Assistant/Associate/Full Professor Tenure System

Working/Functional Title

Assistant/Associate/Full Professor Tenure System

Position Summary

The Plant Resilience Institute of Michigan State University invites applications for multiple faculty positions at a tenure-track Assistant, Associate, or Full Professor level from individuals using innovative laboratory, computational, or field experimental approaches to study plant responses to the environment. Candidates for the Assistant Professor positions will be evaluated separately from those for the Associate/Full Professor positions. The successful applicants can work across any scales or systems within the plant sciences, with a research focus on abiotic and biotic constraints relevant to plant resilience against the changing climate. Responsibilities also include undergraduate and/or graduate teaching (to be determined based on departmental need and candidate strengths) and participation in both undergraduate and graduate training.

These positions are part of MSU’s Global Impact Initiative (research.msu.edu/global-impact/), designed to address grand challenges in some of the most promising and exciting fields of research. These positions are also part of a widespread hiring initiative emblematic of MSU’s historic and continuing commitment to plant science excellence (https://research.msu.edu/plant-science-excellence). MSU has a world-class plant science community and support infrastructure comprising more than 200 faculty members conducting a wide range of plant research spanning the lab-to-field continuum in both agricultural and natural ecosystems.

The mission of the Plant Resilience Institute (PRI; https://plantresilience.msu.edu/) is to enhance plant resilience to environmental challenges including extremes in weather and to become a “Center of Excellence” for foundational and translational plant research aimed at stabilizing the productivity and quality of food and energy crops against climate fluctuations and uncertainties. The PRI is an interdisciplinary cross-departmental institute, with PRI members belonging to a range of home departments. The PRI includes scientists from diverse career stages and disciplines (biochemistry, physiology, ecology, evolutionary biology, genetics, genomics, bioinformatics, microbiology, and pathology), with expertise in model, non-model, and crop plants, drought and heat adaptation, plant-microbe and plant-insect interactions, genomics, and bioinformatics.

Candidates who work collaboratively, pioneer new or emerging technologies and approaches, and whose research program can synergize with the PRI and the larger plant community at MSU are especially encouraged to apply. In addition, communication and outreach are essential and practical means of highlighting both the impacts of research, and the essential nature of the questions behind it. Candidates should have experience participating in outreach and communication endeavors, including those related to their role as a researcher, educator, and member of a community of practice.

In addition to membership in PRI, the candidate will be appointed with one or more academic units/programs on campus including the departments of Plant Biology; Plant, Soil & Microbial Sciences; Horticulture; Computational, Mathematics, Science & Engineering; Forestry; Biochemistry & Molecular Biology; Microbiology and Molecular Genetics; Entomology; the Long-Term Ecological Research Program in Agricultural Ecology, W.K. Kellogg Biological Station; and MSU AgBioResearch. Across their appointment, the successful candidate will be expected to teach undergraduate and/or graduate courses (to be determined based on departmental need and candidate strengths) and to participate in both undergraduate and graduate training.

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

Minimum Requirements

Applicants must have a Ph.D. in a related field, a strong record of research accomplishments in plant science or biology, and a stated goal of conducting future research in the area of plant resilience. 

Required Application Materials

Qualified applicants should submit an application comprising:

1. a cover letter;
2. a curriculum vitae;
3. a summary of research accomplishments and future research objectives (max 4 pages);
4. a description of teaching experience and pedagogical approach (max 1 page);
5. summary of contributions towards fostering a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion as well as how those efforts can be integrated with the teaching, research, and service missions of the university (max 1 page); and
6. contact information (name, address, email and phone) for four references.

Special Instructions

Review of applications will begin February 1, 2024 and continue until the position is filled. Questions can be directed to David Lowry, Search Chair and Associate Director of the PRI, at PRI.Admin@msu.edu.

Review of Applications Begins On

02/01/2024

Website

https://plantresilience.msu.edu/

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.