Assistant Professor of Nematology

New Mexico State University • Las Cruces, NM

9d • Onsite

About The Position

The Department of Entomology, Plant Pathology, and Weed Science seeks to hire an Assistant Professor to develop an innovative, fundamental, and applied research program in nematology related to integrated pest management in the semi-arid west and teach courses needed by the Department and the College for student training. The position is tenure-track, 85% Research and 15% Teaching. This position will develop a creative, collaborative, extramurally funded research program focused on plant-parasitic nematode interactions across New Mexico's agricultural to urban ecosystems. Research areas could include, but are not limited to: sustainable management of plant parasitic nematodes addressing nematode issues impacting agricultural crops (e.g., root-knot nematodes and stem nematodes) and recreational areas (e.g., nematodes in turfgrass systems); nematodes as a component of sustainable agriculture, including nematodes as biological control agents and their roles in nutrient cycling; community ecology of nematodes, including ecology and function of plant associated and free living nematodes in dryland soils; the biology of soil nematodes including nematode-plant interactions and nematode response to variable abiotic factors; investigation of the morphological and functional diversity of soil nematodes, their pathogenicity, and biological control properties. The Department seeks an individual who can work collaboratively with faculty across academic departments and colleges. Teaching responsibilities will include Nematology and the potential to develop new courses depending on expertise (e.g., Soil Ecology), as well as supervision of graduate students. The EPPWS Department is part of the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, which is home to seven other academic departments, five extension departments, approximately 150 faculty members and 1,800 students. The department offers an undergraduate degree in two majors (1) Applied and Agricultural Biology and (2) General Agriculture, with five concentrations in Applied Biology, Applied Microbiology, Environmental Biology, Entomology, and Pest Biology & Management, and participates in the offering of two graduate degrees: A Master of Science and a Doctorate in Applied and Agricultural Biology. For more information about the department, please visit https://eppws.nmsu.edu/.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Nematology, Plant Pathology, or related biological science (degree must be in hand by the date of hire).
• Strong background and experience in nematology.
• Novel skill set to the department, including but not limited to behavioral/chemical ecological tools, modeling/AI approaches, or other novel approaches to investigate nematode interactions.
• Good communication skills.
• Strong commitment to teaching.
• Strong commitment to independent and collaborative research.
• Ability to pursue competitive grant funding.
• Meet the minimum qualifications for an NMSU graduate faculty appointment.

Nice To Haves

• Postdoctoral experience is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop an innovative, fundamental, and applied research program in nematology related to integrated pest management in the semi-arid west.
• Teach courses needed by the Department and the College for student training.
• Develop a creative, collaborative, extramurally funded research program focused on plant-parasitic nematode interactions across New Mexico's agricultural to urban ecosystems.
• Conduct research in areas such as sustainable management of plant parasitic nematodes, nematodes as a component of sustainable agriculture, community ecology of nematodes, biology of soil nematodes, and investigation of the morphological and functional diversity of soil nematodes.
• Work collaboratively with faculty across academic departments and colleges.
• Teach Nematology and potentially develop new courses (e.g., Soil Ecology).
• Supervise graduate students.

What This Job Offers

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