Assistant Professor – Joe Vargas Professorship in Turfgrass Pathology

Position: The Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences at Michigan State University invites applications for a full-time, 12-month tenure-system Assistant Professor with a 50% extension, 30% research, 15% teaching and 5% service assignment. The position start date is anticipated to be August 16, 2025.

In 2022, the Michigan Turfgrass Foundation provided a $1 million lead gift to endow the Joe Vargas Professorship in Turfgrass Pathology. The endowment honors Joe Vargas who dedicated his 55-year career to improving the quality of turf throughout the world. The individual who holds the Joe Vargas Professorship will utilize innovative techniques to tackle pressing disease challenges for solutions that positively impact the field of turfgrass science. Funds from the endowment will allow the candidate to conduct research in the area of greatest promise rather than being constrained by a specific grant opportunity. The research the candidate conducts with resources from the endowment, along with the benefits of being a part of a large research institution, will catalyze additional grant and research support. The candidate has access to the Hancock Turfgrass Research Center, which is a premier turfgrass research facility and boasts 56 acres of turfgrass, a fully functioning lab for diagnostics, treatment preparation, sample processing, and all the equipment necessary for routine plot maintenance including mowers, sprayers, aerators, seeders, and rollers. MSU recently began construction to modernize the Plant Science Greenhouses including state-of-the-art environmental controls and energy efficient LED lighting configured to external climate conditions.

The successful candidate is expected to develop a vigorous and nationally/internationally recognized extension, research, and teaching program in turfgrass pathology collaborating with faculty within, and outside of, the turfgrass discipline. The successful candidate will provide expertise and leadership in turfgrass pathology extension by serving the turf and landscape industries (golf courses, sports fields, residential turf, and sod farms). The successful candidate must have expertise in turfgrass pathology with a broad range of knowledge in areas such as best management practices on the etiology and control of turfgrass pathogens, disease resistance, and efforts to reduce pesticide inputs to protect and enhance environmental quality.

Instructional responsibilities will include teaching the undergraduate turfgrass pathology course. The incumbent will be expected to mentor graduate students, publish in refereed journals, secure competitive extramural funding, and interact with statewide turfgrass stakeholders. The successful candidate will be part of a dynamic, interdisciplinary team in turfgrass science and plant pathology with the opportunity to engage in collaborative research in plant sciences throughout MSU.

Required qualifications: Applicants must have an earned doctorate in plant pathology or a closely related field. The successful candidate is expected to have strong oral and written communication skills. Postdoctoral experience, evidence of scholarship, and a demonstrated ability to obtain competitive external grants in support of research and educational programs are desirable.   

The Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial (PSM) Sciences is an internationally recognized department of more than 70 faculty members, with diverse interests spanning applied and fundamental research across agricultural systems and natural resources. The department has diverse disciplines including turfgrass science and management, plant pathology, cropping systems science, weed science, plant breeding and genetics,  soil science, microbial science, etc. The turfgrass science team currently consists of 7 faculty, 5 staff/research assistants, and 8 graduate students. Currently there are over 90 undergraduate and 2-year students in the program

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 PSM norms at https://www.canr.msu.edu/psm/about_psm/department/PSM_SSAFE_POLICY.pdf.  

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 1006264. Upload the following required documents: a) letter of interest that includes qualifications for the position; b) current curriculum vitae; c) statement of extension, research, and teaching philosophy and vision that highlights your experience and alignment with our qualifications (3-page maximum); d) a description of how you will contribute to our diversity, equity and inclusion goals (2-page maximum); and e) contact information for three professional references. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Review of Applications: The search committee will begin reviewing applications on January 10^th  and continue until a suitable candidate is selected. Applications submitted after January 10^th will still be considered.

Questions regarding this position can be addressed to the Search Committee Chair: Dr. Kevin Frank, Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA, frankk@msu.edu.

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.