Careers
Assistant or Associate Professor of Plant and Soil Sciences, Extension Title Series
Description of Duties
RESPONSIBILITIES: This is a tenure eligible position with a 12-month appointment and approximately 80% extension, 15% research, and 5% service responsibilities. The annual DOE will be aligned with this colleague’s strengths and college/department needs. The anticipated start date is July 1, 2025.
Extension: The person in this position will have primary responsibility for developing and implementing extension weed science programs in central and eastern Kentucky. This individual will need expertise in weed management in a diversity of crops produced in Kentucky, but is expected to focus on weed management in forages, pastures, horticultural and other perennial systems. Additionally, this position will have oversight of a roadside vegetation management program with support from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. The person in this position will play an active role in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences and the Martin-Gatton College of Agricultural, Food, and Environment, and is expected to collaborate with other weed scientists, forage specialists, agronomists, plant pathologists, entomologists, horticultural extension faculty, soil scientists, and other faculty in the department and college. The successful applicant will contribute to graduate student education by advising students and serving on graduate committees. Opportunities to participate in instruction exist as well.
Kentucky has a vital and extensive extension service. In support, duties for this faculty member include: 1) developing and delivering comprehensive training programs for county agents and supporting county-level educational programming; 2) developing and delivering comprehensive training programs for producers, crop consultants, and agribusiness personnel; 3) utilizing traditional and innovative extension methods; 4) collaborating with faculty in the department, college, university, and other regions; 5) providing technical assistance and expertise in diagnosing weed management problems and diagnosing herbicide injury on agronomic and speciality crops in Kentucky.
Research: This faculty member will conduct field and greenhouse research on applied weed management systems for forages, pastures, and perennial crop systems and will secure extramural funding towards that end. The primary goal of this applied research will be to develop recommendations for current and emerging weed management problems in forage ,perennial cropping systems, and horticultural contexts. The individual would be expected to investigate both traditional and modern innovative approaches to weed management in forages. Understanding production practices that mitigate the proliferation of herbicide resistance will be beneficial for this position. This individual will also oversee and guide the research scope and funding of roadside vegatation management program that works closely with the Kentucky Transporation Cabinet.
Service: As a land-grant university, service to department, college, university, professional society, and/or society at large is expected.
QUALIFICATIONS: Applicants must have an earned a doctorate in weed science or related fields. Experience in extension is desirable. Evidence of strong written and oral communication skills is required and it is expected that the incumbent will obtain extramural funding to support a vigorous research program. The successful candidate must be able to effectively convey scientific findings to extension agents, producers, crop consultants and colleagues.