Assistant/Associate Professor Tree Fruit Physiology and Resilience

Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University

The Department of Horticulture (www.hrt.msu.edu) in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at Michigan State University (MSU) invites applications for an Assistant/Associate Professor (12-month tenure system, 60% Research, 20% Extension, 15% Teaching, 5% Service – appointment rank of Assistant or Associate Professor will be determined based on the successful applicant’s experience) to establish and lead an internationally recognized, competitively funded, innovative research and outreach program that addresses horticultural and physiological components of resilient and sustainable stone and pome fruit production systems for the Great Lakes region. Potential areas of research pertinent to this position include, but are not limited to, abiotic stress physiology, plant nutrient acquisition, rootstocks, root biology, and/or orchard rhizosphere/soil health. The anticipated start date is August 16, 2025. The successful candidate will join a well-established fruit research and extension team that includes horticulturists, physiologists, molecular biologists, geneticists, plant pathologists, entomologists, economists, and agricultural engineers, as well as a network of extension educators across the state. MSU operates five field facilities for tree fruit research in key growing areas of the state as well as an on-campus facility.

Michigan is a leading U.S. producer of cherries, apples, peaches, grapes, and other perennial fruits that are valued at over $800 million annually. Tree fruit industries provide more than $1.25 million annually in competitive funding and directed support of research and extension pertinent to tree fruit production in the state. In an increasingly variable environment, an improved understanding of fruit tree responses to adverse climatic events and trends is critical for the development of horticultural techniques and integration of resilient plant genotypes into cropping systems that optimize productivity and fruit quality. Accordingly, the position will be expected to address plant abiotic stress resistance, above and/or below-ground pertinent to tree fruit systems and to interact with faculty having expertise in plant breeding and genetics, genomics, and horticultural crop production technologies. The successful candidate is encouraged to take opportunities to collaborate with breeding programs and/or to utilize germplasm resources to facilitate the selection, evaluation, and adoption of improved pome and stone fruit scions and rootstocks for sustainable production in the Great Lakes region, including, but not limited to, control of tree size, fruit quality, yield, and biotic and abiotic stress resilience.

The successful candidate will be expected to:

• develop research and outreach collaborations with MSU's extensive plant science faculty as well as with extramural peer and interdisciplinary scientists
• develop a nationally recognized research program funded by competitive extramural federal, state, industry and intramural granting opportunities
• publish in appropriate peer-reviewed journals
• advise and mentor graduate students and post-doctoral associates
• serve in a leadership capacity for pertinent cross-disciplinary programs, as well as developing leadership activities in regional, national, and international professional scientific associations
• lead- or team-teach plant nutrition, rhizosphere biology, and/or physiology-based graduate and/or undergraduate courses important to MSU’s horticultural and other plant science curricula.

Extension and outreach activities involve collaboration as a core resource for the MSU Fruit Extension educator team, provision of expertise and direction for MSU horticultural efforts in stone fruit, development or co-development of pertinent outreach tools and activities, and dissemination of critical, new information to the fruit production industries in Michigan and beyond.

Qualifications:

Required:

• An earned Ph.D. in the field of plant physiology/biology/biochemistry, horticulture, forestry, or other related plant science discipline
• Demonstrated capacity to conduct independent, original, innovative research
• Demonstrated record of publishing in peer reviewed journals
• Demonstrated ability and willingness to work collaboratively, as a team member and in the case of applicants at the Associate professor level, as a leader
• Excellent oral and written communication skills appropriate for both scientific peers as well as agricultural stakeholder constituencies

Desired:

• Postdoctoral experience in plant stress or root/rhizospere biology
• Experience in competitive grant proposal writing and administration
• Experience communicating research results with stakeholder audiences
• Experience in fruit production/orchard management systems
• Experience in teaching undergraduate and/or graduate-level courses
• Familiarity with the issues of climate-driven changes in the development of temperate-zone perennial crop production

Location: The position will be based at Michigan State University in East Lansing, MI, USA. Michigan State University (MSU) is one of the top research universities in the world and home to nationally ranked and recognized academic, residential college, and service-learning programs. MSU is a diverse community of dedicated students and scholars, athletes and artists, and scientists that provide regional, national, and international leadership in basic and applied research and excellence in teaching. In addition, consistent with its Land Grant origins, the MSU community pursues international engagement and provides strong extension programs that partner with diverse stakeholders to provide much needed research in the areas of food, energy, water and the environment. MSU enjoys a park-like campus with outlying research facilities and natural areas. The campus is located in the city of East Lansing, adjacent to the capital city of Lansing. The Lansing metropolitan area has a diverse population of >500,000. Local communities have excellent school systems and place a high value on education. The University is proactive about its obligations under the ADA, and provides individual accessibility plans to students and employees with disabilities. Michigan State University is also proactive in exploring opportunities for employment for dual career families, both inside and outside the University, and respects all family forms. Information about MSU’s dual career support and other types of support for balancing work and personal lives at MSU can be found at http://worklife.msu.edu/

Commitment to Creating a Sense of Belonging: Michigan State University occupies the ancestral, traditional, and contemporary Lands of the Anishinaabeg – Three Fires Confederacy of Ojibwe, Odawa and Potawatomi people. The University resides on Land ceded in the 1819 Treaty of Saginaw.

The College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at Michigan State University is committed to achieving excellence by creating and sustaining an accessible and inclusive culture that values cultural and academic diversity. We are an equal opportunity / affirmative action employer. The CANR is particularly interested in candidates of all backgrounds who are committed to the principle that academic excellence is achieved through open access and proactive inclusion. Candidates are invited to view the Department of Horticulture’s norms (https://www.canr.msu.edu/hrt/about-us/diversity-equity-inclusion/index).

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement: Michigan State University is committed to the principles of equal opportunity, nondiscrimination and, in the context of employment, affirmative action. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, gender, gender identity, religion, national origin, political persuasion, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, height, weight, veteran status, age or familial status.

Salary and Benefits: Salary will be commensurate with qualifications. MSU offers a generous benefits package (details at https://hr.msu.edu/benefits/index.html).

To Apply: For consideration, submit your application online at http://careers.msu.edu to job number 1026321. Upload the following required documents: a) letter of interest that includes qualifications for the position and statement of philosophy highlighting how your experiences align with the position; b) statement of teaching philosophy (2-page maximum); c) statement of research vision (2-page maximum); d) current curriculum vitae; e) a description of how you will contribute to CANR’s positive culture, fair access to resources, and creating a sense of belonging (2-page maximum); and, f) contact information for three professional references. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Review of Applications: The search committee will begin reviewing applications on May 1, 2025 and continue until a suitable candidate is selected.

Questions regarding this position can be addressed to the Search Committee Chair: Todd Einhorn, Ph.D., Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA, einhornt@msu.edu +1 503-593-7005.

MSU is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer, committed to achieving excellence through a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture that encourages all people to reach their full potential. We actively encourage applications from, and nominations of, women, persons of color, veterans, persons with disabilities and other individuals who can contribute to the intellectual diversity and cultural richness at Michigan State University. MSU is committed to providing a work environment that supports employees’ work and personal life, and offers employment assistance to the spouse or partner of candidates for faculty and academic staff positions.