Assistant Professor, Insect Systematics

The Division of Plant Science and Technology (DPST) in the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) at the University of Missouri (MU), a land-grant institution, invites applications for a 9-month tenure-track Assistant Professor position in Insect Systematics with a focus on pollinators. This faculty position is located at the MU main campus in Columbia, MO and has a 45% research, 35% teaching and 20% service appointment.

Responsibilities: The selected candidate will be expected to establish a high-profile and externally funded research program aimed at generating a fundamental understanding of insect pollinators, their classification, evolution, biodiversity or interactions with plants. Key areas of research can include, but are not limited to, the study of pollinator systematics, the co-evolution of pollinators and plants, pollinator conservation, and the factors that affect pollinator populations.

In addition to research, the incumbent will teach courses that contribute to the graduate and undergraduate curriculum in DPST. The expected teaching workload includes the development of undergraduate/graduate courses on insect systematics, biodiversity, and conservation and to contribute to the development of an undergraduate certificate program in Insect Science.

The incumbent will also serve as Director of the MU Enns Entomology Museum. The Enns Entomology Museum was founded in 1874 by C.V. Riley as its first curator. Currently, it holds approximately 7 million specimens of insects, arachnids and fossils, and is one of the largest university-owned insect collections worldwide. The Museum is of national and international importance because it is the primary source of insect and arachnid specimens representative of the Ozark Plateau. It is also of great regional importance because the Museum closely collaborates with the Missouri Department of Conservation, Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Missouri Department of Agriculture, and the USDA Biological Control of Insects Laboratory. The selected candidate is expected to contribute to collection development, preservation, and advancement using modern collection management approaches and extramural funding. In addition, the incumbent is expected to foster and support the use of the Museum by outside scientists and for educational and outreach opportunities.

DPST includes a group of renowned faculty leading pioneering research in basic and applied aspects of entomology and plant sciences. The incoming faculty can also rely on excellent collaborative research programs such as the campus-wide Interdisciplinary Plant Group (IPG), one of the top plant biology programs in the nation. MU has state-of-the-art facilities available for research including the Bond Life Science Center, the Plant Transformation Core Facility, a well-equipped Genomics Technology Core, Proteomics and Metabolomics Centers, modern plant growth facilities, agricultural experiment stations, an imaging center, and an electron microscopy core.

Minimum Qualifications: Ph.D. in Entomology or a related field by the time of appointment.

Candidates will be evaluated on: Peer-reviewed publications and experiences in collection management, grant-writing, and undergraduate or graduate teaching. Postdoctoral experience, skills in verbal and written communication, and research collaborations are desirable.

Please submit your CV, a cover letter in which the experiences and the suitability for the advertised position are clearly described, a 2-page research vision statement, up to 2-pages teaching philosophy statement, and contact information for at least three references. Applications should be submitted at the following website: https://hr.missouri.edu/job-openings, Job ID 58583.

Review of applications will begin March 01, 2026, and will continue until a suitable candidate is identified.

Questions about the position may be directed to Dr. Qisheng Song (songq@missouri.edu), Chair of the Search Committee, at the University of Missouri. Questions regarding the application process should be directed to Human Resource Services at (573) 882-7976 or muhrs@missouri.edu.

University of Missouri: The University of Missouri campus is located in Columbia, MO, a vibrant and growing college town of over 120,000 with a high quality of life and relatively low cost of living. Columbia is located in central Missouri, half-way between Kansas City and St. Louis, about 2 hours from each of those metropolitan areas. Missouri is a state with both a strong agriculture base and abundant natural areas for recreation and enjoyment. Learn more about Columbia and Missouri at https://www.visitcolumbiamo.com.

This position is eligible for University benefits. As part of your total compensation, the University offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental and vision plans, retirement, and educational fee discounts for all four UM System campuses. For additional information on University benefits, please visit the Faculty & Staff Benefits website at https://www.umsystem.edu/totalrewards/benefits.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of Missouri is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

To request ADA accommodations, please call the Director of Accessibility and ADA at 573-884-7278.