Assistant​/Associate Professor

Job Description

The Department of Biology at the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) invites applications for a faculty position in Plant Community Ecology (Plant Ecologist) at the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor. The successful candidate is an outstanding scholar with expertise in plant ecology and community dynamics who can contribute to teaching, research, and service within the Department and the broader university.

A strong background in the impact of climate change—at species and community levels—on desert ecosystems would be an advantage. The candidate will also contribute to undergraduate and graduate education and foster interdisciplinary collaborations across UAEU and with national and international partners.

• Develop and sustain an internationally competitive research program in plant community ecology.
• Secure external research funding from national and international agencies.
• Publish regularly in high‑impact, peer‑reviewed journals.
• Supervise MSc and PhD students and mentor undergraduate research projects.
• Establish collaborations with researchers across UAEU, governmental agencies, conservation organisations, and international institutions.
• Contribute to research initiatives addressing biodiversity conservation, ecosystem restoration, climate adaptation, and sustainable land management in arid environments.
• Teach undergraduate and graduate courses, including Community Ecology, Ecosystem Ecology, Biodiversity and Conservation, Restoration Ecology, Field Ecology, Ecological Data Analysis, and Advanced Topics in Plant Ecology.
• Develop innovative teaching methods, supervise student research, and contribute to curriculum development.
• Participate actively in departmental, college, and university committees.
• Contribute to program accreditation and curriculum development.
• Engage in outreach activities that promote environmental awareness and biodiversity conservation.
• Build partnerships with governmental and environmental organisations within the UAE.

• Ph.D. in Plant Ecology, Community Ecology, Ecology, Botany, Environmental Biology, or a closely related discipline from a recognised institution.
• Demonstrated expertise in plant community ecology.
• Strong publication record appropriate for career stage.
• Evidence of potential to secure competitive research funding.
• Commitment to excellence in teaching and student mentoring.
• Excellent English communication skills.

• Desert and arid‑land ecology
• Plant biodiversity and conservation
• Restoration ecology
• Ecosystem functioning and resilience
• Climate change impacts on vegetation
• Functional ecology and plant traits
• Remote sensing and GIS applications in ecology
• Landscape ecology
• Ecological modelling
• Long‑term ecological monitoring
• Plant‑soil interactions
• Invasive species ecology
• Carbon cycling and ecosystem services
• Experience with modern ecological techniques, including quantitative ecology, multivariate statistical analysis, spatial ecology, R programming, remote sensing, UAV/drone applications, species distribution modelling, and environmental DNA (eDNA).
• Field‑based ecological monitoring will be considered an advantage.

Close Date:
Kindly apply before the closing date. The position is open until filled.