Faculty Position – Extension Weed Scientist

Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky

Lexington, KY

TITLE: Assistant or Associate Professor of Plant and Soil Sciences, Extension Title Series

Responsibilities: This is a tenure eligible position with a 12-month appointment and approximately 80% extension, 15% research, and 5% service responsibilities. The annual DOE will be aligned with this colleague’s strengths and college/department needs. The anticipated start date is July 1, 2025.

Extension: The person in this position will have primary responsibility for developing and implementing extension weed science programs in central and eastern Kentucky. This individual will need expertise in weed management in a diversity of crops produced in Kentucky but is expected to focus on weed management in forages, pastures, horticultural and other perennial systems. Additionally, this position will have oversight of a roadside vegetation management program with support from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. The person in this position will play an active role in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences and the Martin-Gatton College of Agricultural, Food, and Environment, and is expected to collaborate with other weed scientists, forage specialists, agronomists, plant pathologists, entomologists, horticultural extension faculty, soil scientists, and other faculty in the department and college. The successful applicant will contribute to graduate student education by advising students and serving on graduate committees. Opportunities to participate in instruction exist as well.

Kentucky has a vital and extensive extension service. In support, duties for this faculty member include: 1) developing and delivering comprehensive training programs for county agents and supporting county-level educational programming; 2) developing and delivering comprehensive training programs for producers, crop consultants, and agribusiness personnel; 3) utilizing traditional and innovative extension methods; 4) collaborating with faculty in the department, college, university, and other regions; 5) providing technical assistance and expertise in diagnosing weed management problems and diagnosing herbicide injury on agronomic and speciality crops in Kentucky.

Research: This faculty member will conduct field and greenhouse research on applied weed management systems for forages, pastures, and perennial crop systems and will secure extramural funding towards that end. The primary goal of this applied research will be to develop recommendations for current and emerging weed management problems in forage, perennial cropping systems, and horticultural contexts. The individual would be expected to investigate both traditional and modern innovative approaches to weed management in forages. Understanding production practices that mitigate the proliferation of herbicide resistance will be beneficial for this position. This individual will also oversee and guide the research scope and funding of roadside vegetation management program that works closely with the Kentucky Transporation Cabinet.

Service: As a land-grant university, service to department, college, university, professional society, and/or society at large is expected.

QUALIFICATIONS: Applicants must have an earned a doctorate in weed science or related fields. Experience in extension is desirable. Evidence of strong written and oral communication skills is required, and it is expected that the incumbent will obtain extramural funding to support a vigorous research program. The successful candidate must be able to effectively convey scientific findings to extension agents, producers, crop consultants and colleagues.

Rank and Salary: The rank of this position is at the Assistant or Associate Professor level. Salary is negotiable and is commensurate with training and experience. Employment at UK is subject to fund availability and comes with diverse rewards, focusing on total well-being and career development, with leadership striving to provide a strong work-life integration. The university generously contributes to employees’ retirement plans, medical coverage, and life insurance. In addition, UK offers optional benefits such as dental and vision insurance, additional retirement plans and much more. Further information about benefits provided to faculty by the University of Kentucky is posted on the following website www.uky.edu/HR/benefits/.
 

THE ENVIRONMENT: The College of Agriculture, Food and Environment (CAFE) is fulfilling the land-grant promise of educational excellence, civic leadership, transformational research, and shared knowledge serving the common good. We serve the people of the Commonwealth and across the world through education, outreach, service, and research by finding solutions to improve lives today and create a sustainable future. We integrate teaching, research, and extension in our work. We recruit, retain, and graduate students who are competent, responsible, and workforce ready. For more than 130 years, CAFE has provided research results to the community. From traditional labs and research farms to high-tech diagnostic and research centers, we offer science-based, practical solutions that affect the everyday lives of Kentuckians and people around the world. Our Cooperative Extension programs are engaged in Kentucky’s 120 counties, identifying and addressing needs not only in agriculture and natural resources, but also 4-H and youth development, family and consumer sciences, as well as community & economic development.

The University of Kentucky is a university with approximately 23,000 undergraduate and 9,500 graduate students. UK is Kentucky’s flagship university and a land grant institution. We have a university commitment to improve the lives of Kentuckians and beyond and that is why environmental stewardship and sustainability are core parts of our institution’s legacy. We are recognized as a Tree Campus USA by the Arbor Day Foundation, a Gold level Bicycle Friendly University by The League of American Bicyclists, and are recognized as a STARS (Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System) Silver Rating by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education. The university is geographically near downtown Lexington, which offers the vibrancy of an urban location while being in close proximity to working landscapes and recognized wilderness areas. It is a thriving community of 320,000+ with a strong commitment to quality of life, education, and the arts. Lexington is in the Bluegrass Region, an internationally acclaimed cultural landscape and agricultural region.

QUESTIONS AND/OR NOMINATIONS TO: Dr. Travis Legleiter Chair, Search Committee University of Kentucky Research and Education Center 348 University Drive Princeton, KY 42445 Phone: 859-562-1323 Email: Travis.Legleiter@uky.edu and https://pss.ca.uky.edu/person/travis-legleiter 

APPLICATION: Completed applications should include the following: a cover letter, CV, and statements of research and teaching interests (upload as Specific Request 1). In addition, names and contact information of three individuals from whom letters may be requested should be included in the application packet. Applications should be submitted by January 2, 2025 for full consideration, while the position will remain open until filled. Please use the University of Kentucky’s electronic application process to apply. In your uploaded documents please begin with a cover letter that outlines your approach to the position’s responsibilities, your qualifications, and your vision for innovative and impactful programs that address existing and emerging issues, followed by the name, address, email, and phone number for three references, and conclude with career curriculum vita and relevant statements.