Assistant Professor in Agricultural Ecohydrology

Job Description SummaryOrganization's Summary Statement:
Tenure-Track Assistant Professor in Agricultural Ecohydrology
Location: University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, MD Departments: Department of Natural Sciences, and Department of Agriculture, Food, and Resource Sciences, Simon A. Haley School of Agriculture and Natural Sciences
Appointment Distribution: 50% Research, 35% Extension, 15% Teaching
Start Date: Spring 2027 (flexible)
The School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences (SANS) at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track faculty position in Agricultural Ecohydrology. We seek a creative and collaborative scientist working at the interface of water, soil, agriculture, nutrient management, biogeochemistry, and watershed processes, with particular interest in agricultural and coastal landscapes. This is a cross-departmental appointment, with the tenure home shared between the Department of Natural Sciences (60%, tenure home) and the Department of Agriculture, Food, and Resource Sciences (40%). Consistent with the position’s integrated research and Extension responsibilities, the successful candidate will also have reporting responsibilities to the UMES Agricultural Experiment Station and UMES Extension.
The successful candidate will develop an applied research and Extension program addressing water-related challenges affecting agricultural production, natural resources, and water quality. The position is particularly well suited for a scientist interested in the Delmarva Peninsula and Chesapeake Bay watershed, where intensive agricultural production occurs within a low-relief coastal landscape characterized by extensive drainage networks, shallow groundwater, nutrient-sensitive waterways, wetlands, and increasing challenges associated with extreme precipitation, drought, sea-level rise, and salinity.
This strategic hire will strengthen UMES capacity in agricultural water management, soil and water quality, climate-resilient agriculture, and watershed science in support of the University’s 1890 land-grant research, Extension, and teaching missions. The successful candidate will have opportunities to collaborate broadly across agricultural, environmental, engineering, and marine sciences and to translate fundamental understanding of hydrologic and biogeochemical processes into practical approaches for producers, land managers, agencies, and communities.
Salary Range: $80,000 - $95,000 (Commensurate with qualifications and experience)
Benefits: The University of Maryland Eastern Shore, as a University System of Maryland institution and a Maryland State agency, provides a comprehensive benefits package to all regular faculty and
staff. The Office of Employee Benefits provides consultative services and assistance with benefits planning, enrollment, and changes. Eligible employees may participate in a variety of benefit plans including:
• Health insurance, including multiple medical plan options for employees
and dependents offered through the State of Maryland Employee Benefits
Division.
• Prescription drug, dental, and flexible spending accounts, and vision
coverage.
• Retirement plans: mandatory enrollment in a state pension system or an
Optional Retirement Plan with Fidelity or TIAA, Supplemental Retirement
Accounts (TIAA, Fidelity, or MSRP-Nationwide) with $600 annual state
match, Life Insurance (state sponsored MetLife, USM sponsored MetLife
Plan, life insurance and long-term disability insurance).
• Tuition remission benefits for eligible employees and, subject to USM
policies, spouses and dependents at University System of Maryland
institutions.
• Leave benefits, including paid annual (22 days per year) and sick leave (15
days), personal leave (3 days per year) and paid holidays.
• Employee wellness and support resources and access to the State of
Maryland wellness programs.
Position Details:
The successful candidate will contribute to undergraduate Environmental Science education and to graduate programs in Marine, Estuarine, and Environmental Sciences (MEES), Toxicology, and Food and Agricultural Sciences (FASC) at UMES.
Areas of Interest: We are particularly interested in candidates whose research or technical experience aligns with, but is not limited to, one or more of the following areas:
• Agricultural hydrology and water management, including soil-water
dynamics, crop water availability, irrigation, drainage, water-use efficiency,
and interactions between agricultural management and hydrologic
processes;
• Agricultural nutrient transport and water quality, including movement and
transformation of nitrogen, phosphorus, sediment, and other constituents
through soils, groundwater, drainage systems, wetlands, streams, and
receiving waters;
• Soil health, climate resilience, and salinity in agricultural landscapes,
including effects of management practices on infiltration, runoff, water
storage, nutrient cycling, drought and flooding resilience, sea-level rise, and
saltwater intrusion;
• Watershed and landscape-scale agricultural hydrology, including surface
water-groundwater interactions and linkages among farms, drainage
networks, wetlands, streams, estuaries, and downstream water quality,
particularly within the Delmarva Peninsula and Chesapeake Bay
watershed;
• Quantitative and predictive modeling of agricultural and ecohydrologic
systems, including statistical, process-based, spatial, machine learning, and
deep learning approaches to predict soil moisture, water availability,
nutrient losses, water quality, crop stress, flooding, drought, salinity, and
related responses;
• Integration and analysis of field measurements, sensor networks, remote
sensing, unmanned aerial systems, GIS, and complex spatial and temporal
datasets using modern statistical, computational, and data-driven
approaches;
• Development of predictive and decision-support tools that translate
agricultural, hydrologic, and environmental data into practical information
for producers, Extension professionals, conservation agencies, and other
stakeholders.
Candidates are not expected to work across all of these areas. We are particularly interested in applicants who combine strong understanding of agricultural and hydrologic processes with rigorous quantitative analysis and modern modeling or data-driven approaches to address challenges relevant to the Delmarva Peninsula, Chesapeake Bay watershed, and agricultural systems more broadly.
Responsibilities: The successful candidate will be expected to:
• Develop nationally recognized, integrated research and Extension programs
in agricultural ecohydrology addressing important agricultural, water-
resource, and environmental challenges, including a strong externally
funded research portfolio;
• Conduct applied and translational research that advances agricultural
productivity, water and nutrient-use efficiency, soil and water conservation,
environmental stewardship, and resilience of agricultural systems;
• Establish field-based research relevant to agricultural landscapes of
Maryland, the Delmarva Peninsula, and the Chesapeake Bay watershed,
while developing a program with regional and national significance;
• Develop and deliver an Extension program in agricultural ecohydrology and
collaborate with UMES Extension professionals to translate research
findings into practical information, demonstrations, decision-support
resources, and educational programs for farmers, agricultural
professionals, conservation practitioners, agencies, and other stakeholders;
• Engage in interdisciplinary teams across SANS and beyond, integrating
hydrology with soil science, agronomy, crop science, environmental
science, engineering, geospatial science, climate science, and related
disciplines;
• Mentor undergraduate and graduate students and provide research
experiences that prepare students for careers in agriculture, environmental
science, natural-resource management, and related fields;
• Teach undergraduate and graduate courses consistent with departmental
and programmatic needs. Potential courses may include hydrology, water
chemistry, biogeochemistry, watershed science, agricultural water
management, or specialized courses in the candidate’s area of
expertise; and contribute to the academic, research, Extension, and service
missions of the Department of Natural Sciences, the Department of
Agriculture, Food, and Resource Sciences, the Simon A.
Haley School of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, and UMES.
Required Qualifications:
• Ph.D. from an accredited institution in Hydrology, Ecohydrology, Agricultural
or Biological Engineering, Soil Science, Environmental Science, Geology,
Natural Resources, Watershed Science, or a closely related discipline by the
time of appointment;
• Demonstrated expertise or strong potential for developing expertise in
hydrologic, ecological, soil, or biogeochemical processes relevant to
agricultural, coastal, estuarine, or watershed systems;
• Evidence of research productivity and strong potential for scholarly
achievement and development of an externally funded research program;
• Evidence of potential for effective undergraduate and graduate teaching
and mentoring;
• Effective communication and collaboration skills and an interest in
interdisciplinary research.
Physical Demands:
• May require extended periods of standing, bending, stooping, sitting at
desk.
• May require lifting.
• Requires communication with a variety of constituents externally and
internally.
• Requires operation of a variety of office equipment.
Preferences: Preference will be given to candidates with one or more of the following:
• Research experience addressing water, soil, nutrient, or biogeochemical
processes in agricultural or working landscapes;
• Experience with agricultural water-quality issues, nutrient management,
drainage, irrigation, soil-water relations, salinity, or watershed processes;
• Experience working in coastal plain, estuarine, or other hydrologically
sensitive agricultural environments;
• Experience using field-based, laboratory, sensor-based, geospatial, remote-
sensing, modeling, or contemporary data-driven approaches relevant to
ecohydrology;
• Experience working with farmers, Extension personnel, conservation
professionals, natural- resource managers, agencies, or other stakeholders;
• Experience teaching at the college or university level;
• Demonstrated success in, or strong potential for, obtaining competitive
external funding;
• Interest in collaborative and multidisciplinary approaches connecting
agriculture, water resources, environmental quality, and climate resilience.

Additional Job Details

The successful candidate must be able to accept employment in the United States without employer immigration sponsorship

Required Application Materials: All materials must be uploaded in order to receive full consideration at https://umd.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/UMES

• A cover letter summarizing qualifications and interest in the position
• Curriculum vitae, including publication list
• Statement describing prior and current research and outlining future research plans (maximum 2 pages)
• Statement of teaching and mentoring philosophy (1 page)
• Statement of Extension philosophy describing the applicant’s approach to Extension, stakeholder engagement, or translation of research into practical applications (1 page)
• Unofficial graduate transcripts
• Names and contact information for 3 current professional references, including email addresses and telephone numbers
• Questions regarding the position should be directed to Dr. Jonathan Cumming, Professor and Chair, Department of Natural Sciences, Email: [email protected] Telephone: 410-651-6014.

Best Consideration Date: Review of applications will begin on October 30, 2026, and will continue until the position is filled.

Posting Close Date: N/A

Open Until Filled: Yes

DepartmentUMES-AGNS-Agriculture/Operations

Worker Sub-Type Faculty Regular

Salary Range$80,000 - $95,000 (Commensurate with qualifications and experience)

EEO Statement

UMES is an EEO/AA employer and will not discriminate against any employee or applicant because of race, age, sex, color, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or political affiliation. Minorities, women, veterans, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. The successful candidate must be able to show acceptable documentation establishing the right to accept employment in the United States of America without employer sponsorship.

Diversity Statement

The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) is an equal access, equal opportunity institution fully committed to diversity in education and employment. All students, employees, and the campus community at UMES are valued, respected, and have the opportunity to receive an equitable experience in an inclusive, welcoming environment of openness and appreciation.

Title IX Statement

It is the policy of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) to comply with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, which prohibits discrimination (including sexual harassment and sexual violence) based on sex in the University's educational programs and activities. Title IX also prohibits retaliation for asserting or otherwise participating in claims of sex discriminations or harassment.