Endowed Assistant/Associate Professor and State Extension Specialist for Soybean Agronomy with University of Missouri-Columbia in Columbia, MO

This tenure track position will be located on the main University of Missouri campus in Columbia, MO. The position is an endowed professorship with annual earnings paid for by income from funds donated to the University of Missouri by the Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council (MSMC). A close collaboration between the successful candidate and the MSMC is expected. Promising Assistant Professors will also be considered for this position but will only be granted access to the endowment after their successful tenure and approval by the MSMC.

Responsibilities:  The successful candidate will focus on applied agronomic research to improve sustainable soybean production in Missouri. The candidate will provide leadership discovering and implementing innovative tools and practices for management of water, fertilizer and other inputs to improve efficiency of soybean production. The work will include planning, designing, and conducting field experiments (including data collection and statistical analyses) with input from producers to target research projects relevant to soybean production in the state. Ability to secure extramural funding and publish research findings is required. Collaboration with the farming community, producer groups, extension specialists, and the research community on- and off-campus, composed of soybean breeders, agronomists, and other plant scientists, is expected. It is expected that the successful candidate will share research-based information with producers, industry and the scientific community via extension presentations and other publications including refereed journal articles. Availability to soybean producers to answer questions relative to soybean production is critical. The successful candidate will be an integral faculty member of the Division of Plant Science and Technology (DPST) in Columbia, MO (https://plantsciences.missouri.edu/“>https://plantsciences.missouri.edu/).

Minimum Qualifications: Ph.D. in agronomy, soil science, plant science, or a related field.

Candidates will be evaluated on: Proficiency in soybean production practices, including knowledge of weed and disease/insect control, fertility, tillage, and irrigation. Excellent oral skills to communicate with farmers and other commodity stakeholders and the ability to work well in a collaborative team. A commitment to graduate education and training. Prior research and extension experience; background in novel farming technologies (e.g. precision agriculture) and soybean management, ability to secure extramural funding; knowledge of operating and maintaining plot and farm-scale equipment, and proven experience in data analysis, and writing (e.g., grant proposals, scientific publications, and extension publications), and evidence of successful collaborative work.

Equal Employment Opportunity: The University of Missouri is an equal access, equal opportunity, affirmative action employer that is fully committed to achieving a diverse faculty and staff. Equal Opportunity is and shall be provided for all employees and applicants for employment on the basis of their demonstrated ability and competence without unlawful discrimination on the basis of their race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status. For more information, call the Vice Chancellor of Human Resource Services/Affirmative Action officer at 573-882-4256. To request ADA accommodations, please call the Disability Inclusion and ADA Compliance Manager at 573-884-7278.