Assistant Professor

Position Function:

The Department of Agricultural Science and Plant Protection ((Use the "Apply for this Job" box below).) at Mississippi State University seeks to fill a tenure-track, assistant professor position in forest health based at the main campus in Starkville. The successful candidate will be expected to develop a multidisciplinary, internationally recognized, and extramurally funded research program using innovative approaches to address basic and applied research topics in forest health that synergize with existing strengths within the departments of Agricultural Science and Plant Protection (https://)

and Forestry (https://). The research area of particular interest is an increased molecular understanding of ecological interactions involving arthropods, pathogens, and/or mycorrhizae and corresponding tree health in forests and/or urban settings. Possible areas of study in these interactions include, but are not limited to chemical ecology, biological control, and plant resistance. Collaboration with other researchers and Extension Service colleagues both on and off campus is expected.

The successful applicant will have a strong commitment to undergraduate and graduate education, teaching a foundation course in forest health, as well as advanced courses relevant to their areas of expertise, advising undergraduate students, and serving on graduate student committees. The successful candidate is expected to be an interactive member of the faculty, as well as contribute to relevant scientific/professional societies.

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.

Department Profile:

The Department of Agricultural Science and Plant Protection (https://) has academic, research, and extension education missions within the traditions of land-grant universities. The Department offers B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees and currently advises approximately 120 undergraduate (B.S. in Agricultural Science) and 25 graduate students (M.S. and Ph.D. in Entomology and Plant Pathology). The Department has 25 faculty in the entomology and plant pathology disciplines both on campus and at research and extension centers throughout Mississippi.

Mississippi State University (), a Carnegie Foundation R1-Very High Research Activity Doctoral University, is a comprehensive public institution with more than 23,000 undergraduate and graduate students and nearly 1,500 full time faculty members. Representative of the American land-grant tradition yet distinctive in character and spirit, MSU is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award baccalaureate, masters, specialist, and doctoral degrees.

MSU is ranked as one of the best colleges for a Bachelor's degree in Agricultural Sciences in America. MSU's researchers are assisted by a supportive research administration to place MSU among the top 10 universities in the nation in research and development in the agricultural sciences. A member of the Southeastern Conference, MSU is a major athletic competitor on the national stage, having won the NCAA baseball national championship in 2021.

The university is located in Starkville, Mississippi, a historic city with a population of about 25,000, roughly 2 hours by car from Memphis, Birmingham, and Jackson and roughly 4 hours from New Orleans, Atlanta, and Nashville. Starkville is a vibrant college town with several signature weekend events highlighting arts, culture, and sports. Its location opens doors to adventures and relaxation in natural settings.

Websites for the Chamber of Commerce (https://) and city schools () are good sources of additional information

Area of Specialization:

Forest Health

Anticipated Appointment Date:

January 1, 2026.

Tenure Track Status:

Yes.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

The successful candidate will be expected to develop a multidisciplinary, internationally recognized, and extramurally funded research program using innovative approaches to address basic and applied research topics in forest health that synergize with existing strengths within the departments of Agricultural Science and Plant Protection (https://) and Forestry (https://). The research area of particular interest is an increased molecular understanding of ecological interactions involving arthropods, pathogens, and/or mycorrhizae and corresponding tree health in forests and/or urban settings.

Possible areas of study in these interactions include, but are not limited to chemical ecology, biological control, and plant resistance. Collaboration with other researchers and Extension Service colleagues both on and off campus is expected.

The successful…