Assistant Professor - Enology
Assistant Professor - Enology
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Job Description
Job Description
Virginia Techs College of Agriculture and Life Sciences is seeking applicants for a tenuretrack position in enology to be located at the Alson H. Smith Jr. Agricultural Research and Extension Center (www.arec.vaes.vt/arec/alsonhsmith.html) near Winchester Virginia. This is an Assistant Professor position with equal appointments in research 50 and extension 50 and a tenure home in the Food Science and Technology Department at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg VA. The position is an academic year 9month) appointment. The successful candidate will develop a nationally recognized externally funded research and extension program principally focused on wine grapes and wine production but with opportunities to conduct apple cider and small fruit research as funding and partnerships are developed. The successful candidate will be expected to recruit and mentor graduate students and engage with Virginia Cooperative Extension Agents and other Extension Specialists to deliver researchbased broadly accessible inclusive extension materials that address the relevant needs of Virginias grape and wine industries. The Enologist position is one of six fulltime faculty at the AREC; other positions include a viticulturist a tree fruit horticulturist a tree fruit pathologist a grape pathologist and an entomologist. The AREC has modern labs for physiological molecular and fruit analyses greenhouses controlled environment chambers and a 120acre research farm including a vineyard.
Research opportunities: Potential research areas will almost always require an interdisciplinary approach with collaborators and should align with current University and AREC strategic plans the Colleges SmartFarm Innovation Network and harness resources available through the Center for Advanced Innovation in Agriculture. Research priorities will be periodically reviewed by industry stakeholders and will align with the successful candidates skills and funding success; potential areas include but are not limited to:
Collaboration with grape breeders and grape breeding programs to evaluate varieties for adaptation and performance in MidAtlantic climate pest and disease conditions.
Collaboration with viticulture research and extension faculty to develop realtime nondestructive means of evaluating vine health as measured by factors such as nutrient status grape composition and ripeness and wine quality potential;
Collaboration with plant pathologists to understand the impact of diseases on fruit and wine quality; and
Determining the impact of viticultural practices on flavor aroma and defensive or healthpromoting properties of grapes and grape products.
We envision a continued collaboration with viticulture grape pathology entomology and horticulture faculty at the AHS Jr. AREC and with enology and fermentation research and extension faculty in the Department of Food Science & Technology. Continuing opportunities to network with colleagues at other landgrant universities the USDA/ARS and with recent SmartFarm Innovation Network cluster hires at other ARECs and on campus are available.
Scholarship and funding: The successful candidate will be expected to secure extramural funding publish in peerreviewed journals recruit and mentor graduate students actively participate in professional societies and contribute to AREC Food Science and Technology Department and college service. International engagement and recognition are encouraged and expected as the incumbents career advances. Extramural competitive funding is available from state agencies including the Virginia Wine Board (www.virginiawine/industry/virginiawineboard) the Virginia Agricultural Council and Specialty Crop Block Grants from the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. AREC faculty have also been successful with USDA/NIFA Specialty Crop Research Initiative funding various NSF grants and increasingly with corporate research partners such as the Virginia Biosciences Health Research Corporation (www.virginiacatalyst) and with agrochemical companies.
Extension and outreach: The successful candidate will be expected to develop an integrated extension / research program that serves the Virginia wine industry and beyond. The candidate will be expected to provide educational opportunities to the stakeholders and Extension agents through research and extension to address Virginia wine and other fermentation industry needs. Examples of extension efforts are workshops site visits newsletters seminars other educational opportunities and extension publications. Position requires occasional travel to attend conferences and meetings.
Virginia wine and grape industries: Virginia ranks 8th nationally in terms of wine production and 6th in terms of wine grape production. The Commonwealth is home to more than 350 wineries 4000 vineyard acres employs more than 10000 in the wine and grape sector and generated $1.7 billion in economic impact in 2019 (Economic Forensics and Analytics Inc.. The industry recognizes 10 wine subregions within the state including eight named AVAs. Virginias macroclimate is continental temperate to humid subtropical with precipitation generally uniformly distributed throughout four distinct seasons of the year. Winter cold injury is possible; however the current industry is based primarily on Vitis vinifera cultivars and some interspecific hybrids that have good tolerance of low temperatures experienced in much of Virginia.
Required Qualifications
Ph.D. in food science enology fermentation science and technology viticulture horticulture or related field of study by appointment start date; demonstrated experience in planning and implementing field or laboratory research; record of peer reviewed publications; ability to effectively communicate Extension materials to a diverse stakeholder audience. A criminal conviction check is mandatory prior to start date.
Preferred Qualifications
Demonstrated experience with wine grape and wine production and/or grapevine physiology; analytic quantification of flavor/aroma metabolites; one or more years of postdoctoral training/experience in a relevant field; evidence of successful grantsmanship; demonstrated ability to be an effective supervisor or team leader as demonstrated by prior supervisory experience
Appointment Type
Regular
Salary Information
$85000 $100000; commensurate with experience
The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.
About Virginia Tech
Dedicated to its motto Ut Prosim (That I May Serve) Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a handson transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problemsolvers. A comprehensive landgrant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge discovery and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36000 undergraduate graduate and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges a school of medicine a veterinary medicine college Graduate School and Honors College. The university has a significant presence across Virginia including the Innovation Campus in Northern Virginia; the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke; sites in Newport News and Richmond; and numerous Extension offices and research centers. A leading global research institution Virginia Tech conducts more than $500 million in research annually.
Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees students or applicants on the basis of age color disability sex (including pregnancy) gender gender identity gender expression genetic information national origin political affiliation race religion sexual orientation or military status or otherwise discriminate against employees or applicants who inquire about discuss or disclose their compensation or the compensation of other employees or applicants or on any other basis protected by law.
If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation please contact Mizuho Nitaat regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.
Review Date
March 1 2024
Employment Type
Full Time
