Position Function:
The approximate schedule will be from beginning of July 2025 through September 2025. The position is full-time, requiring up to a 40-hour work week.
Employees hired into Intermittent positions are limited to working no more than 720 hours per fiscal year.
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:
June 2025.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
The position will be based out of the Department of Forestry located in Thompson Hall on the Mississippi State University campus in Starkville, MS. Work will be under the direction of Dr. Ashley Schulz and will include conducting roadside surveys and mapping distributions of cogongrass in northeastern Mississippi. The position may also provide opportunities to assist with outreach regarding cogongrass in this region.
Minimum Qualifications:
Education: High School Diploma.
Licensure: Valid Driver's License.
Preferred Qualifications:
Bachelor of Science in Forestry. Preferred candidates will have experience working in rural areas of Mississippi, have some existing knowledge about plant identification, and know how to use basic field equipment. Experience with GIS applications is also preferred.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Candidates must be able and willing to work in harsh field conditions and should be knowledgeable about forest ecology.
Working Conditions and Physical Effort
Work may involve moderate exposure to unusual elements, such as extreme temperatures, dirt, dust, and fumes, as well as work alongside highways. Field work may also result in exposure to toxic plants, plants with thorns, spines, or prickles, and venomous snakes. The position requires some physical activity when sampling cogongrass plots but otherwise would be mostly sedentary driving and/or computer work.
Instructions for Applying:
Link to apply: http://explore.msujobs.msstate.edu/
Applicants should complete the online application at https://www.msujobs.msstate.edu/.
Screening Date:
June 13, 2025, until filled.
Restricted Clause:
Position is contingent upon continued availability of funding.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:
Mississippi State University is an equal opportunity institution. Discrimination is prohibited in university employment, programs or activities based on race, color, ethnicity, sex, pregnancy, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, or any other status to the extent protected by applicable law. Questions about equal opportunity programs or compliance should be directed to the Office of Civil Rights Compliance, 231 Famous Maroon Band Street, P.O. 6044, Mississippi State, MS 39762, (662) 325-5839.
What do I do if I need an accommodation?
In compliance with the ADA Amendments Act (ADA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position with Mississippi State University, please contact the Department of Human Resources Management at tel: (662) 325-3713 or ada@hrm.msstate.edu.
If you have any questions regarding this policy, contact the Department of Human Resources Management at (662) 325-3713 or ada@hrm.msstate.edu. Upon request, sections of this job listing are available in large print, and readers are available to assist the visually impaired.
