Assistant Research Professor

Assistant Research Professor

This position is a 100% research appointment with Mississippi State University located at the Delta Research and Extension Center, National Center for Alluvial Aquifer Research (NCAAR) in Stoneville, MS, with an academic affiliation in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences at Mississippi State University. The incumbent will pursue an innovative and comprehensive program in agronomy focused on water use in agriculture with objectives considering scientific merit, practical needs of Mississippi producers, and the preservation of groundwater resources.

The primary function of this position will be to develop, coordinate and implement research programs aimed at reducing irrigation needs of agronomic crops in the Mississippi Delta. The incumbent will work as part of a multidisciplinary team involved in research and extension related to water use in agricultural systems. In particular, the incumbent will conduct research on established technologies and practices that improve irrigation efficiency and develop novel approaches to reduce the demand for irrigation in local agronomic crops.

Develop and maintain close working relationships with producers and the agricultural industry, including commodity groups, governmental agencies, stakeholders, Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station researchers, MSU Extension specialists, Extension agents, and others. This interaction ensures that irrigation research programs are focused on the most pressing needs of stakeholders. The incumbent should have experience in irrigated row crop agricultural production and demonstrated, or potential for, excellence in research and scientific article publication as well as proficiency in extramural grant writing.

In addition to research activities, the successful candidate may be appointed an administrative role as MSU Coordinator of the National Center for Alluvial Aquifer Research.

Salary Grade: UC

Please see Staff Compensation Structure or Skilled Crafts and Service Maintenance Compensation Schedule for salary ranges. For salary grade UC, these positions are "Unclassified" and salary ranges are determined by the hiring department.

Area of Specialization:
Agronomist

Anticipated Appointment Date:
April 2026.

Tenure Track Status: N/A.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

The incumbent will conduct in-depth agronomic research related to the optimization of row crop production systems in the Mississippi Delta. In developing the research program, the incumbent will work with commodity groups, producers, and agribusinesses to promote efficient irrigation practices in agronomic crops and identify techniques to conserve water while sustaining or improving crop yields and farm profitability. The incumbent is expected to advance water use efficiency in row crops by employing a "systems" approach;

therefore, the incumbent shall cooperate with agronomists, entomologists, plant pathologists, and other scientists at DREC, Mississippi State University, USDA-ARS, and other groups as appropriate to develop holistic irrigation management techniques. The incumbent will facilitate information transfer to stakeholders of research-based irrigation management recommendations via use of appropriate technology. The incumbent will collaborate with colleagues in grant and contract proposals seeking funding to support applied research efforts.

Furthermore, the incumbent will demonstrate and present information and updates through effective program delivery by planning and participating in local, state, regional, and national professional and stakeholder meetings. The incumbent will be encouraged to participate in graduate student training and contribute to collaborative off-campus and campus-based educational programs in agronomy or closely related fields. The successful candidate will actively participate in professional societies and organizations as well as appropriate DREC and MSU committees and commodity groups.

These activities should include involvement in coordinating irrigation and agronomic crops research goals and objectives through collaborative efforts. This position will work closely with Extension to facilitate deliverable information related to irrigation efficiency to stakeholders.

Minimum Qualifications:

An earned Ph.D. in plant and soil sciences, agronomy, or a closely related field from an accredited institution of higher learning. Individuals who are ABD (all but dissertation) will be considered. Acceptable candidate must have outstanding verbal and written communication skills, experience with agricultural production, statistics, and experimental design. Pursuit of extramural funding through grant proposals and collaborations is required.

ABDs or degree pending considered (all but DISS):
Yes.

Preferred Qualifications:

Strong experience in irrigation efficiency in row crop agricultural production and demonstrated excellence or potential in conducting research, obtaining extramural grant funding, and…