Extension Assistant Professor - Entomology

UMass Amherst•Wareham, MA

9d•$91,253 - $112,700•Onsite

About The Position

The UMass Cranberry Station seeks a full-time, non-tenure-track, 12-month Extension Assistant Professor in Cranberry Entomology, based in East Wareham, Massachusetts. The successful candidate will establish an innovative, independent, externally funded program addressing current and emerging insect pest-management challenges in the cranberry industry. The anticipated effort distribution is approximately 60% research and 40% Extension. The role integrates fundamental and applied research with Extension programming in collaboration with cranberry growers, industry partners, the Cape Cod Cranberry Growers’ Association, USDA-ARS researchers, UMass Amherst colleagues, and other institutions. The program will translate research into practical, economically viable management strategies that support the sustainability and resilience of the cranberry industry. Research priorities include insecticide resistance and stewardship; pesticide-registration losses; changing pest complexes; climate-driven changes in pest abundance and phenology; conservation of beneficial arthropods and pollinators; and sustainable integrated pest management. The candidate will work closely with the Extension Educator in Entomology and other UMass Cranberry Station personnel to engage growers through field research, demonstrations, educational programs, decision-support tools, and IPM recommendations. The position is part of a collaborative research and Extension community with opportunities for interdisciplinary work in entomology, plant pathology, horticulture, ecology, environmental science, and agricultural sustainability. The appointment is scheduled to begin July 1, 2027. Work is onsite in East Wareham, Monday through Friday, 40 hours per week. The position is subject to final budgetary and administrative approval.

Requirements

PhD in entomology, crop protection, or a closely related discipline.
Experience in applied agricultural entomology, integrated pest management, or crop protection research.
Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with scientific and non-scientific audiences.
Valid driver's license.
Ability to travel to cranberry grower sites and attend meetings at the UMass Amherst campus as required.

Nice To Haves

Postdoctoral research experience in applied entomology or IPM.
Experience with small fruit crops, such as Vaccinium spp., or other specialty crops.
Familiarity with cranberry insect pests, pheromone traps, insecticide efficacy trials, or biological control.
Knowledge of chemical ecology and insect behavior applied to pest management.
Record of peer-reviewed publications.
Experience in Extension programming for agricultural audiences.
Demonstrated potential to secure and manage competitive external funding.
Ability to collaborate with faculty, Extension specialists, industry, nonprofits, and/or government.

Responsibilities

Build an applied research program whose outputs translate directly into Extension tools and science-based recommendations for the cranberry industry, coordinating with the Extension Educator and other UMass Cranberry Station personnel.
Develop and maintain a competitive, externally funded research program on the biology, ecology, and management of established, emerging, and invasive cranberry insect pests.
Evaluate synthetic and reduced-risk insecticides and biopesticides for resistance management and assess their compatibility with biological, behavioral, cultural, and other IPM tactics.
Investigate non-chemical management tactics, including pheromone-based mating disruption, push-pull strategies, attract-and-kill systems, biological control, and cultural practices, and translate findings into grower-ready recommendations.
Collaborate with UMass Cranberry Station faculty to develop and validate economic thresholds and degree-day phenology models, updating tools to account for climate-driven shifts in pest biology and seasonal timing.
Assess the susceptibility of new high-yielding cranberry cultivars to insect pests and explore host-plant resistance mechanisms with plant breeders.
Develop and update Extension publications, management guides, and digital resources, including revising and expanding Cranberry Insects of the Northeast.
Disseminate research findings through peer-reviewed publications, scientific meetings, grower conferences, and regional networks.
Train and mentor undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, research assistants, Extension educators, and cranberry growers in entomology, research methods, and IPM, including applying research findings to practical pest-management decisions.
Collaborate with Extension Educators on pesticide workshops, field days, and grower education events, providing supporting scientific expertise.
Travel to cranberry grower sites and attend meetings at the UMass Amherst campus as required.
Work collaboratively to promote teamwork, equality, and inclusiveness; partner with colleagues within the College of Natural Sciences and across campus in support of the Dean’s strategic priorities; and perform other duties in support of the College’s mission and goals.