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Associate or Assistant Professor, Vegetable Crop Pathology

Penn State University
State College, United Statesfull_timeVerifiedPosted 30 Oct 2025

About the role

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

 

Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location. For additional information on remote work at Penn State, see Notice to Out of State Applicants.

 

POSITION SPECIFICS

The Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology in the College of Agricultural Sciences at The Pennsylvania State University invites applications for a 36-week, tenure-track faculty position at the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor with expertise in biology, epidemiology and management of diseases of vegetable and ornamental crops, and the development of translational educational programming to meet the needs of a diverse stakeholder audience. This position has 60% extension and 40% research responsibilities.


The successful candidate will build and lead an extension and research program focused on managing significant and emerging diseases of vegetable and ornamental crops, with a primary emphasis on major vegetable crops grown in Pennsylvania. They will provide statewide leadership in vegetable and ornamental crop pathology, working as part of a statewide team of extension specialists and educators. Key responsibilities include conducting innovative and impactful research on plant diseases and their management, developing new diagnostic tools and technologies, and partnering with extension specialists and county educators to address vegetable crop health challenges using existing and new technologies.


This role requires identifying extension education needs, equipping growers and agricultural service providers with research-based actionable information on pathogen biology and disease management, and responding to stakeholder priorities. Pennsylvania vegetable production is complex and diversified in both farm size and crop composition and includes field and controlled-environment systems such as greenhouses and high-tunnels, expanding organic and conventional management. The candidate will collaborate with faculty across departments, engage with interdisciplinary and diverse teams and commodity groups, secure research funding, publish in peer-reviewed journals, and mentor undergraduate and graduate students and develop a program with impact. Excellence in grant writing, research communication, and interdisciplinary engagement are essential.


The successful candidate is expected to obtain extramural support for their research, communicate research findings through peer-reviewed publications and other effective means, and actively participate in student training and mentoring.


Applicants must submit the following:

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Company

Penn State University

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