Oak wilt is a fungal disease that kills oak trees. Centers of oak wilt mortality can alter forest composition, degrade the financial value of oak wood products, and create hazards, particularly from trees near home sites. The recent range expansion of oak wilt into central and north-central Minnesota has increased the need to support land stewards by evaluating low-cost oak wilt management strategies and to understand the broader ecological impacts of the disease in Minnesotaâ™s oak forests. This position will coordinate and lead field- and lab-based research, working closely with the research team and forest stewards to address factors affecting oak regeneration, the impacts of oak wilt on forest structure and composition, and the effectiveness of herbicides to control oak wilt spread. In addition to research, this position will develop outreach and extension materials related to oak wilt biology and management for a broad audience. Priority audiences for engagement include homeowners, woodland owners, and professional natural resource managers throughout Minnesota, and particularly in areas where the disease does not have a long history of establishment. The position will be split approximately evenly between research and extension/engagement/outreach. The position will be based in the University of Minnesota Department of Forest Resources and is funded by the Minnesota Invasive Terrestrial Plants and Pests Center, UMN Extension, and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. 

Responsibilities
Research Coordination and Implementation

• (20%) Oversee planning and preparation for oak wilt treatments and vegetation surveys in disease infection centers, including engaging with land managers and assessing potential research sites
• (25%) Conduct field and laboratory work related to oak wilt treatments and vegetation surveys; collect, organize, and summarize research data 
• (5%) Supervise and mentor undergraduate research assistants

Extension and Outreach

• (25%) Synthesis of published and emerging research on oak wilt distribution, management, and control options in language accessible to non-technical audiences.
• (25%) Production and dissemination of educational materials with a focus on short video, but also including written fact sheets, photography, and other web-based content, for non-technical audiences. 

Location
This position is located: 

• 60% on Saint Paul Campus; 40% Virtual/Flexible as needed
• Position may include occasional travel to and from field sites within three hours of the Twin Cities
• Employee is expected to live in Minnesota

Duration

• The position is fully funded for two years, with the possibility of an extension if funds are available

Required Qualifications

• B.S./B.A. in Natural Resource Sciences, Forestry, Entomology, Forest Pathology, or a related field and two (2) years of related experience or equivalent combination of education and work experience to equal five (5) years.
• Demonstrated strong science communication skills
• Experience conducting and coordinating field research related to forest ecosystems.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree in Natural Resource Sciences, Forestry, Entomology, Plant Pathology, or a related field. 
• Experience coordinating with public and private sector land managers. 
• Experience producing educational video and/or written outreach materials.
• Experience with forest or disease management, forest ecology, and/or laboratory diagnostics.
• Demonstrated ability to work successfully with a varied mix of internal and external partners from diverse communities and cultures. 

About University of Minnesota Twin Cities

The University of Minnesota, founded in the belief that all people are enriched by understanding, is dedicated to the advancement of learning and the search for truth; to the sharing of this knowledge through education for a diverse community; and to the application of this knowledge to benefit the people of the state, the nation, and the world.

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