Associate or Assistant Professor, Vegetable Crop Pathology

Penn State University•University Park, PA

57d

About The Position

The Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology in the College of Agricultural Sciences at The Pennsylvania State University invites applications for a 36-week, tenure-track faculty position at the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor with expertise in biology, epidemiology and management of diseases of vegetable and ornamental crops, and the development of translational educational programming to meet the needs of a diverse stakeholder audience. This position has 60% extension and 40% research responsibilities. The successful candidate will build and lead an extension and research program focused on managing significant and emerging diseases of vegetable and ornamental crops, with a primary emphasis on major vegetable crops grown in Pennsylvania. They will provide statewide leadership in vegetable and ornamental crop pathology, working as part of a statewide team of extension specialists and educators. Key responsibilities include conducting innovative and impactful research on plant diseases and their management, developing new diagnostic tools and technologies, and partnering with extension specialists and county educators to address vegetable crop health challenges using existing and new technologies. This role requires identifying extension education needs, equipping growers and agricultural service providers with research-based actionable information on pathogen biology and disease management, and responding to stakeholder priorities. Pennsylvania vegetable production is complex and diversified in both farm size and crop composition and includes field and controlled-environment systems such as greenhouses and high-tunnels, expanding organic and conventional management. The candidate will collaborate with faculty across departments, engage with interdisciplinary and diverse teams and commodity groups, secure research funding, publish in peer-reviewed journals, and mentor undergraduate and graduate students and develop a program with impact. Excellence in grant writing, research communication, and interdisciplinary engagement are essential. The successful candidate is expected to obtain extramural support for their research, communicate research findings through peer-reviewed publications and other effective means, and actively participate in student training and mentoring.

Requirements

A Ph.D. in Plant Pathology or a related field is required.
Applicants should provide evidence of strong potential for conducting and publishing innovative research
Competitiveness for external research funding
Excellence in communication across a range of audiences
Keen interest and skills in mentoring and advising students.

Nice To Haves

Experience in developing and delivering extension programs is preferred.

Responsibilities

Build and lead an extension and research program focused on managing significant and emerging diseases of vegetable and ornamental crops
Provide statewide leadership in vegetable and ornamental crop pathology
Conduct innovative and impactful research on plant diseases and their management
Develop new diagnostic tools and technologies
Partner with extension specialists and county educators to address vegetable crop health challenges using existing and new technologies
Identify extension education needs
Equip growers and agricultural service providers with research-based actionable information on pathogen biology and disease management
Respond to stakeholder priorities
Collaborate with faculty across departments
Engage with interdisciplinary and diverse teams and commodity groups
Secure research funding
Publish in peer-reviewed journals
Mentor undergraduate and graduate students and develop a program with impact
Obtain extramural support for their research
Communicate research findings through peer-reviewed publications and other effective means
Actively participate in student training and mentoring

Benefits

Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional wellbeing.
In addition to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, employees enjoy robust retirement plans.
One of the standout benefits is the generous 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children.

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