Assistant Professor - Weed Science / Ecology / Management in Edible Specialty Crops

Assistant Professor

Weed Science/Ecology/Management in Edible Specialty Crops

Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University

The Department of Horticulture in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at Michigan State University invites applications for a full-time 12-month tenure-system Assistant Professor position (with a 50% Research, 40% Extension, and 10% Teaching assignment) to lead an internationally recognized, innovative and competitively funded research and extension program in weed science and ecology to support Michigan’s fruit and vegetable industries.   The position start date is anticipated to be August 16, 2025.

The successful candidate will be responsible for developing a collaborative research and extension program focused on weed science, management and agroecology.  Specific areas of research may include, but are not limited to: optimization of herbicide products, rates, timings and application methods to selectively manage weeds and facilitate expanded herbicide registrations for edible specialty crops; effects of climate change on weed population dynamics and management; development and application of automated, AI-assisted precision weeders to reduce pesticide use and labor costs; integration of preventative, chemical, biological and physical approaches to manage herbicide resistant weeds and improve production efficiency. Extension responsibilities include development of a forward-looking extension program that will provide leadership in the development of educational materials and presentations to inform and advise growers, extension educators, industry advisors, government regulators, and elected officials, based on industry needs and opportunities in vegetable and fruit specialty crop weed management, with a focus on sustainability, profitability, and environmental impact.

Michigan’s vegetable and fruit producers constitute a diverse array of specialty crop growers with a combined farm-gate value of $780 million. Access to the latest herbicides and comprehensive up-to-date practices and integrated systems are essential to ensure economic sustainability of these important specialty crop industries in Michigan while also protecting the environment and natural resources.

The successful candidate will be expected to develop and coordinate outreach and research collaborations within the MSU vegetable and fruit faculty and extension educator teams in MSU Extension’s Agriculture and Agribusiness Institute; procure competitive external grant funding; publish in peer-reviewed scientific journals; create and publish, refereed, industry relevant educational materials; develop leadership activities in regional, national, and international professional scientific associations; advise and mentor students, postdoctoral fellows, and visiting scientists; and contribute to the graduate-level curriculum in applied horticultural crop production, which may include teaching seminars or coordinating a team-taught course at the 800 level. Opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration exist with scientists in soil science, plant pathology, nematology, entomology, and agricultural engineering. Salary will be commensurate with the successful candidate’s experience. MSU offers competitive start-up support for new faculty and attractive benefits including health and dental insurance and retirement plans.

Qualifications:

Required:

• D. in weed science, horticulture, agronomy, plant biology/physiology, forestry, or other relevant plant-science related fields.
• Demonstrated capacity to conduct and publish independent, original, innovative research
• Excellent oral and written communication skills appropriate for both scientific peers as well as agricultural stakeholder constituencies.

Desired:

• Graduate, postdoctoral or other professional experience in weed science/ecology.
• Experience in competitive grant proposal writing and administration.
• Experience working in a diverse environment and/or utilizing a variety of outreach/communication methods designed for broad student/stakeholder success.
• Ability to work collaboratively, both as a team member and as a leader in a multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural setting.

Location: The position will be based at Michigan State University in East Lansing, MI, USA. Michigan State University (MSU) is one of the top research universities in the world and home to nationally ranked and recognized academic, residential college, and service-learning programs. MSU is a diverse community of dedicated students and scholars, athletes and artists, and scientists that provide regional, national, and international leadership in basic and applied research and excellence in teaching. In addition, consistent with its Land Grant origins, the MSU community pursues international engagement and provides strong extension programs that partner with diverse stakeholders to provide much needed research in the areas of food, energy, water and the environment. MSU enjoys a park‐like campus with outlying research facilities and natural areas. The MSU campus and East Lansing are located adjacent to the capital city of Lansing. The Lansing metropolitan area has a diverse population of >500,000. Local communities have excellent school systems and place a high value on education. The University is proactive about its obligations under the ADA, and provides individual accessibility plans to students and employees with disabilities. Michigan State University is also proactive in exploring opportunities for employment for dual career families, both inside and outside the University, and respects all family forms. Information about MSU’s dual career support and other types of support for balancing work and personal lives at MSU can be found at http://worklife.msu.edu/

Plant Sciences at MSU: MSU is a global leader in basic and applied plant science research, with over 150 faculty members engaged in research ranging from sustainable agriculture and ecology to breeding, genomics and biochemistry. Extensive laboratory, greenhouse, growth chamber, and field-based facilities are available for plant growth research, including biochemical, imaging, and gene expression analyses, bioinformatics support, and plant transformation. Horticulture faculty also conduct research at the Horticulture Teaching and Research Center on campus and several field research and demonstration centers around the state. MSU plant science faculty, staff, and graduate students represent an inclusive, diverse community committed to the advancement of science and the recruitment and retention of persons from richly varied backgrounds and perspectives to maintain and enhance the excellence of the University.

Commitment to Creating a Sense of Belonging: Michigan State University occupies the ancestral, traditional, and contemporary Lands of the Anishinaabeg – Three Fires Confederacy of Ojibwe, Odawa and Potawatomi people. The University resides on Land ceded in the 1819 Treaty of Saginaw.

The College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at Michigan State University is committed to achieving excellence by creating and sustaining an accessible and inclusive culture that values cultural and academic diversity. We are an equal opportunity / affirmative action employer. The CANR is particularly interested in candidates of all backgrounds who are committed to the principle that academic excellence is achieved through open access and proactive inclusion.  Candidates are invited to view {unit} norms at {link}. 

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement: Michigan State University is committed to the principles of equal opportunity, nondiscrimination and, in the context of employment, affirmative action. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, gender, gender identity, religion, national origin, political persuasion, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, height, weight, veteran status, age or familial status. 

Salary and Benefits: Salary will be commensurate with qualifications. MSU offers a generous benefits package (details at https://hr.msu.edu/benefits/index.html).

Application Procedure: Qualified applicants should submit the following materials to https://jobs.msu.edu (select Faculty/Academic Staff and apply to posting no. 992371: 1) A letter of application, summarizing research/extension accomplishments and future interests; 2) a current resume; 3) a statement of extension/teaching philosophy; 4) a summary of your experience or philosophy fostering diversity and inclusion in research, extension and instructional endeavors, including an explanation of how you will contribute to MSU’s goals of inclusive excellence; and 5) contact information for at least three references who will be contacted directly by the search committee as needed. Questions on submitting applications through https://jobs.msu.edu can be directed to hrt@msu.edu.

Review of Applications: The search committee will begin reviewing completed applications on November 10, 2024, and continue until a suitable candidate is selected.  Questions about the position or the search and interview timetable can be directed to Dr. Steve van Nocker, Search Committee Chair (vannocke@msu.edu).

MSU is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer, committed to achieving excellence through a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture that encourages all people to reach their full potential. We actively encourage applications from, and nominations of, women, persons of color, veterans, persons with disabilities and other individuals who can contribute to the intellectual diversity and cultural richness at Michigan State University. MSU is committed to providing a work environment that supports employees’ work and personal life, and offers employment assistance to the spouse or partner of candidates for faculty and academic staff positions.