Position Summary

The Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences and the Department of Horticulture  at Michigan State University (MSU) invite applications for a full‐time, 12-month tenure-system Assistant Professor with 60% research and 40% extension assignment. The position start date is anticipated to be April 1, 2025.

This position will be appointed in either the Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Science or the Department of Horticulture

This position is part of the new Agricultural Climate Resiliency Program, a partnership among MSU, the Plant Coalition, and the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development aimed at developing solutions to long-term climate- and water-related problems. As part of this program, MSU has launched an extensive cluster hire process to attract expertise in critical areas of research and outreach necessary to address such grand challenges. This position is part of a well-established plant and soil science research and extension team, as well as a network of extension educators across the state.

Life cycle assessment of agricultural systems. The position focuses on filling knowledge gaps in life cycle assessment of agricultural, landscape systems, and/or the built environment by conducting innovative hypothesis-driven research and extension through quantifying environmental impacts, especially climate change across multiple scales. The research will evaluate the impact of weather, soil, and agricultural practices across the diversity of Michigan agricultural commodities and landscapes. Research topics could include understanding organic matter- and microbiome-interactions in soils, carbon sequestration, organic chemical persistence and reactivity, and/or the life cycle analysis of diverse agricultural production and best management practices (including agriculture in built environment and low impact development). The position will develop a forward-thinking extension program and lead the development of educational materials, tools, and presentations to inform and advise farmers, extension educators, industry advisors, governmental and elected officials. Relevant fields could include, but are not limited to, agronomy, horticulture, ecological economics, soil and plant sciences, industrial ecology, and engineering. Goals are to computationally assess environmental impacts of carbon storage in soils and greenhouse-effect gas emissions, intersect with economic analyses, inform management practices and policy, and to engage stakeholders in ways to influence the adoption of new ideas across the agricultural industry. Applicants that leverage machine learning, neural networks and/or artificial intelligence approaches are encouraged to apply.

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 campus is located in the city of East Lansing, 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/ .

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

For consideration, submit your application & required application materials online at http://careers.msu.edu; Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.

Required Degree

Doctorate -Agronomy, biosystems engineering, chemistry, computer science, environmental science, environmental engineering, geography, geology, horticulture, soil science or related fields

Minimum Requirements

An earned Ph.D. in agronomy, biosystems engineering, chemistry, computer science, environmental science, environmental engineering, geography, geology, horticulture, soil science or related fields. Demonstrated capacity to conduct and publish independent, original, innovative research. Excellent oral and written communication skills appropriate for both scientific peers and agricultural stakeholder constituencies.

Desired Qualifications

Postdoctoral research experience. Experience in competitive grant proposal writing and administration. Experience in extension programming. Ability to work collaboratively, both as a team member and as a leader.

Required Application Materials

1. Cover letter
2. Current curriculum vitae
3. A description of how you will contribute to our diversity, equity and inclusion goals (2-page maximum)
4. A statement of research (2-page maximum)
5. A statement of extension/outreach philosophy (2-page maximum)
6. Names & contact information for three (3)  professional references.

Special Instructions

The search committee will begin reviewing applications on November 30, 2024, and continue until a suitable candidate is selected

To be considered for this position and associated position(s) in the Agricultural Climate Resiliency Program, interested applicants must apply on http://careers.msu.edu/

Questions regarding this position can be addressed to the Search Committee Chair: Patrick Edger, Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA, {edgerpat@msu.edu}

Review of Applications Begins On

11/30/2024

Website

https://www.canr.msu.edu/psm/

Department Statement

The Department of Horticulture and the Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences: HRT and PSM are multi-disciplinary departments with faculty appointed in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR; http://www.canr.msu.edu/).  In addition, opportunities exist to interact with members of Kellogg Biological Station, Great Lakes Bioenergy Center, Plant Resilience Institute, and other interdepartmental programs including Center for PFAS Research, Environmental Science and Policy Program (ESPP), Institute for Integrative Toxicology, Plant Breeding, Genetics and Biotechnology (PBGB), Genetics and Genome Sciences (GGS), and Molecular Plant Sciences (MPS). Appointed faculty will also be affiliated with MSU AgBioResearch (http://agbioresearch.msu.edu/).

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 Department of Horticulture norms at https://www.canr.msu.edu/hrt/about-us/diversity-equity-inclusion/index and Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences norms at https://www.canr.msu.edu/psm/about_psm/Diversity-Equity-and-Inclusion/index.

MSU Statement

Michigan State University has been advancing the common good with uncommon will for more than 160 years. One of the top research universities in the world, MSU pushes the boundaries of discovery and forges enduring partnerships to solve the most pressing global challenges while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community through more than 200 programs of study in 17 degree-granting colleges.