Asst Professor of Agroecology

The Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences at Montana State University seeks a collaborative colleague working at the forefront of agroecology. The successful candidate will link departmental strengths in agronomy, soil science, plant ecology, insect ecology, chemical ecology, biogeochemistry, hydrology, spatial sciences, and environmental biology to address pressing questions that advance our fundamental understanding of the ecology of agroecosystems while improving our ability to manage them sustainably.
 

This is a nine-month (academic year), tenure-track faculty position at the Assistant Professor level with research (55%), teaching (35%), and service (10%) responsibilities funded by the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station and the College of Agriculture.

Research responsibilities include developing a nationally recognized program in agroecology. The position will help maintain MSU’s recognized strengths in environmental science, ecology, and sustainable agriculture, and benefit from growing investment in fields such as precision agriculture and data science. Research foci could include but are not limited to agroecosystem diversification, multi-trophic interactions, plant-plant interactions, climate adaptation, chemical ecology, plant-microbe interactions, biological control, and integrated pest management. We anticipate that the successful candidate will have strong quantitative skills, enabling integration of data across scales and disciplines with the goal of addressing major issues in agricultural sustainability, such as climate adaptation and food-system security. Close collaboration with colleagues across scientific disciplines is expected. The department’s research network includes seven Agricultural Research Centers across Montana, and our college and department include a strong Extension component. Interaction with Extension staff and Research Centers to help them disseminate agroecological discoveries is an important component of this position.
 

Expertise in quantitative analysis, scientific writing for a variety of audiences, and oral presentation skills are essential. The successful candidate will develop an excellent teaching and mentoring program, including teaching undergraduate and/or graduate courses, such as Introduction to Agroecology (ENSC, AGSC or SFBS 243), Agroecology (LRES 543) and Plants in the Environment (ENSC 210), depending on departmental teaching needs. Responsibilities include undergraduate curricular advising, undergraduate research advising, and training of graduate students with expectation of recruiting and funding doctoral students as a priority. The hiring department has a strong history of securing extramural funding to support graduate students. Service responsibilities include departmental citizenship, participation in professional societies, and engagement with the community consistent with the missions of a Land Grant University and the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station.