Postdoctoral Associate

Position Function:

The Department of Forestry at Mississippi State University is seeking applications for a full-time, two-year postdoctoral associate position focused on advancing forest conservation initiatives in Mississippi funded by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

Salary Grade:  UC

Please see Staff Compensation Structure or Skilled Crafts and Service Maintenance Compensation Schedule for salary ranges.  For salary grade UC, these positions are "Unclassified" and salary ranges are determined by the hiring department.

Department Profile:

The Department of Forestry is one of three departments in the College of Forest Resources and the Forest and Wildlife Research Center at Mississippi State University. The faculty have diverse teaching, research, service, and outreach expertise in the disciplines of forest biology and watershed management; forest economics, management, and policy; and forest measurements, biometrics, and spatial technologies. The Department has two undergraduate degree programs, Forestry and Natural Resource and Environmental Conservation, each accredited by the Society of American Foresters with ~200 students in addition to ~40 graduate students in both on-campus and distance education programs. The University’s John W. Starr Memorial Forest (a +8,000-acre research and teaching forest), the Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge, and the Tombigbee National Forest are located in close proximity to the University and used for teaching, research, and Extension/outreach activities.

Mississippi State University is a Carnegie Very High Research Activity (R1) institution and a land grant university with a strong connection to the state-wide Extension Service. The University is in Starkville, a medium-size college town in northeast Mississippi (www.msstate.edu/web/about).

Anticipated Appointment Date:

February 1, 2025. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

This position involves socio-economic and spatial analysis of conservation programs, as well as the development and implementation of outreach strategies to engage underserved and beginning forest landowners. The selected candidate will contribute to research, stakeholder engagement, workshop planning and delivery to support conservation efforts. Travel across the state is required

Minimum Qualifications:

• A Ph.D. in Forestry, Natural Resources, or a related discipline with expertise in social, economic, and spatial sciences.
• Valid driver’s license and willingness to travel across Mississippi.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Strong analytical and writing skills.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively with academic and non-academic stakeholders.

Instructions for Applying:

Link to apply:  http://explore.msujobs.msstate.edu/

Applications must be made through the Mississippi State University Employment opportunities website via the following link: http://www.msujobs.msstate.edu/. Interested candidates should send, in a single PDF document, a 1) cover letter describing their interest and fit with the position, 2) curriculum vitae, 3) unofficial graduate transcripts, and 4) contact information for three professional references to Sabhyata Lamichhane (sabhyata.lamichhane@msstate.edu). Applicants should redact their social security number if it appears on their academic transcript prior to submitting online. Review of the applications will continue until the position is filled.

Screening Date:

December 27, 2025, until filled. 

Restricted Clause:

Position is contingent upon continued availability of funding.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

MSU is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, sex, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, pregnancy, gender identity, status as a U.S. veteran, and/or any other status protected by applicable law. We always welcome nominations and applications from women, members of any minority group, and others who share our passion for building a div