Associate Professor / Professor - Hartwig Endowed Chair in Soybean Agronomy

Position Function:

The Associate Professor or Professor and Hartwig Endowed Chair is a 12-month cross appointed position with the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station; College of Agriculture and Life Sciences; and the Mississippi State University Extension Service. The position is housed in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences and located on MSU’s main campus in Starkville.

The Hartwig Chair will develop a nationally recognized program that addresses critical agronomic issues in soybean production. The Hartwig Chair is expected to provide a vision for the future of the soybean industry in Mississippi, and lead a team of faculty, staff, and students who implement that vision.

Salary Grade : UC

Please see Staff Compensation Structure or Skilled Crafts and Service Maintenance Compensation Schedule for salary ranges. For salary grade UC, these positions are "Unclassified" and salary ranges are determined by the hiring department.

Department Profile:

Mississippi State University is Mississippi's senior comprehensive land-grant institution and has the largest on-campus enrollment (>22,000) of the eight state institutions of higher learning. All components of the university have a strong commitment to teaching, research, and service. The Department of Plant and Soil Sciences has 31 on- and 26 off-campus faculty members engaged in teaching, research, and extension and/or service programs, most of who carry joint appointments. The programs are supported by state-of-the-art laboratories, equipment, and trained support and professional staff. The department offers Bachelor of Science degrees in Agronomy, Horticulture, or Environmental Sciences in Agricultural Systems, with Master's or Doctoral graduate students concentrating in Agronomy, Horticulture, or Weed Science.

Area of Specialization:

Agronomy

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide leadership for soybean research, education, and outreach in Mississippi.
• Serve as a strategic thought leader in Mississippi for the future of the soybean industry.
• Coordinate research projects conducted in Mississippi to develop a broader agenda for a statewide research program.
• Conduct visionary soybean production research focused on Mississippi and the Midsouth to optimize profitability, productivity, and sustainability.
• Work closely with the Mississippi Soybean Promotion Board, growers, and agribusinesses to promote soybean production and identify techniques to overcome production problems that limit yields and/or profitability.
• Cooperate and lead multi-disciplinary projects with faculty and researchers, including the Delta Research and Extension Center and USDA Agricultural Research Service.
• Collaborate with MSU Extension Service faculty and staff to plan and conduct on-farm research and demonstrations.
• Effectively communicate research findings and troubleshoot problems with growers, consultants, and Extension personnel.
• Secure extramural funding to support research, teaching, and Extension activities, publish research findings in appropriate professional research journals, and make presentations at professional meetings.
• Participate in undergraduate and graduate student education and contribute to collaborative teaching through off- and on-campus programs.
• Develop and teach one split-level course per academic year in soybean/oilseed crop production.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Earned doctorate in Agronomy, Crop Physiology, or a related field.
• Hold and/or be qualified to hold the rank of Associate or Full Professor in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences.
• Experience in development of agronomic research programs.
• Demonstrated ability to fulfill Extension-related duties and ability to work with producers and the agricultural community.
• Familiarity with modern agricultural production practices.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills to publish research findings in peer-reviewed journals, Extension outreach media, multimedia activities, and interact effectively with producers, faculty, staff, students, researchers, and other personnel.
• Ability to develop grant proposals and secure extramural funding, design and manage research projects, and supervise personnel.
• Willingness to address critical issues as a team leader and team member in collaboration with scientists from state and federal institutions.
• Demonstrated ability to teach undergraduate and/or graduate level courses in agronomy/oilseed related crops.

Instructions for Applying:

Applicants must apply online at www.jobs.msstate.edu. Additionally, a letter of application, personal C.V., and names/addresses/emails of at least four (4) professional references should be forwarded to: Dr. Darrin Dodds, Department Head, Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, Mississippi State University, Box 9555, Mississippi State, MS 37962. Nominations are encouraged and should be sent to the same address.

Restricted Clause:

Position contingent upon funding availability.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

MSU is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, sex, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, pregnancy, gender identity, status as a U.S. veteran, and/or any other status protected by applicable law. We always welcome nominations and applications from women, members of any minority group, and others who share our passion for building a diverse community that reflects the diversity in our student population.