Assistant Professor - Ecological Restoration/Wildlife Conservation

Target start date: August 17, 2027. Applications accepted until October 30, 2026 or until filled.

About the role

The School of Planning, Policy, and Environmental Studies at San José State University seeks a teacher-scholar in environmental conservation with expertise in ecological restoration, wildlife conservation, or closely related fields. The ideal candidate combines quantitative, applied research with inclusive, field-based teaching. Areas of specialization may include restoration ecology, biological conservation, climate change ecology, ecosystem management, social-ecological systems, biodiversity conservation, landscape ecology, traditional ecological knowledge (TEK)/Indigenous resource management.

The School’s programs encompass undergraduate degrees in Environmental Studies (BA, BS), Geography (BA), and Global Studies (BA), as well as master’s degrees in Environmental Studies (MS), Urban Planning (MUP), Public Administration (MPA), and Geographic Information Science (MS). Faculty are nationally and internationally recognized experts in species conservation, social-ecological systems, forest ecology, GIS, community development, water resources management, and energy justice.

The School is part of the College of Social Sciences, which is committed to equitable and inclusive teaching and learning, fostering culturally-sustaining and academically-affirming approaches to student and faculty success. SJSU is a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPISI), enrolling over 40,000 students, many of whom are historically underserved.

Responsibilities

• Teach courses in the Environmental Studies undergraduate and graduate core, including life science and restoration courses; assigned courses may also include other undergraduate and graduate courses offered by the School that align with the applicant’s disciplinary training.
• Maintain an active research program resulting in peer-reviewed publications, grants, and similar research, scholarship, and creative activity outputs.
• Supervise graduate student projects and research, including EnvS Master of Science thesis research or culminating projects.
• Advise undergraduate majors, minors, and prospective students.
• Participate in shared governance through department, college, and university committees and other service assignments.
• Organize all classes within the Canvas Learning Management System (LMS).
• Demonstrate awareness and experience in understanding the needs of a diverse student population through inclusive course materials, teaching strategies, and advisement.

Requirements

• PhD in Environmental Studies or a related natural science field focused on conservation, particularly ecological restoration or wildlife conservation.
• Evidence of or potential for teaching effectiveness in environmental studies.
• Evidence of or potential for a productive research program in environmental studies.
• A strong background in quantitative research methods.
• Awareness of and sensitivity to the educational goals of a socially and economically diverse student population, as might have been gained in cross-cultural study, training, teaching, or comparable experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstration of teaching excellence in higher education at the undergraduate and/or graduate level.
• Demonstrated experience in habitat restoration and/or applied ecosystem management.
• Demonstrated experience in or commitment to service at the department and university level.
• Experience in or commitment to supporting co-curricular academic activities that promote student success (e.g., professional network development).
• Engagement with professional communities of practice.
• Evidence of peer-reviewed publications.
• Experience designing and implementing field-based research.

Pay

Anticipated hiring academic year annual salary range: $88,000 - $92,000. Faculty employee benefits are competitive within the higher education sector. See the CSU Employee Benefits Summary for details.