Maxwell Ralph Jacobs graduated from the University of Adelaide BSc in 1925 receiving Lowry Scholarship in that year.

Work since Graduating:

 1926 - one year's research work at the Waite Agricultural Research 
  Institute, Adelaide, under Lowry Scholarship.
 1927/1929 - Forest Assessor and Forester, Australian Capital
  Territory then Federal Capital Territory. Obtained Commonwealth
  Travelling Scholarship in Forest Management in 1929.
 1930/1932 - Studied at the Imperial Forestry Institute, Oxford and
  the Forstlichen Hochschule Zu Tharandt, Saxony Advanced School of
  Forestry  receiving Diploma of Forestry (Oxon) in 1931 and degree
  of Dr Ingenieur der Forstwissenschaften Doctorate of Forest
  Sciences from Tharandt in 1932.
 1933 - Timber survey of the Northern Territory of Australia.
 1934/1937 - Research Officer and Lecturer Australian Forestry
  School, Canberra.
 1938/1939 - Research Officer, Commonwealth Forestry Bureau,
  Canberra (Commonwealth Fund Service Fellow).
 1940/1941 - Yale University - graduated PhD 1941. Worked on Growth
  Stresses of Woody Stems.
 1942/1944 - War Service with the Royal Australian Engineers (Major),
  Engineers Stores Service-organization of movement of stores.  
  During his war service Mr Jacobs organized timber survey of New
  Guinea forest resources and a further survey of the timber
  resources of the Northern Territory 
 20 Dec 1944- 6 Apr 1961 - Principal, Australian Forestry School 
  6 Apr 1961-24 Feb 1970 - Director-General, Forestry and Timber
  Bureau.

Mr Jacobs was one of foundation members of the Institute of Foresters and one of the signatories of the Articles of Association.  He was a member of the Council of the Institute for some years.  As principal of Australian Forestry School he served as "invited member" on Board of Higher Forestry Education from 1944 to 1961.  When appointed as Director General, Forestry and Timber Bureau in 1961, Jacobs continued to serve on Board as ex-officio member until the Board ceased to function with the closure of the Forestry School in 1964.  

Mr Jacobs was also a member of the Commonwealth Club and the Royal Canberra Golf Club.

Principal Publications:

"A survey of the Genus Eucalyptus in the Northern Territory"
  (Commonwealth Forestry Bureau Bulletin No 17)
"The Primary and Secondary Leaf Bearing Systems of the Eucalypts"
  (CFB Bulletin No 18)
"Experiments with Cuttings of P radiata" (CFB Bulletin No 25)
"A study of the Effect of Sway on Trees" (CFB Bulletin No 26)
"The Growth Stresses of Woody Stems" (CFB Bulletin No 28)
also:
Field Studies on the Gum Veins of Eucalypts, Growth
Habits of the Eucalypts, various Commonwealth
Forestry Bureau Bulletins and articles in scientific journals.

Agency associated with person unregistered

1927-by 1929: Chief Forester, ACT