Assistant Professor - Plant Pathology

Assistant Professor
- Plant Pathology

The Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology seeks a tenure-track Assistant Professor to advance its undergraduate educational mission in plant pathology while developing a complementary research program. This is a 9-month faculty position that has split responsibilities of 60% teaching and 40% research. The role provides leadership in delivering and evolving the undergraduate plant pathology curriculum, integrating active learning, case-based instruction, emerging technologies, and innovative approaches to prepare students for careers and continued study in the discipline.

The role includes approximately two to three courses annually, spanning foundational plant pathology instruction, team-taught and specialized courses, and the development of undergraduate and distance education offerings. In this role, you will help shape how plant pathology is taught, experienced, and applied across the curriculum while building a research program that complements the department's strengths. Your scholarship may engage areas such as plant disease diagnostics and management, fungal biology, soilborne pathogens, plant disease ecology, plant–soil–microbe systems, or epidemiology.

You will have opportunities to develop innovative teaching and research programs, create meaningful experiential learning experiences, and foster collaboration across disciplines while engaging students in discovery and inquiry.

Key Responsibilities fall within the following functional areas:

• Teaching and Mentoring:
  Deliver and modernize core undergraduate plant pathology curriculum, including PP 315 (Principles of Plant Pathology) and its laboratory component, through innovative approaches such as active learning, case studies, emerging technologies, and distance education. Contribute to graduate, team-taught, and specialized courses while helping shape curriculum innovation and assessment across the program. Create meaningful opportunities for students to connect classroom learning with research, discovery, and other experiential learning.
  
  Mentor undergraduate researchers, graduate students, and postdoctoral scholars in their academic and professional development.
• Research and Discovery:
  Build and sustain an active, externally visible research program that complements departmental strengths and advances knowledge in plant pathology. Develop collaborative research that engages students and connects teaching, discovery, and emerging areas such as soilborne pathogens, fungal biology, and plant–soil–microbe interactions. Pursue scholarly work, external support, and partnerships that expand the reach and impact of your research. Contribute to a culture of inquiry and discovery across the department and broader scientific community.
• Department Service and Professional Engagement:
  Contribute to department, college, and university priorities through service, faculty governance, and academic leadership. Foster interdisciplinary collaborations and professional partnerships that strengthen teaching, research, and engagement. Engage with the broader scientific community through professional leadership, manuscript and grant review, and scholarly activities. Support outreach and initiatives that enhance the visibility and impact of the department and university while fostering a collegial, inclusive, and productive academic environment.

Qualifications

Minimum Education and Experience
- PhD in Plant Pathology or related field

Other

Required Qualifications
- Expertise in plant pathology or a closely related discipline, with knowledge applicable to areas such as plant disease diagnostics and management, fungal biology, soilborne pathogens, plant disease ecology, plant–soil–microbe systems, or epidemiology. Evidence of an active scholarly agenda in plant pathology or a related field, demonstrated through peer-reviewed publications, presentations, manuscripts, or other recognized scholarly contributions, supporting the capacity to establish a research program that engages students, fosters collaboration, and contributes to the advancement of the plant pathology discipline.

Ability to effectively communicate…