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Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work additional information on remote work at Penn State seeNotice to Out of State Applicants.

POSITION SPECIFICS

The School of Science at Penn State Behrend invites applications for an Associate or Full Professor of Plant Biology and Director of the Lake Erie Regional Grape Research and Extension Center (LERGREC) to begin June 2026. Candidates will be faculty in the biology department at Penn State Behrend and will be jointly appointed with the College of Agricultural Sciences at University Park. The ideal candidate will compliment exisiting department strengths seek external funding contribute to our core biology curriculum and join a collaborative academic community that uniquely blends the supportive atmosphere of a small college with the resources of a world-class R1 expectations include instructing courses in biology plant biology plant pathology plant physiology and genetics. The successful candidate will be expected to maintain a vibrant research program and mentor undergraduate and graduate students. Startup funds and laboratory space appropriate to a primarily undergraduate institution are candidates will hold a Ph.D. in Plant Biology PhytopathologyViticulture or a closely related discipline. They must demonstrate an established record of scholarly achievement appropriate for appointment at the rank of Associate or Full Professor with at least 8 years of experience in research and teaching. The successful candidate should also have proven success in leading research teams securing external funding and supervising personnel or programs.

The Director of the Lake Erie Regional Grape Research and Extension Center (LERGREC) provides strategic and operational leadership for the Center ensuring excellence in grape research extension and outreach. This role oversees day-to-day center operations including supervising staff managing budgets and coordinating the agricultural calendar for vineyard maintenance seasonal spraying and harvest activities. The Director serves as the primary liaison between LERGREC and growers industry partners and community stakeholdershosting field days workshops and educational programs while representing the Center at meetings and addition the Director supports research initiatives fosters collaboration across Penn State campuses and industry and develops strategic plans to advance the Centers impact and sustainability including broadening the scope beyond grapes.

Penn State Behrend is a four-year undergraduate and graduate college of Penn State University with 4700 students in four schools; science engineering business and humanities and social science. The School of Science offers B.S. degrees in biology chemistry mathematics nursing physics and environmental science. It supports research in the traditional science disciplines as well as supporting and growing all-campus research interests in addressing womens health issues energy and sustainability and polymer particular the Schools research strengths include Great Lakes research (Pennsylvania Sea Grant) and strong collaborations with Magee-Womens Research Institute (Pittsburgh) both with an emphasis on undergraduate research. LERGREC is a 40-acre agricultural and research facility located about 15 miles east of Erie that primarily serves the grape-processing industry which has a strong presence along the Lake Erie coastline in Pennsylvania and New and staff researchers at LERGREC work on10-20 projects every year most of which focus on vineyard disease and insect pest management. Available instrumentation includes confocal and environmental scanning electron microscopes real-time PCR LCMS NMR and GCMS plus access to Penn State Universitys extensive life sciences core facilities located at the University Park campus.

Erie Pennsylvania a metropolitan area of 280000 residents is a major service tourism medical and industrial center on Lake Eries Presque Isle Bay and is located two hours from Cleveland Pittsburgh and Buffalo. The region offers many cultural sports and recreational resources as well as modest living costs and affordable housing.

All applicants must apply online and submit five documents 1) cover letter including leadership experience that speaks to the role as Director 2) curriculum vitae including names and contact information for three references 3) copies of graduate and undergraduate transcripts 4) one page teaching philosophy and 5) one-to-two-page research statement summarizing your proposed research including a brief explanation of its suitability for an undergraduate college. Questions regarding the position can be directed to Dr. Cora MacBeth Director School of Science at

Review of applications will begin March 13 2026 and continue until the position is filled. Employment will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with university policies.

The Pennsylvania State University is committed to and accountable for advancing equity respect and belonging in all its forms. We embrace individual uniqueness as well as a culture of belonging that supports both broad and specific equity initiatives leverages the educational and institutional benefits of inclusion in society and provides opportunities for engagement intended to help all members of the community value belonging as a core strength and an essential element of the universitys teaching research and service mission.

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