The University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES) invites applications from innovative and collaborative scientists for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position in Environmental Chemistry. We seek applicants with organic or inorganic chemistry expertise in estuarine and marine systems that complement existing strengths at UMCES. Potential areas of expertise in new, rapidly expanding fields include, but are not limited to: geochemical cycling, carbonate chemistry, hydrogeochemistry, emerging and legacy contaminant tracing, and/or analytical methods development and application. A strong analytical focus is desirable including the use of powerful tools such as autonomous chemical sensing, isotopic tracers, biomarkers, or the chromatographic or spectroscopic characterization of complex environmental samples.
The position is based at the Chesapeake Biological Laboratory (CBL), in Solomons, Maryland. CBL is part of UMCES, a statewide network of research-focused labs, with robust research portfolios spanning aquatic biogeochemistry, ecotoxicology, coastal resilience, ecosystem dynamics, ecology, and fisheries science with a mission for both fundamental and applied research. The CBL Environmental Chemistry program has a long and distinguished history and currently houses an array of advanced analytical capabilities such as nutrient and stable isotope analyses, measurements of greenhouse gases, trace and heavy metals and organic contaminants, and gamma counters. Some of these instruments are used in the newly-opened Anthropogenic Changes in Estuarine Systems (ACES) center to identify harmful contaminants in waterways and assess their risk to environmental and human health. Others are associated with the well-established Nutrient Analytical Services Laboratory (NASL), a nationally-accredited laboratory specializing in determining nutrient concentrations in natural waters, sediments, and plant and animal tissues. A broad array of additional instrumentation and analytical capacity is available through the UMCES network, including stable isotope analysis of trace materials, genomic and molecular analysis, and pigment analysis.
The successful candidate will demonstrate the potential for:
- developing an externally funded research program,
- supervising and mentoring graduate students
- building strong collaborations with diverse researchers, leveraging existing expertise to advance understanding of the global environment,
- committing to strengthening a sense of belonging for the entire campus community, and
- supporting a robust learning environment by teaching fundamental and specialized courses at the graduate level.
Responsibilities:
- Develop and sustain an externally funded research program to advance science in a specific area of environmental chemistry
- Produce discipline-specific scholarly works (e.g., peer-reviewed publications, new methodologies, and/or patents)
- Teach graduate-level courses (average course load is 1 class per year)
- Mentor graduate students through the Marine Estuarine Environmental Science graduate program that is shared across several units of the State University System of Maryland
- Engage in interdisciplinary collaboration across UMCES and other national and international institutions
Required qualifications:
- PhD in chemistry, marine science, oceanography, environmental science, or other related field
- Demonstrated research excellence and a strong record of scholarly works
- Demonstrated potential for securing external funding
- Demonstrated potential for mentoring
Preferred qualifications:
- Translatable experience that allows applicant to build upon or maximize current analytical capacity at CBL
- Teaching or mentoring experience at the graduate level
- Demonstrate an interest in strengthening community and/or broadening participation in aquatic chemistry and related fields
