Career Center

Position Summary

The Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences at Michigan State University invites applications for a full‐time, 12-month tenure track Assistant Professor with an 85% research, 15% teaching appointment. The position start date is anticipated to be March 1, 2024.

Research responsibilities will include fundamental and applied research in dry bean breeding and genetics. The major objective of the applied research is the development of improved varieties of multiple dry bean market classes. Current target traits of improvement of the breeding program include yield, disease resistance, canning quality, nitrogen use efficiency and abiotic stress resistance. Fundamental research will depend on the incumbent’s training, expertise, and interest, and will focus on genomics; molecular, cellular, physiological or population genetics; genetics of disease resistance; or quantitative genetic theory. Publication of research results in major scientific journals will be required. Teaching expectations include graduate courses in plant breeding and quantitative genetics. Graduate student mentoring is also required in this position. The incumbent will be required to obtain competitive research support from state and federal programs, as well as grants from the growers and processing industries.

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 -Plant breeding and genetics, or related

Minimum Requirements

An earned Ph.D. in plant breeding and genetics, or related plant science disciplines. A demonstrated record of activities in research and teaching relevant to the position.  Applicants should have a strong record of accomplishments and publications. Further, evidence of past or ongoing successful collaborations and demonstrated outreach to growers and commodity groups is desired, and evidence of multidisciplinary collaborations will be viewed favorably.

Desired Qualifications

Postdoctoral experience. Experience with legume crops.

Required Application Materials

a) letter of interest that includes qualifications for the position and statement of research and teaching philosophies highlighting how your experiences align with the position (2-page maximum).

b) written statement (limited to 2 pages) that outlines your research vision as it relates to the position. Please include a discussion of both short (five year) and long-term (15 year or more) research directions and goals.

c) description (1 page) of teaching philosophy and goals.

d) current curriculum vitae.

e) description of how you will contribute to our diversity, equity and inclusion goals.

f) contact information for three professional references. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Special Instructions

The search committee will begin reviewing applications on October 1, 2023 and continue until a suitable candidate is selected.

Questions regarding this position can be addressed to the Search Committee Chair: David Douches, Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA, douches@msu.edu (517) 884-6946.

Website

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

Department Statement

Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences is a multi-disciplinary department with faculty appointed in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR; http://www.canr.msu.edu/). Opportunities exist to interact with members of the Plant Resilience Institute, and other interdepartmental programs including Plant Breeding, Genetics and Biotechnology, Genetics, and Molecular Plant Sciences.  Appointed faculty will also be affiliated with MSU AgBioResearch (http://agbioresearch.msu.edu/). Michigan is the second largest producer of dry beans in the United States and the largest producer of black beans and small red beans. Therefore, the incumbent will be expected to maintain close working relationships with the dry bean growers and processors, as well as develop and maintain a broad research program with both state, national, and international foci. To support these activities, numerous collaborative opportunities at MSU in the areas of genetics, agronomy, plant pathology, and food science are available.

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.

About Michigan State University

Spartans work every day to advance the common good in uncommon ways.Together, we tackle some of the world?s toughest problems to find solutions that make life better?from alternative energy to better food safety to breakthrough medical and environmental applications achieved through rare isotope research.We teach. We explore and we discover. We collaborate and lead. We innovate, inspire, and empower. We achieve our potential and create circumstances that help our students and others achieve theirs.We're good at it, and we've been at it for more than 150 years.The nation?s pioneer land-grant university, MSU began as a bold experiment that democratized higher education and helped bring science and innovation into everyday life. The revolutionary concept became a model for the nation.Today, MSU is one of the top research universities in the world?on one of the biggest, greenest campuses in the nation. Home to nationally ranked and recognized academic, residential college, and service-learning programs, we?re a diverse community of dedicated students and scholars, athletes and artists, scientists and leaders.In ways both practical and profound, we work to create a stronger, more sustainable, and more hopeful future for all.

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