Associate Professor or Professor - Colorado River Studies

Requisition ID: 2026-10519 | # of Openings: 1 | Location: US-UT-Logan | Full-time, benefited faculty position

About the role

The S.J. and Jessie E. Quinney College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at Utah State University (USU) invites applications for the Janet Quinney Lawson Endowed Chair in Colorado River Studies. The successful candidate will serve as Director of the Center for Colorado River Studies in Utah State's Janet Quinney Lawson Institute for Land, Water, and Air and as faculty in a research, teaching, and outreach role in one of the Quinney College's academic departments. This flagship leadership position will situate Utah State University as a nationally and internationally recognized center for research, policy, and stakeholder engagement related to the Colorado River Basin.

We seek an accomplished and visionary leader whose work has had substantial national and/or international impact on water science, policy, governance, management, or environmental decision-making. The faculty rank for this position is Associate or Full Professor. We welcome applications from scientists, scholars, and policymakers who possess a strong record of funded research or policy experience relevant to the Colorado River Basin. This tenure-track, full-time (nine-month) position will be administratively based at the USU main campus in Logan, Utah, with possible collaborative arrangements with USU's statewide campuses (including locations in Salt Lake City, Price, Moab, the Uintah Basin, and Blanding).

Review of applications will begin October 1, 2026, and continue until the position is filled.

Responsibilities

• Serve as Director of the Center for Colorado River Studies.
• Convene scholars, practitioners, agencies, tribal nations, NGOs, and policy leaders around emerging issues in the Colorado River Basin.
• Lead and expand interdisciplinary research, teaching, and outreach programs focused on the Colorado River.
• Secure external funding to support research and center activities.
• Teach and mentor graduate and undergraduate students in relevant academic departments.
• Engage with stakeholders to translate research into actionable policy and management solutions.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. or equivalent terminal degree in a relevant field (e.g., hydrology, environmental science, water resources, policy, engineering, or related disciplines).
• Demonstrated record of scholarly achievement, including publications, grants, and national/international recognition in water-related research or policy.
• Experience in leadership roles, such as directing research centers, programs, or large-scale collaborative initiatives.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with a proven ability to engage diverse stakeholders, including tribal nations, government agencies, NGOs, and academic partners.
• Commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration and applied research that informs real-world decision-making.

Benefits

• Competitive salary commensurate with qualifications and experience.
• Outstanding medical, retirement, and professional benefits (see usu.edu/hr for details).