Job Information
Montana State University Assistant Professor Soil and Environmental Chemistry in Bozeman, Montana
Position Details
Position Information
Announcement Number FAC - VA - 25012
For questions regarding this position, please contact:
Jack Brookshire
jbrookshire@montana.edu
406-994-3973
Classification Title
Working Title Assistant Professor Soil and Environmental Chemistry
Brief Position Overview
The Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences at Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana invites applications for a tenure-track position at the level of Assistant Professor with expertise in Soil and Environmental Chemistry for a preferred start date of August 2025.
Faculty Tenure Track Yes
Faculty Rank TT
Position Number 4A5136
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
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 Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences at Montana State University seeks a collaborative colleague working at the forefront of soil chemistry. The assistant professor will lead a nationally recognized soil and environmental chemistry research and education program, providing expertise across agronomic and natural environments.
Duties and Responsibilities
55% research ( MAES ), 35% teaching ( COA ), 10% service ( FTE = MAES : COA , 60:40)
The assistant professor will lead a nationally recognized soil and environmental chemistry research and education program, providing expertise across agronomic and natural environments. The core disciplinary expertise for this position is basic and applied aqueous and soil chemistry, including topics such as cycling of organic compounds, nutrients, and contaminants, chemical kinetics and carbon-mineral interactions, effects of environmental change, rhizosphere biogeochemistry, and soil health. In their research program the assistant professor will have the opportunity to harness existing departmental, college, and university strengths in agronomy, soils, hydrology, ecosystem ecology, biogeochemistry, microbiology, land-atmosphere interactions, soil nutrient management, restoration ecology, invasive plants, entomology, computer and statistical sciences, and environmental modeling. The faculty member in this position will develop foundational and interdisciplinary courses for undergraduate and graduate students that combine the fundamentals of aqueous and soil chemistry with analytical techniques and data science. The position is essential to building future capacity in research and teaching and growing MS and PhD programs in Ecology and Environmental Sciences. Courses may include Aqueous & Environmental Geochemistry ( LRES 555), Environmental Analytical Chemistry ( ENSC 4XX/591-003, co-taught), and, importantly, sections of high enrollment ENSC courses, including Soils ( ENSC 245), Soil Remediation ( ENSC 460), LRES Capstone ( ENSC 499R), or complementary (option block) courses in Applied Soil and Environmental Chemistry or Field Methods of Soil and Environmental Sampling and Analysis.
Required Qualifications – Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills
Ph.D. in soil chemistry, aqueous chemistry, or a closely related field;
Demonstrated potential for research achievement in soil chemistry;
Evidence of strong communication skills including peer reviewed journal articles;
Experience in undergraduate and graduate teaching and mentoring.
Preferred Qualifications – Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills
Record of conducting innovative research that advances fundamental understanding of soil and environmental chemistry;
Demonstrated potential to write grant proposals and secure funding;
Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in interdisciplinary teams;
Demonstrated ability to mentor students from all backgrounds to succeed.
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 collaborate successfully with faculty, students, and stakeholders;
Demonstrate commitment to integrating an understanding of the experiences of underrepresented groups into 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 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 sons and daughters 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 October 9th, 2024; however, applications will continue to be accepted until an adequate applicant pool has been established.
Special Instructions
To apply please submit the following:
A cover letter highlighting elements of your experiences that will specifically address each required and preferred qualification for this position (two-page limit).
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 and commitment to diversity and inclusion (two-page limit).
A current curriculum vitae.
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.