Assistant/Associate Professor in Forest Hydrology

Cgu Ugc; Edmonton; On-site; CAD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Alberta invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant or Associate Professor in forest ecohydrology. The role focuses on climate-related disturbances and adaptive forest management, with a substantial research endowment.

You will build an internationally recognized program, supervise students, secure funding, and advance field-based research across Alberta. In-person position based at North Campus, Edmonton, with teaching across Forest Ecology and Management programs and

Qualifications

• PhD in forest hydrology or ecohydrology with field experience.
• Demonstrated ability to integrate hydrology with vegetation and snowpack dynamics.
• Experience managing large-scale field sites and long-term monitoring.
• Strong publication record and ability to secure grants.
• Evidence of high-quality post-secondary teaching and curriculum development.

Responsibilities

• Conduct cutting-edge research on forest hydrology and ecohydrology.
• Develop internationally recognized research program and supervise students.
• Deliver courses in Forest Ecology and Management and related programs.
• Engage with stakeholders to communicate findings and promote watershed health.
• Oversee field monitoring infrastructure across Alberta.

Skills

Forest hydrology

Ecohydrology

Field research

Water resources

Grant writing

Teaching

Curriculum design

Stakeholder engagement

Education

PhD in forest hydrology or ecohydrology

Job description

Job Info

Job Identification: 4268

Posting Date: 08/25/2026, 02:31 PM

Apply Before: 10/08/2026, 05:55 AM

Job Schedule: Full Time

Locations: Edmonton, AB, Canada (On-site)

Category Type: Faculty & Faculty Services, Academic

Position Type: Faculty (Includes Asst. Professors, Associate Professors)

College/Administrative Portfolio: College of Natural And Applied Sciences

Faculty/Department: Agricultural, Life & Environmental Sciences

About the Team

The https://www.ualberta.ca/en/agriculture-life-environment-sciences/index.html is a leader in teaching, research, and community engagement across diverse fields including food systems, sustainable resource management, human ecology, and environmental sociology. With more than 500 faculty and staff, over 1,500 undergraduates, and 600 graduate students, the Faculty of Agricultural, Life & Environmental Sciences leverages 25,000 acres of research land across Alberta to deliver high-impact academic programs and applied research in partnership with industry and communities.

Description

Location – This role is in-person. Work primarily takes place at North Campus, Edmonton.

The Department of Renewable Resources at the University of Alberta (UofA) invites applications for a tenure-track position at the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor in the field of forest ecohydrology. We seek a candidate eager to address the pressing challenges posed by climate change, shifting natural disturbance pressures (such as wildfire and flooding), and anthropogenic impacts (such as forest harvesting), including the evaluation of potential adaptive forest management practices in Alberta.

The successful applicant will be expected to conduct cutting-edge research that advances our understanding of forest hydrology and supports the development of strategies to enhance terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem resilience, as well as the sustainability of water and aquatic resources. Crucially, this position comes with a substantial $3,000,000 research endowment. The successful applicant will also be expected to develop an internationally recognized research program, supervise undergraduate and graduate students and post-doctoral researchers, and secure external research funding in the field of forest hydrology. Crucially, they will play a pivotal role in sustaining the department’s strong legacy of field-based research, stepping in to oversee, maintain, and advance our extensive network of active, long-term field monitoring and instrumented research sites located across the Rocky Mountains and Eastern Slopes Foothills of Alberta.

Responsibilities

In addition to research, the successful candidate will play a key role in undergraduate and graduate teaching within the Forest Ecology and Management (graduate level), Forest Science, and Forest Business Management (undergraduate) programs at the UofA. This includes delivering core courses in:

• Physical Hydrology (REN R 350)
• Forest Watershed Management (REN R 452)

This position reports to the Director of the Alberta School of Forest Science and Management (Chair, Department of Renewable Resources). The successful candidate will be expected to contribute to the strategic goals and development of the Department, the Faculty of Agricultural, Life & Environmental Sciences (ALES), and the College of Natural and Applied Sciences.

Furthermore, the candidate will actively engage with stakeholders through extension activities, including forestry professionals, government agencies, and community groups, to communicate research findings and promote the practical application of watershed management, forest conservation, and aquatic ecosystem health. Excellent oral and written communication skills are essential, as is a demonstrated commitment to mentoring, access, community and belonging.

Qualifications

• Candidates for this position must possess a PhD in forest hydrology, ecohydrology, or a closely related field, with demonstrated expertise integrating hydrologic processes with vegetation conditions (encompassing factors such as snowpack dynamics, interception/transpiration processes, stand/catchment water balances, runoff generation, and surface water/groundwater interactions).
• Field Research & Legacy Management: Preference will be given to candidates with a proven track record in empirical, field-based hydrologic research (at the plot, hillslope, stream-reach, or catchment scale) over purely modeling-focused prior research. Applicants must demonstrate the technical and logistical acumen required to manage complex physical field sites, ensuring the continuity, operation, and growth of the department’s existing long-term monitoring infrastructure in montane and foothill environments.
• Financial & Project Stewardship: Demonstrated ability or strong potential to strategically manage large-scale funding, including the position’s accompanying $3,000,000 research endowment, to drive high-impact environmental research and maintain field infrastructure.
• Academic Excellence: Candidates must demonstrate strong potential for high-impact scientific publishing, securing competitive research grants, and working collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams.
• Teaching & Curriculum Development: Evidence of high-quality post-secondary teaching is highly desirable, as is direct experience with course design and curriculum development.
• Sector Engagement: Candidates should demonstrate a commitment to engaging with governmental, industrial, and producer sectors involved in natural resource management. Those to be considered at the Associate Professor level must demonstrate a proven track record of active collaboration with these stakeholders.
• The successful applicant will also be expected to develop an internationally recognized research program, supervise undergraduate and graduate students and post-doctoral researchers and obtain external research funding in the field of forest hydrology.

The successful candidate will be offered a tenure-track appointment at the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor, including a comprehensive https://www.ualberta.ca/en/human-resources-health-safety-environment/benefits-and-pay/benefits-and-pension/benefits-overview/index.html.

The terms and conditions of this appointment are governed by https://www.ualberta.ca/en/human-resources-health-safety-environment/media-library/my-employment/agreements/schedule-a-academic-faculty-members-2020-2024.pdf of the collective agreement between the Board of Governors of the University of Alberta and the Association of Academic Staff of the University of Alberta.