The department of Plant and Soil Sciences in the College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, is seeking a Soil Microbiologist.  This is an Assistant Professor, tenure eligible position with a 12-month appointment and approximately 70% research, 25% teaching, and 5% service responsibilities. The annual DOE will be aligned with this colleague’s strengths and college/department needs.

Research: Our new colleague will develop an interdisciplinary, innovative research program in soil microbiology/microbial ecology. Scholars whose interests include the following are encouraged to apply: the importance of soil microbes in providing ecosystem/critical zone services, the microbiome and soil health, microbial biodiversity-function relationships, plant-soil-microbe relationships, impact of climate change on soil microbial communities, coupling microbial and biogeochemical models, soil microbial impact on the hydrologic cycle, and/or the role of microbes in remediation of contaminated soils. Scientists whose skillset incorporates state-of-the art approaches, such as molecular, spectroscopic, genomics, bioinformatics, and/or high-resolution imagery, as well as more traditional soil microbial and nutrient cycling techniques (especially those related to soil nitrogen cycling and soil health assessment) are encouraged to apply.

Teaching: This faculty member will contribute to the growing Agricultural Ecosystem Sciences and Natural Resources and Environmental Science undergraduate degree programs. Teaching will include a course in soil microbiology plus courses in other soil microbiome-related topics. The incumbent will also mentor MS and PhD students in the Integrated Plant & Soil Sciences graduate degree program.

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