Endowed Chair of Tree Fruit Soil and Rhizosphere Science

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If a date is not listed above review the Applicant Instructions below for more details.

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The Opportunity:

The College of Agricultural Human and Natural Resources Sciences (CAHNRS) through the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences (CSS) seeks a current or emerging leader in soil and rhizosphere ecology to serve as a core member of our tree fruit research and extension team contributing to an expanding college focus on soil-plant interactions. The endowed chair will build an internationally renowned soil- and rhizosphere-focused research program that enhances the competitiveness of the Washington apple cherry pear and stone fruit industries. This position is supported by a $1.5 million endowment made possible by a historic $32 million investment from the states tree fruit growers to support tree fruit research and extension at Washington State University. Washington State is recognized globally as a premier tree fruit production region with more than 230000 acres of tree fruits statewide providing an annual economic impact of more than $7.5 billion. Nearly a third of the states fruit production is exported to markets worldwide. Washington State University has multiple research centers and extension offices in every county with two research and Extension centers located in the heart of Washington Tree Fruit production. The Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center (IAREC) is situated in the Yakima valley in south-central Washington serving one of the most agriculturally diverse regions in the U.S. IAREC has faculty members from six academic departments from the WSU College of Agricultural Human and Natural Resource Sciences (CAHNRS) USDA-ARS and Washington State Department of Agriculture. The Research and Extension Center in Prosser is located forty minutes away from WSU TriCities and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory enabling impactful interdisciplinary research programing and a thriving diverse community. The Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center (TFREC) in North central Washington primarily serves tree fruit industry needs for research and extension with ten faculty from six departments. Located in beautiful Wenatchee WA at the confluence of the Wenatchee and Columbia rivers TFREC is in close proximity to the Cascade mountains as well as prime pear apple and cherry growing regions. Either site could be selected as the candidates home location. The Endowed Chair in Tree Fruit Soil and Rhizosphere Ecology reports to the Chair of the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences and the Center Director.

Summary of Duties:

The Endowed Chair in Tree Fruit Soil and Rhizosphere Ecology is located in the Washington State University (WSU) Department of Crop and Soil Sciences but will collaborate widely both within and beyond WSU. The Chair is expected to address significant challenges to fruit production whose solutions can be derived from an improved understanding of soil and rhizosphere ecology. Research may include investigations of rhizosphere characteristics; function of microbial communities; the phytobiome and/or microbiome; plant nutrient and water uptake; nutrient cycling; signaling between root microbes and scion; and root characteristics exudates and architecture. Stakeholders have prioritized needs related to fruit quality and tree health in relation to soil fertility pathogens compaction soil health plant stress among other areas of interest.

The endowed chair is expected to collaborate with other scientists within the extension and the tree fruit industry to develop an integrated and impactful research and extension program to address the needs in tree fruit systems. The chair should be able to relate rhizosphere interactions to soil properties (biological chemical physical) meteorology hydrology biotic and abiotic stress with crop response share research findings transfer knowledge promote adoption by growers and identify short- and long-term impact.

The endowed Chair is expected to engage in formal and informal dissemination of soil and rhizosphere ecology-related knowledge to the tree fruit industry participate in international national regional and local meetings publish in scientific journals as well as in popular/grower press and contribute existing outreach avenues (WSU Tree Fruit webpage Fruit Matters).

The successful candidate will acquire competitive extramural funding to support their research program and enhance the national and international scope and reputation of the WSU soil science and horticultural programs. The chair will have the opportunity to participate in the Central Washington Tree Fruit Systems Long-Term Agriculture Research and Extension (LTARE) apple site focused on soil health. This site is part of a unique network of six soil health LTAREs in Washington State funded by the Washington State Legislature. The candidate is expected to support undergraduate and graduate students via guest lectures teaching activities and graduate student supervision.

The endowed Chair is expected to conduct an integrated research and Extension program consistent with the mission of the WSU Agricultural Research Center and WSU Extension and complement current WSU and United States Department of Agricultures (USDA)/Agricultural Research Service(ARS) programs as well as state-wide initiatives such as the WSU Tree Fruit Decision Aid System the WSU Agricultural Weather Network the Center for Precision & Automated Agricultural Systems (CPAAS) the Washington Soil Health Initiative (WaSHI) and the Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources (CSANR).

Required Qualifications:

• Earned Ph.D. in soil science plant-microbe interaction molecular biology horticulture forestry or closely related field at time of application;

• Demonstrated record of scholarly accomplishments in soil and rhizosphere ecology.

Additional requirements for Associate rank:

• Must have served at least 6 years in academic industry or a federal lab after Ph.D.

• Must have experience in mentoring and leading funded research programs

.Additional requirements for Professor rank:

• Must have served at least 10 years in academic industry or a federal lab after Ph.D.

• Must have experience in mentoring and leading funded research programs.

• Must be a recognized leader through national/international accomplishments and awards.

Preferred for all ranks:

• Demonstrated leadership in developing and executing a successful and collaborative research and Extension program in soil and rhizosphere ecology.

• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with industry on local regional national and international scales.

• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with technical and nontechnical audiences in oral written and electronic forms.

• Knowledge of state-of-the-art techniques applicable to tree fruit soil ecology and soil health research.

• Experience or expressed interest in working with tree fruits and irrigated agriculture systems.

• Demonstrated record of acquiring extramural competitive grant support.

• Demonstrated evidence of effective student mentoring.

• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with individuals and groups of diverse cultures backgrounds and ideologies.

Annual Salary:

The appointment is for a 9-month faculty position plus two months of summer salary while serving in the endowed chair position. The additional salary is included in the annual salary range below

Assistant Professor: $85000 - $140000

Associate Professor: $95000 - $155000

Full Professor: $105000 - $168750

In accordance with RCW 49.58.110 the above salary reflects the full salary range for this position. Individual placement within the range is based on the candidates current experience education skills and abilities related to the position.

Benefits: WSU offers a comprehensive benefits package which includes paid sick and vacation leave; paid holidays; medical dental life and disability insurance package for employees and dependents; retirement; deferred compensation optional supplemental retirement accounts. For additional information please review the detailed Summary of Benefits offered for WSU Faculty and Total Compensation.

Area/College: College of Agricultural Human and Natural Resource Sciences (CAHNRS)
Department Name: Department of Crop and Soil Sciences
Location: Prosser or Wenatchee WA

Application Instructions: Applicants must upload the following required documents to their online application. Application materials should clearly communicate how the applicant meets all required qualifications and additional requirements.

1) Cover Letter
2) Current Curriculum Vitae

3) Copies of official graduate transcripts

4) Names and Contact information of three people willing to serve as references.

The cover letter should address in distinct sections all the required and preferred qualifications for the position including your areas of expertise and research interests.

External candidates upload all documents in the Application Document section of your application.
Current WSU Employees (internal candidates) before starting your Workday application please use these instructions to update your education and experience in your worker profile in Workday. Internal candidates upload all documents in the Resume/Cover Letter section of your application.

Documents may be submitted as one file or separate files. Applicants are encouraged to upload as a PDF if possible.

Background Check: This position has been designated by the department to require a background check because it requires access to children or vulnerable adults as defined by RCW 74.34 engages in law enforcement requires security clearance interacts with WSU students in a counseling or advising capacity has access to personal identifying and/or financial information unsupervised access to university buildings/property or other business-related need. A background check will not be completed until an initial determination of qualification for employment has been made.

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