Assistant Professor of Entomology​/Insect Ecology

Position Details

Position Information:
Announcement Number FAC - VA - 26124.

For questions regarding this position, please contact:

Ricardo Pinto
ricardo.pinto

Jessica Torrion
jessica.torrion

The Department of Research Centers encompasses faculty and staff that conduct agricultural research and outreach programs at seven off‑campus research centers strategically located throughout Montana. This tenure‑track position is located at the Western Triangle Agricultural Research Center (WTARC) 10 miles north of Conrad (pop. 2,800) and 70 miles north of Great Falls in the agricultural production area known as the “Golden Triangle”.

WTARC has 75 acres of rainfed and irrigated land utilized for research trials in rotation with production crops. Infrastructure includes an office building, a complete line of research equipment for conducting applied research, an equipment storage/shop facility, a seed processing lab, and a greenhouse/headhouse facility built in 2021. A lateral move irrigation system with precision control will be installed for the 2026 crop year.

When fully staffed, WTARC houses two tenure‑track scientists, a variety testing lead, a farm operation manager, along with administrative and research support personnel. Field and greenhouse research is conducted at the center and at on‑farm locations primarily within the seven surrounding counties. Important dryland crops include winter and spring wheat, durum, malt barley, oilseeds, legumes, and forages. Wheat, malt barley, canola, and alfalfa are the primary irrigated crops produced on nearly 100,000 acres in a regional irrigation project.

A local advisory board, comprised of area farmers and industry representatives, provides input on establishing WTARC research priorities.

Faculty Tenure Track: Yes
Faculty Rank: TT
Position Number: 4B3748
Department: AES WTARC
Division: College of Agriculture/MAES
Appointment Type: Faculty
Contract Type: MUS
FTE: 1.0
Benefits: Eligible

• Develop a nationally competitive, field‑oriented program focused on understanding the biological and ecological processes affecting insect pests and sharing this knowledge to inform management that mitigates crop losses.
• Primary focus on arthropod pests of small‑grain, pulse, and oilseed crops in the Golden Triangle and similar agro‑ecoregions, including wheat stem sawfly, wireworms, pea leaf weevils, and flea beetles.
• Create integrated approaches that are economical and can be adopted by dryland and irrigated farmers.
• Transfer knowledge regarding insect pest management to farmers and other stakeholders through extension events, field days, and meetings.
• Present research results at professional scientific meetings and publish in refereed journals.
• Train graduate and undergraduate students and technical staff.
• Collaborate with scientists, educators, farmers, and industry to develop research priorities and provide management recommendations.
• Secure extramural funds from state, regional, and national grant programs and the agricultural industry.
• Communicate findings in oral and written formats, including extension or outreach publications.
• Participate in professional service activities.

• A completed Ph.D. in Entomology, Insect Ecology, or a related discipline at time of hire.
• Personal experience planning, designing, and implementing field research and interpreting results using accepted, innovative, and strategic scientific methodology.
• Experience with agricultural insect pests and crop production in the United States.
• Knowledge of insect ecology, risk assessment, biocontrol strategies, host‑plant resistance, and/or integrated crop production practices.
• Demonstrated record of publishing research findings through refereed journals.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with scientists, farmers, and other stakeholders.

• Documented grant‑writing success.
• Post‑doctoral experience in agricultural insect pest management.
• Experience with pest management in small‑grain production under semi‑arid dryland and irrigated conditions.
• Experience in…