Job Description

Duties and responsibilities: 80% Research/20% Teaching. 

The successful candidate is expected to develop an innovative, nationally and internationally recognized, extramurally funded research program that will advance the mission of research and education in plant pathology at the University of Tennessee. Specific research foci (and the approaches employed) are open. Areas of plant pathology research may include ( but are not limited to ) resilient food production systems, climate change biology, computational biology, controlled environmental agriculture, host-pathogen interactions, pathogen epigenetics, pathogen genomics, pathogen molecular biology and all aspects of pathogen biology, ecology, and epidemiology.

Responsibilities in Herbert College of Agriculture (20%) include teaching one undergraduate introductory plant pathology course annually, and development of a new course that will contribute to training of undergraduate and/or graduate students. Collaboration with departmental research and Extension colleagues, both on- and off-campus, is expected. The candidate also is expected to mentor graduate students and postdoctoral research scholars and to provide service to the department, university, and professional societies or organizations.

About the department: The University of Tennessee , Knoxville (UTK) is one of two land grant institutions in the state, and is the state?s public flagship university. The Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology provides leadership in the generation and dissemination of knowledge on plant diseases and plant-associated beneficial microorganisms, insect-vectored animal diseases, related arthropods and insect pests, and agricultural bioinformatics. The mission of the department is to advance scientific knowledge and provide science-based information to improve the sustainability of food and fiber production, protection of natural resources and the lives of all the people in Tennessee and across the world. To fulfill this mission requires a diverse complement of disciplinary expertise working in a highly integrated environment of teaching, research, Extension, and outreach. Our department strives to provide innovative, inclusive, high quality graduate education in the fields of entomology, plant pathology, and bioinformatics.

The City of Knoxville is a hidden gem with a beautiful and walkable downtown, varied nightlife, active neighborhoods, and eclectic shopping and restaurants. UTK is located within easy driving distance to Asheville, Nashville, Atlanta, and the Great Smoky Mountains. In addition, the Oak Ridge National Laboratory is nearby and many opportunities for collaboration and career development are provided by the University of Tennessee Oak Ridge Innovation Institute.

Required Qualifications: 

• Ph.D. in plant pathology or a closely related field with experience addressing plant disease and management. Will need to have obtained Ph.D. before hiring
• Demonstrated skills in written and oral communication, data management, and scientific writing.
• Demonstrated record of scholarly accomplishments in research and teaching, commensurate with career level.
• Evidence of scholarship through scientific presentations and publications. 
• Ability to communicate effectively with diverse audiences including faculty, undergraduate and graduate students, stakeholder groups, and the public.
• Ability to contribute meaningfully to the diversity and intercultural goals of the University, especially experience working with diverse students and the ability to contribute to fostering diversity and inclusion.

Preferred or Desirable Qualifications: 

• Demonstrated knowledge of plant diseases.
• Expertise with diverse communication and dissemination strategies (e.g., electronic publications, web, social media, etc.).
• Post-doctoral or comparable professional work experience is a plus but not required.
• Demonstrated ability to secure extramural funding based on stage of career.

Interested individuals should submit an application to interfolio (click on the "apply now" button), consisting of a letter of application, statement of research and outreach interests and plans, statement of teaching philosophy, curriculum vitae, statement addressing the applicant?s ability to enhance diversity, equity, and inclusion, and names and contact information of at least three references. An applicant?s guide to interfolio can be found here:  . For additional information contact the chair of the search committee, Dr. Kurt Lamour ([email protected]).

All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment and admission without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, and parental status, or any other characteristic protected by federal or state law. In accordance with the requirements of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the University of Tennessee affirmatively states that it does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, or disability in its education programs and activities, and this policy extends to employment by the university. Requests for accommodations of a disability should be directed to the Office of Equal Opportunity and Accessibility, 1840 Melrose Avenue Knoxville, Tennessee 37996-3560 or  [email protected] or (865)974-2498. Inquiries and charges of violation of Title VI (race, color and national origin), Title IX (sex), Section 504 (disability), the ADA (disability), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (age), sexual orientation, or veteran status should be directed to the Office of Investigation & Resolution 216 Business Incubator Building 2450 EJ. Chapman Drive Knoxville, Tennessee 37996 or (865)974-0717 or  [email protected] .

About University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Our primary mission is to move forward the frontiers of human knowledge and enrich and elevate the citizens of the state of Tennessee, the nation, and the world. As the preeminent research-based, land-grant university in the state, UT embodies the spirit of excellence in teaching, research, scholarship, creative activity, outreach, and engagement attained by the nation’s finest public research institutions.

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