Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences and Department of Forestry

Michigan State University

The Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences and the Department of Forestry, both in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at Michigan State University, invite applicants for an annual year (12-month) tenure-track position at the Assistant Professor rank with a focus on forest and urban forest pathology. The position will be a joint appointment in Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences (PSM) (70%) and Forestry (30%). 

Responsibilities: This position includes extension (50%), research (35%), teaching (10%), and service (5%), focusing on pathogens affecting trees in forested and urban forest settings. The successful candidate will develop an integrated research- extension program that is externally funded and nationally and internationally recognized; publish in peer-reviewed journals; and recruit and mentor graduate students.  Integrating research and extension activities will include working with multidisciplinary teams of researchers, extension educators, personnel from state and federal agencies, and private landowners. The successful candidate will advance our fundamental understanding of tree diseases and contribute to developing sustainable, long-term strategies to manage major forest pathogens affecting forested ecosystems and urban landscapes. Other duties include co-instructing a course on insects and diseases of forest and shade trees taught annually to seniors majoring in forestry, horticulture, and related programs. Departmental, university and professional service also are expected.

Required qualifications: An earned Ph.D. in Plant Pathology, Forestry, Natural Resources, or a related field, with demonstrated training and expertise in forest pathology. Applicants should have a record of scholarly activities in their field.   

Desired qualification: Evidence of applied research, successful grants writing, extension experience, and teaching in Forest Pathology will be valued. 

Michigan State University boasts more than 175 faculty members in plant science disciplines ranging from genomics to landscape ecology.  Cutting across two colleges and five academic departments, research in the Plant Sciences is highly interdisciplinary and collaborative, offering numerous training opportunities for graduate and post-graduate researchers. Integrated training and research programs provide opportunities to broaden faculty interactions, including access for graduate student support, along with competitive research funding through the state-funded Project GREEEN. 

The Department of Plant, Soil, and Microbial Sciences, with more than 70 faculty members, is internationally recognized for its diverse research on plant biology, plant diseases, and the role of soil, water, and the environment in sustainable agriculture and ecosystems. The Department of Forestry, formally established in 1902, is a vibrant, growing, internationally recognized unit committed to an interdisciplinary approach to address environmental and natural resource issues. The faculty includes leading ecologists, economists, entomologists, social scientists, and statisticians. With more than 20 million acres of forest land, a diverse range of forest cover types, and forest products, chestnut, Christmas tree and nursery industries that rank nationally, Michigan provides abundant opportunities for research, extension, and teaching.  

Commitment to Creating a Sense of Belonging:

Michigan State University is dedicated to achieving excellence by fostering an environment that welcomes a broad range of perspectives and experiences, ensuring that all individuals have the opportunity to contribute and thrive. 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 PSM norms at https://www.canr.msu.edu/psm/about_psm/department/PSM_SSAFE_POLICY.pdf and Forestry norms at https://www.canr.msu.edu/for/dei/community-norms.

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).

 To Apply: For consideration, submit your application online at http://careers.msu.edu to job number 1025560. Upload the following required documents: a) letter of interest that includes your qualifications for the position; b) a current curriculum vitae; c) a statement of extension, research, and teaching philosophy and vision that highlights your experience and alignment with our qualifications (3-page maximum); d) a description of how you will contribute to CANR’s positive culture, fair access to resources, and creating a sense of belonging (2-page maximum); and e) contact information for three professional references. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Review of Applications: The search committee will begin reviewing applications on 1 March 2025 and continue until a suitable candidate is selected.  

Questions regarding this position can be addressed to the Search Committee Chair: Dr. Mary Hausbeck, Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA, hausbec1@msu.edu.  

MSU 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.

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. 

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