Position Title: Assistant Professor /Specialty Crops Entomologist

Employee Classification: LC Faculty TT/TN 9m

College/Division: Agricultural,Consumer & Env Sci Col

Department: 303000-ENTOMOLOGY PLANT PATH AND WEED SCI

Internal or External Search: External - Open to all applicants

Location: Las Cruces

Offsite Location (if applicable):

Target Hourly/Salary Rate:  Commensurate on experience

Appointment Full-time Equivalency:  1.0

Exempt or Non-Exempt:  Exempt

Summary:  NMSU seeks to hire an Assistant Professor to develop and teach courses needed by the Department and College, and to develop an innovative, nationally recognized research program in specialty crops entomology as it relates to integrated pest management in the arid and semi-arid west

Classification Summary:
The Entomology, Plant Pathology, and Weed Science department is a multi-disciplinary group of scientists and teachers whose mission is to provide academic instruction, research and service that focuses on managing pests in semi-arid ecosystems

Classification Standard Duties:
The teaching and research emphasis of the department is on problem-solving. The department teaches integrated biology so students can understand and manage current and emerging issues in plant and animal health and protection, using tools from molecular to landscape scales.

Required Education, Experience, Certification/License, Equivalency
Ph.D. in Entomology or in a related biological science. Degree must be in hand by date of hire.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Candidates must have a strong background in specialty crops entomology and bring a novel skill set to the department. Cropping system expertise must include orchard crops, vineyard crops, vegetable crops, and/or nursery crops. Novel skills may include, but are not limited to, behavioral/chemical ecological tools, modeling/AI approaches, or other novel approaches to investigate entomological interactions. Applicants must have good communication skills, a strong commitment to teaching, and demonstrated abilities to conduct independent and collaborative research. The successful candidate will be expected to pursue competitive grant funding and must meet minimum qualifications for NMSU graduate faculty appointment.

Job Duties and Responsibilities
The Department of Entomology, Plant Pathology and Weed Science seeks to hire an Assistant Professor to develop and teach courses needed by the Department and College, and to develop an innovative, nationally recognized research program in specialty crops entomology as it relates to integrated pest management in the arid and semi-arid west. This is a tenure track, 9-month position that is 60% research, 40% teaching. The position will be located on the main campus of New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, NM. Las Cruces is situated in the Mesilla Valley — a region known for its production of diverse specialty crops including pecans, grapes, and a variety of fruits and vegetables.

The candidate is expected to develop a nationally and internationally recognized, extramurally funded research program that focuses on current and emerging entomological issues impacting specialty crops in New Mexico. The candidate’s overarching research focus could include, but is not limited to, pesticide resistance, population dynamics, behavioral/chemical ecological interactions, among other entomology topics impacting production of orchard crops, vineyard crops, vegetable crops, and/or nursery crops. The successful candidate will be expected to work collaboratively with other faculty across academic departments and colleges. The applicant would also be expected to foster collaborations, participate in activities and on research teams that support the work of the Center of Excellence in Food and Sustainable Agriculture (CESFAS). Teaching responsibilities could include economic entomology, biological control, environmental behaviors of pesticides and developing new courses depending on expertise (e.g., insect physiology, plant-arthropod interactions), as well as supervision of graduate students. The applicant would also be expected to contribute to the Department’s new PhD program in Applied and Agricultural Biology and assist with the ongoing development of online programming (NMSU Global) within the Department.

The EPPWS Department is part of the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, which is home to seven other academic departments, five extension departments, approximately 150 faculty members and 1,800 students. The department offers an undergraduate degree in two majors (1) Agricultural Biology and (2) General Agriculture, with five concentrations in Applied Biology, Applied Microbiology, Environmental Biology, Entomology, and Pest Biology & Management. Also, the department participates in offering of graduate degrees including Master’s of Science in Agricultural Biology, and Doctor of Philosophy in Applied and Agricultural Biology. For more information about the department, please visit https://eppws.nmsu.edu/.

Preferred Qualifications

Postdoctoral experience is preferred. Demonstrated ability to procure external funding is preferred. Prior teaching experience is preferred.

Special Requirements of the Position
The following documents are required. Please include on the application:
(1) a cover letter, including statement of research interests (2 page maximum),
(2) a curriculum vitae,
(3) a statement of teaching philosophy and experience (2 page maximum),
(4) transcripts,
(5) names and contact information for three individuals who may be asked to provide letters of reference, and
(6) a link to your Google Scholar or ResearchGate page (optional).

Department Contact:  Brian Schutte, 575-646-7082, bschutte@nmsu.edu

Contingent Upon Funding: Not Applicable

Bargaining Unit Eligibility: This is NOT a bargaining unit position with American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME).

Standard Work Schedule: Standard (M-F, 8-5)

If Not a Standard Work Schedule: 

Working Conditions and Physical Effort

Environment: Work is normally performed in a typical interior/office work environment.

Physical Effort: No or very limited physical effort required.

Lifting Requirements: Requires handling of average-weight objects up to 10 pounds or some standing or walking.

Risk: No or very limited exposure to physical risk.