Assistant, Associate, or Full Professor Ethel and O.N. Allen Chair of Phytobacteriology

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Job Profile:

Job Summary:

The University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Plant Pathology is seeking highly motivated and talented candidates for the Ethel and O.N. Allen Chair of Phytobacteriology at the Assistant Associate or Full Professor level. We seek applicants with established successful research programs investigating the biology ecology and/or evolution of plant-associated bacteria inclusive of pathogenic commensal and beneficial plant-bacterial interactions. We welcome candidates with research foci across any level of biological scale including but not limited to molecular cellular organismal population and community levels. Applicants applying integrative solutions to solving outstanding and timely questions in the field of phytobacteriology are particularly encouraged to apply. This position will contribute not only research but also critical instruction in support of the department college and campus missions. Instructional roles may include teaching at the graduate and undergraduate levels in areas of the candidates specialty and broadly in the areas of biology plant pathology and plant-microbe interactions.

The Ethel and O.N. Allen Chair of Phytobacteriology was established by a generous gift to support an endowed chair in the field of phytobacteriology which includes substantial ongoing research support for the Chair contingent upon endowment fund performance. We seek candidates with a distinguished record of research impact who will pursue the mission of this endowment through innovative and impactful research and teaching. We expect that this faculty member will continue to expand on an independent externally funded and internationally recognized research program in phytobacteriology.

The UW-Madison Department of Plant Pathology has been globally recognized for its strength in phytobacteriology and plant-microbe interactions more broadly and we anticipate that this new faculty member will find many opportunities for research collaborations within our department and across the University of Wisconsin-Madison including with the UW-Madison Data Science Institute and the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery.

This position is part of UW-Madisons Excellence in Mentoring Initiative. The Excellence in Mentoring Initiative aims to recruit outstanding faculty who in addition to their demonstrated excellence or strong potential in research and teaching have demonstrated the ability and commitment to mentor at-risk first-generation or under-represented undergraduate or graduate students to achieve academic success. Candidates who may not qualify for the EIM should still apply and will be given full consideration.

Job Responsibilities:

• Expand an ongoing independent externally funded and internationally recognized research program. The successful candidate will be expected to continue to secure extramural funding.

• Teach students at various levels commensurate with college expectations and consistent with the teaching loads of the department.

• Contribute to the departments mission through graduate student instruction and mentoring.

• Mentor students and promote their development and success in a collaborative environment.

• Contribute research and instructional expertise to courses led by others in the department.

• Contribute to service functions of the department college and campus communities.

Department:

Department of Plant Pathology

Compensation:

Negotiable 9 months / ongoing

Required Qualifications:

Successful candidates will have:

- Strong foundational knowledge in the principles and concepts of phytobacteriology and relevant research experience

- A successful record of publishing in peer-reviewed journals

- Experience training and mentoring graduate students

- Experience teaching and developing curriculum materials

- Effective oral and written communication skills

Preferred Qualifications:

Preferred candidates will have the following:

- Demonstrated ability to attract extramural funding

- Demonstrated ability to work and communicate with diverse stakeholders

Education:

PhD in Biology Microbiology Evolutionary Biology Genetics Ecology Plant Pathology Plant Sciences or related discipline.

Additional information:

Applicants can find relevant information about the Department of Plant Pathology at and any questions regarding the position including specifics of the Allen Endowment may be directed to the position search committee chair Dr. Amanda Gevens . Applications are encouraged from all potentially qualified individuals. Option to start on or after July 1 2026.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is one of the worlds premier research universities and attracts a diverse body of outstanding faculty staff and graduate students from around the world. State-of-the-art research and teaching facilities are provided both in Madison and at multiple agricultural research stations throughout the state. The 963-acre campus is located on the shores of Lake Mendota in Madison Wisconsin. Madison is a picturesque city with a strong economy and a vibrant cultural environment and is consistently ranked among the top small U.S. cities in which to live.

In addition to extensive corn soybean and forage crop production Wisconsin is one of the top three states in the U.S. for production of potatoes snap beans cranberries green peas carrots and sweet corn as well as harboring extensive natural lands in forest prairie and savanna ecosystems. Plant-associated bacteria play a major role in all of these systems as one of the 5 major plant pathogen groups (along with fungi oomycetes viruses and nematodes) and as mutualists of plants and drivers of crucial ecosystem functions. Research in phytobacteriology enables discovery of fundamental processes in plant-bacterial interactions with implications for plant protection future epidemics under changing climates and promotion of healthy and productive soils to name a few.

How to Apply:

Applicants should upload the following information as a single PDF document:

• Cover letter explaining the candidates interest and suitability for the role of Distinguished Chair of Phytobacteriology
• Curriculum vitae
• Statement of research interests and future research plans (two pages in length)
• Statement of instructional philosophy approach and experiences (two pages in length)
• Contact information for three references

Applications received by January 20 2026 will be assured full consideration; review of applications will continue until a suitable candidate is identified.

Employment will require an institutional reference check regarding any misconduct. To be considered applicants must upload a signed Authorization to Release Information form as part of the application. The authorization form and a definition of misconduct can be found here: Information:

Amanda Gevens

Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1 See RELAYSERVICE for further information.

Institutional Statement on Diversity:

Diversity is a source of strength creativity and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity culture background experience status abilities and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching research outreach and diversity as inextricably linked goals.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students faculty and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal OpportunityEmployer.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to including but not limited to race color religion sex sexual orientation national origin age pregnancy disability or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgroundsand encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings visit the Human Resources Workplace Poster website.

To request a disability or pregnancy-related accommodationfor any step in the hiring process (e.g. application interview pre-employment testing etc.) please contact the Divisional Disability Representative (DDR)in the division you are applying make your request as soon as possible to help the university respond most effectively to you.

Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require your references to answer questions regarding misconduct including sexual violence and sexual harassment.

The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7).

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