Assistant Professor and Extension Soils Specialist

Utah State University • Logan, UT

11d

About The Position

The Department of Plants, Soils, and Climate in Utah State University’s S.J. & Jessie E. Quinney College of Agriculture and Natural Resources invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor and Extension Soil Specialist with expertise in soil fertility, nutrient management, and soil health. The successful candidate will develop a nationally recognized Extension and applied research program addressing priority soil and nutrient-management needs of Utah agriculture. The position provides statewide leadership in developing, evaluating, and communicating science-based recommendations that improve nutrient use efficiency, soil productivity, farm profitability, and environmental stewardship.

The program may address soil testing and interpretation; fertilizer and nutrient recommendations; nutrient use efficiency; soil health assessment and management; soil amendments; manure and organic nutrient sources; nutrient cycling; salinity and sodicity; soil organic matter; soil–water–crop interactions; and emerging tools or technologies for soil and nutrient management. The specialist will work with producers, crop advisers, county and regional Extension faculty, conservation districts, commodity and agricultural organizations, state and federal agencies, private industry, university colleagues, and the USU analytical laboratory. The role combines stakeholder-driven Extension education with field, laboratory, and on-farm research and translates results into practical recommendations and decision-support tools for Utah and the western United States.

Responsibilities are allocated 70% to Extension, 25% to research, and 5% to service. The anticipated start date is January 1, 2028. Salary is commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Requirements

• Earned Ph.D. in soil science, agronomy, plant science, crop science, environmental soil science, or a closely related discipline by the time of appointment.
• Demonstrated expertise in soil fertility, nutrient management, soil health, or closely related areas.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct applied, field-based research relevant to agricultural production systems.
• Ability to communicate scientific information effectively to technical and nontechnical audiences.
• Demonstrated ability or strong potential to build productive relationships with producers, Extension professionals, agencies, industry, and other stakeholders.
• Ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams and to travel within Utah for Extension and research activities.

Nice To Haves

• Experience developing or delivering Extension, outreach, or other stakeholder-focused education programs.
• Experience conducting on-farm research or working directly with agricultural producers.
• Expertise in soil testing, soil-test interpretation, fertilizer recommendations, soil health assessment, and nutrient management.
• Knowledge of irrigated and/or dryland agricultural systems of Utah and the western United States.
• Evidence of scholarly productivity and potential to secure extramural funding.
• Experience integrating field experimentation with laboratory, statistical, geospatial, sensing, modeling, economic, or other quantitative approaches.
• Ability to develop practical decision-support tools and translate research results into actionable management recommendations.
• Ability to collaborate across university disciplines and with agencies, commodity organizations, conservation groups, crop advisers, and private industry.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead a comprehensive statewide Extension program in soil fertility, nutrient management, and soil health that responds to producer and stakeholder needs.
• Serve as a primary university resource for soil testing, soil-test interpretation, fertilizer recommendations, nutrient stewardship, soil health assessment, soil amendments, and related soil-management questions.
• Develop, evaluate, and update science-based soil fertility and soil health recommendations for important Utah cropping systems.
• Create practical Extension publications, decision-support tools, digital resources, trainings, workshops, webinars, field days, and on-farm demonstrations for producers and agricultural professionals.
• Provide training and technical support to county and regional Extension faculty, crop advisers, conservation professionals, agencies, and industry partners.
• Build sustained relationships with producers and agricultural organizations to identify emerging needs and co-develop relevant Extension and applied research priorities.
• Pursue extramural support for Extension programming and evaluate program reach, adoption, and agronomic, economic, and environmental outcomes.
• Collaborate with and advise operations and outreach of the Utah State University analytical lab (USUAL).
• Develop an externally funded applied research program that supports and informs the statewide Extension program.
• Conduct field, laboratory, and on-farm research on topics including soil-test calibration, fertilizer management, nutrient use efficiency, soil health indicators, amendments, nutrient cycling, salinity and sodicity, and soil–water–crop interactions.
• Use appropriate statistical, geospatial, sensing, modeling, laboratory, or other quantitative approaches to improve the rigor and utility of soil and nutrient recommendations.
• Publish and present findings in peer-reviewed journals, Extension outlets, professional meetings, and producer-focused venues.
• Mentor graduate and undergraduate students and participate in interdisciplinary, regional, and national research and Extension collaborations.
• Participate in department, college, university, Extension, and professional service activities.
• Contribute to professional societies and committees related to soil science, agronomy, nutrient management, soil health, and Extension.
• Support student recruitment, advising, mentoring, and other departmental activities.

Benefits

• Excellent university benefits.
• Dual Career Assistance Program to support careers for partners who are also seeking employment.
• Reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree