Assistant, Associate, or Professor of Plant and Soil Sciences, Extension Title Series

Job Title Assistant, Associate, or Professor of Plant and Soil Sciences, Extension Title Series

Requisition Number

Requisition Number FE05068

Working Title

Department Name

Department Name 81060:

PLANT AND SOIL SCIENCES

Work Location

Work Location Lexington, KY

Type of Position

Type of Position Faculty

Position Time Status

Position Time Status Full-Time

Required Education

Applicants must have an earned doctorate in agronomy, crop science, or a closely related discipline. Evidence of strong written and oral communication of applied research findings is required.

Required Related Experience

Experience in tobacco and hemp agronomy is desired.

Required License/Registration/Certification

N/A

Job Summary

RESPONSIBILITIES :
This is a tenure eligible position with a 12-month appointment and approximately 80% extension/service and 20% research responsibilities. The annual distribution of effort will be aligned with this colleague’s strengths and college/department needs. The anticipated start date is July 1, 2027.

Extension:
The person in this position will provide leadership in planning, developing, implementing, and evaluating county-based educational programs for tobacco (70% effort) and hemp production, as well as other specialty crops (30% effort). The primary responsibility will be burley tobacco, but could also include work with other types, such as dark tobacco or cigar tobacco, with a secondary focus on hemp production and other specialty crops in Kentucky.

The individual will develop partnerships with county, district, and multi-state Extension faculty and staff, industry representatives, and research station personnel to develop education and applied research programs for tobacco, hemp, and other specialty crops systems. The person in this position will play an active role in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences and the Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food, and Environment, and is expected to collaborate with other agronomists, weed scientists, plant pathologists, entomologists, soil scientists, and other faculty in the department, college, and university.

Development and dissemination of timely educational materials and programs for county Extension staff, producers, agribusiness firms, and other agencies, including peer-reviewed Extension publications, is expected. The candidate should also build strong collaborative relationships with producer groups and industry representatives to promote practices for improved crop profitability and sustainability, as well as generating program support. The incumbent will provide leadership for college-wide industrial hemp research and extension activities, including facilitating effective collaboration with the on-campus USDA - ARS group.

Research:
This faculty member will conduct field and greenhouse research on applied tobacco, hemp, and other specialty crop issues. The primary goal of this research will be to develop recommendations for current and emerging crop production challenges. The individual would be expected to investigate both traditional and novel approaches to solve agronomic problems. The successful applicant will contribute to graduate student education by advising students and serving on graduate committees.

Service:
As a land-grant university, service to department, college, university, professional society, and/or society at large is expected.

QUALIFICATIONS :
Applicants must have an earned doctorate in agronomy, crop science, or a closely related discipline. Evidence of strong written and oral communication of applied research findings is required. It is expected that the incumbent will obtain extramural funding to support an impactful extension and…