Watershed Science, Wetland Ecology, Wetland
Management, Hydrology, Environmental Sciences, Natural Resource
Management, or a closely related field by 1 August
2027.

Candidates must have experience teaching in a classroom setting,
publishing in peer-reviewed scientific journals, and presenting at
conferences/symposia.

Recent doctoral graduates and post-docs, academics with previous
tenure-track experience, and non-academic professionals (e.g.,
nonprofit, federal or state government, or private sector careers)
with a doctoral degree in a relevant field are encouraged to
apply.

Preferred Education, Knowledge, Skills &
Experience:

N/A

Required Certifications or Licensure:

No Required Certifications or Licensure

Primary Function of Organizational Unit:

The Department of Environmental Sciences focuses on the
relationships among the social, physical, chemical, and biological
aspects of natural and built environments. The department offers an
interdisciplinary curriculum, drawing upon the resources of many
related fields to provide the rigorous analysis necessary to
understand environmental problems and formulate
environmentally-sound solutions. Our curriculum inspires students
to become active and engaged environmental stewards.

College/School Information:

The College of Science and Engineering offers a variety of programs
leading to Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees, as
well as Doctor of Philosophy degrees in applied coastal and ocean
sciences; pharmaceutical chemistry; integrative, comparative, and
marine biology; and psychology degrees. The college also offers
combined bachelor's/master's degree programs in information
technology/computer science and information systems, computer
science/computer science and information systems, and B.S. in
mathematics/M.S. in mathematics. To implement its academic
programs, the college provides instruction and research
opportunities in the natural and behavioral sciences, information
technology, data science, computer science, mathematics,
pre-engineering, and engineering. The eight academic departments in
the college provide courses of study in each of these areas, in
addition to interdepartmental programs in information technology,
cybersecurity, and digital arts. A 2+2 in engineering; and 3+2
programs in computer science and electrical or computer
engineering; and physics and electrical engineering, are also
offered in the college. Post-baccalaureate certificate programs in
environmental studies, applied statistics, and geographic
information science are also available.

CSE students work with distinguished faculty and scientists, use
cutting edge technology, and conduct impactful research.
Faculty-directed research projects empower CSE students to apply
what they learn inside the classroom and laboratory to real-world
situations and prepares them for a variety of careers or advanced
study.

University Information:

The University of North Carolina Wilmington, the state's coastal
university, is dedicated to the integration of teaching, mentoring,
research and service. Widely acknowledged for its world-class
faculty and staff and continuously recognized at a national level
for scholarly excellence and affordability, UNCW offers a powerful
academic experience that stimulates creative inquiry and critical
thinking.

A public institution with nearly 20,000 students, UNCW offers a
full range of baccalaureate- and graduate-level programs, as well
as doctoral degrees in educational leadership, marine biology,
nursing practice and psychology; and many distance learning
options, including clinical research, an accelerated RN-to-BSN
program, an Executive M.B.A. program structured for working
professionals, and the nation's only bachelor's degree program
focused on coastal engineering.

The university's efforts to advance research and scholarly
activities have earned UNCW the elevated designation of "Doctoral
Universities: High Research Activity" institution (R2 University)
by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher
Education.

UNCW has been part of the University of North Carolina System since
1969.

Eligibility for Employment:

Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender
background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor
vehicle checks. UNC Wilmington participates in E-Verify. Federal
law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment
eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United
States.

Number of Openings: Single Incumbent

Special Notes to Applicants:

Prior to the official appointment to the university, the
candidate(s) selected for hire must be able to demonstrate
eligibility to teach assigned courses by successfully meeting the
credentialing requirements based on official transcripts and other
documentation as required.

Applications must be submitted by 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time
(EST) on November 5, 2026 (the posting close date). To apply,
please complete the online application process available at
https://jobs.uncw.edu/postings/40495
and attach the following materials as an Adobe PDF document
including:

1) Cover Letter

2) Curriculum Vita

3) Teaching philosophy including mentorship style

4) Statement of research interests describing past research
contributions and a vision for an applied, student-engaged research
program at UNCW

5) Two writing samples (peer reviewed preferred)

6) Contact information for three professional references. If ABD at
time of application, one reference must be from Dissertation
Chair.

Please direct questions concerning the search to Dr. Joni Thomas
Backstrom, Chair of the Search Committee, at backstromj@uncw.edu. For questions
regarding the online application process, contact Ms. Suzanne
Mullins at mullinss@uncw.edu.

Position Type: Permanent

Job Posting Date: 08/21/2026

Job Close Date: 11/05/2026

To apply, visit https://jobs.uncw.edu/postings/40611

UNCW does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for
employment because of his or her race, sex (such as gender, gender
identity, marital status, childbirth, and pregnancy), age, color,
national origin (including ethnicity), religion, disability, sexual
orientation, political affiliation, veteran status, military
service member status, genetic information, or relationship to
other university constituents - except where sex, age, or ability
represent bona fide educational or occupational qualifications or
where marital status is a statutorily established eligibility
criterion for State funded employee benefit programs.

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