Assistant Professor Plant Health & Microbe Interactions

About UMass Amherst

The flagship of the Commonwealth the University of Massachusetts Amherst is a nationally ranked public land-grant research university that seeks to expand educational access fuel innovation and creativity and share and use its knowledge for the common good. Founded in 1863 UMass Amherst sits on nearly 1450-acres in scenic Western Massachusetts and boasts state-of-the-art facilities for teaching research scholarship and creative activity. The institution advances a diverse equitable and inclusive community where everyone feels connected and valuedand thrives and offers a full range of undergraduate graduate and professional degrees across 10 schools and colleges and 100 undergraduate majors. We believe every member of our university community can contribute to our ongoing success by striving for the highest level of excellence as we seek breakthrough solutions to mounting environmental social economic and technological challenges in our world.

About the Stockbridge School of Agriculture

The Stockbridge School of Agriculture (SSA) plays a vital role in advancing the Colleges and Universitys strategic goals in agriculture horticulture and soils through three focus areas: soil and environmental health; sustainable farming and landscapes; and plant health. SSA functions as a full University department. We offer excellent 4-year undergraduate degree programs (on-campus and online) solid graduate education and research and significant knowledge transfer and translation of our applied research through collaborations with UMass Extension and CAFE. Uniquely SSA also offers highly applied 2-year AS degrees. SSA contributes to UMasss ranking as a top Agricultural University nationally and globally (US News) and is committed to fostering this globally recognized research success. We also continue to ensure excellent education in our areas of expertise for all students particularly through highly ranked programs (DataUSA 2022) in Sustainable Food & Farming (no.1) and Turf (no. 6) and a large online program generating over $2 million total revenue.

Job Summary

TheStockbridge School of Agriculture (SSA)at theUniversity of Massachusetts Amherstis seeking applications for a9-month full time tenure-track Assistant Professor inPlant Health and Plant-Microbe Interactions with a focus oninnovative and sustainable approachesto managing plant diseases. We are seeking talented applicants qualified for an assistant professor position. Under exceptional circumstances highly qualified candidates at other ranks may receive consideration.

This position is vital to addressing the growing challenges in plant disease management especially asclimate change intensifies the emergence and spread of pathogensin both agricultural and urban landscape systems.

The successful candidate will be expected to develop a nationally and internationally recognized research program that integrates fundamental investigations of plant-microbe interactions with applied translational approaches that deliver field-level disease management solutions. Emphasis should be placed on horticultural and specialty crops of economic importance to Massachusetts and the New England region.

Areas of research may include-but are not limited to-host resistance biocontrol plant-soil-microbe interactions advanced diagnostic and genomic technologies and precision disease management. Candidates with demonstrated expertise inapplying cutting-edge techniques (e.g. molecular genomic computational AI/machine learning tools and/or precision agriculture technologies) to address both basic mechanisms and practical disease management challenges are especially encouraged to apply.

The candidate is expected to collaborate with SSA faculty across disciplinesfaculty form other departments UMass Extension educators farmers and other stakeholders to generate and disseminateresearch-based practical solutionsfor emerging and economically significant plant diseases in Massachusetts and the New England region. This position will also strengthen SSAs cross-disciplinary capacity in plant-microbe-soil systems and contribute to the resilience of regional food and landscape systems.

Requirements

• Plant Pathology Plant Biology Horticulture or a closely related field (required by appointment start date).
• Postdoctoral experienceor equivalent research experience is desirable.
• Demonstrated expertise inplant health disease ecology or plant-microbe interactions.
• Evidence ofresearch productivity(publications presentations grants).
• Experience or potential forsecuring extramural funding.
• Teaching experience or potential to teach and mentor effectively at the undergraduate and graduate level.
• Excellent communication andcollaborative skills.

Additional Details

The expected start date of this position is September 1 2026.

Information for prospective faculty: Information

It is expected that the salary range for this position is between $79350 and $116002.

Please note:

• The low-end of the pay range in all faculty searches at the University of Massachusetts Amherst is the minimum salary for the rank included in the collective bargaining agreement between the University and the Massachusetts Society of Professors UMass Amherst/MTA/NEA.
• The high-end of the pay range reflects an increase above the median of salaries at this rank within the department for faculty who may have multiple years of faculty experience.
• The specific pay for this position will be determined by the University based on consideration of all relevant factors when and if it decides to extend and offer of employment.

Special Instructions to Applicants

Along with the application please submit: 1) a cover letter outlining qualifications and interest in the position 2) curriculum vitae (CV) detailing education professional experience publications grants and awards 3) a statement of teaching philosophy and goals and 4) statement of research interests and goals.

Review of applicants will begin November 15 2025and will continue until the ideal candidate is identified. Questions can be directed to the search committee chair Dr. Geunhwa Jung ().