Plant Sciences
Assistant Professor and State Extension Specialist - Turfgrass Disease Management (080220)
Position Description: The position is a 12-month, tenure-track faculty appointment with 70% Extension and 30% research located at the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri.
Responsibilities: Extension responsibilities include development and implementation of extension programs related to disease management systems for Missouri's major turfgrass species including tall fescue, creeping bentgrass, Kentucky bluegrass, zoysiagrass, and bermudagrass.
The individual selected to fill this position should use innovative programming to deliver disease management recommendations to regional extension specialists, turfgrass professionals, and other relevant audiences. The incumbent is expected to become an active participant in a team of extension and research faculty members to develop interdisciplinary turfgrass programs to support the industry.
Responsibilities include development and implementation of an applied and relevant research program on topics that include, but are not limited to, cultural practices, fungicide programs and their economic impact, turfgrass/disease ecosystems, and disease management techniques in turfgrass settings. Focus should be related to current issues including resource conservation and economic competitiveness for sustainability. Within three years of the initial appointment, the appointee will also coordinate the MU Integrated Pest Management Program according to guidelines developed by the Plant Protection Programs Steering Committee.
The appointee is expected to attract extra- and intra-mural funding to support extension and research programs and is expected to advise graduate students, and serve the department, division, college, university, and professional societies as appropriate.
Qualifications: The applicant must have a Ph.D. degree in Plant Pathology, Crop Science, Agronomy, Horticulture, Plant Sciences, or related field with emphasis on turfgrass pathology. Prior experience with extension programming, evidence of scholarly accomplishments, and evidence of extramural grant support is desirable. Effective oral and written communications skills are required.
Salary and Benefits: Benefits available include health, dental, life and disability insurance and a retirement plan. Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.
Application: Applications should include: electronic submission in Word or PDF format and a hard copy of a letter of application describing qualifications and career goals, a curriculum vitae, selected reprints, transcripts and the names and contact information of at least three references to PlantSci@missouri.edu.
Hard copies should be mailed to:
Chair, Turfgrass Pathology Search Committee
1-41 Agriculture Bldg.
University of Missouri
Columbia, MO 65211
Questions regarding this position should be directed to Dr. Kevin Bradley at bradleyke@missouri.edu. Job Description #: 1505858, OARS file #080220
Application Deadline: Review of applications will begin September 1, 2009 and will continue until a qualified candidate is identified.
For information related to the University's background check policy, HR 504, go to the Human Resources Policy Manual available at http://www.umsystem.edu/ums/departments/hr/manual/.
The University of Missouri-Columbia is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. To request ADA accommodations, please contact our ADA coordinator. (V/TTY)
MU's college of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources strongly endorses the principles embodied in MU's values statement - respect, responsibility, discover, excellence. In that context we seek to recruit and retain outstanding scholars who are: 1) committed to blending service with scholarship, 2) Leaders, 3) Good colleagues who will collaborate with others from diverse disciplines and backgrounds and, 4) flexible and adaptable in an era of rapid change.
MU makes available to applicants a security report of crimes that occurred on campus over the previous three years. For a copy of this report, contact the University Police Department at (573) 882-5923 or access their web site at: http://www.mupolice.com/
Date Posted: 09/23/2008