Assistant Insect Jobs in West Lafayette, IN (NOW HIRING)

Professor Research Assistant
City: West Lafayette
Job Description:
Position Summary:
The Department of Entomology at Purdue University invites applications for a non-tenure track Assistant/Associate Research Professor, Biology and Management of Urban Pests. The successful candidate will engage with the national pest management industry and conduct high-impact research in one or more areas of basic and applied urban pest management, with an emphasis on pests of built environments such as cockroaches and bed bugs. Research could encompass the biology and behavior of pests, their response to pesticides, including physiological and genetic mechanisms of resistance, innovations in applied pest management research (e.g., molecular, computational modeling, or artificial intelligence based approaches) and the development of sustainable pest management technologies. The successful candidate will become an integral member of the Center for Urban and Industrial Pest Management (CUIPM) which is nationally recognized for leadership in urban entomology. The position will synergize a number of related urban entomology faculty and programs at Purdue and engage with stakeholder groups to address pressing issues associated with urban pests. This is a nine-month appointment with a focus on research and minor instructional responsibilities. The position may contribute to undergraduate learning through research experiential courses (ENTM 39300 Insect Biology Practicum and ENTM 49300 Insect Biology Capstone), and training and mentorship of graduate students, postdoctoral and visiting scientists. Start date may be as early as 1 June, 2025.
Responsibilities:

• Lead a nationally recognized research program focused on the basic biology of urban pests and advancement of modern, sustainable pest management solutions and technologies.
• Secure external funding through grants, industry contracts and partnerships to support ongoing research
• Publish research findings in peer-reviewed journals and present results at national and international conferences.
• Organize and lead seminars, workshops and industry-specific training sessions to disseminate research findings and best practices for indoor pest management.
• Maintain ongoing communication with stakeholders to foster collaborations, gather feedback on research priorities and ensure that research is aligned with industry needs and challenges.
• Represent the CUIPM at industry meetings and conferences to promote research capabilities and develop new collaborations.
• Work synergistically with faculty from within the department of entomology and across the university to further elevate discovery.
• Mentor graduate students, postdoctoral scientists and visiting scholars and contribute to the achievement of instructional outcomes by supporting undergraduate student training.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. and minimum one year postdoctoral training in entomology or related discipline. Experience in computational modeling and artificial intelligence is desirable.
• Records of excellence in research, publication, project management, and mentoring required.
• Inter-disciplinary research experience, the ability to interact with a broad spectrum of researchers and clientele groups, and willingness to engage the urban pest management industry are highly desirable.

Salary and Benefits:
This is a 9-month non-tenure track position with a focus on research. Salary is commensurate with qualifications and experience. Excellent fringe benefit package that includes Fidelity retirement program, medical, and life and disability insurance. Opportunities for promotion within the research faculty are available, and more information can be found in the Procedures for Research Faculty Appointment, Review, and Promotion linked here: Office of the Provost - Purdue University https://www.purdue.edu/provost/policies/promotion-research.html .
To Apply:
Applications should include a cover letter addressing the applicant's qualifications
and experience, a statement of research goals, curriculum vitae, and contact information for three references. All materials must be combined into one PDF and submitted electronically via this site: https://careers.purdue.edu/job/Professor-Research-Assistant/36790-en_US/
Application review will begin May 12th and continue until a successful candidate is identified. For more information, please contact the Search Committee Chairs, Dr. Jose Pietri (jpietric@purdue.edu) and Dr. Douglas Richmond (drichmond@purdue.edu).
The Department is an integral part of the College of Agriculture, one of the world's leading colleges of agricultural, food, life, and natural resource sciences and ranked fifth in the world in the 2024 QS World University Rankings. The College is deeply committed to the three land-grant missions (teaching, research, and extension), to international activities and perspectives that span all missions, and to excellence in all we do. The College has 11 academic departments, 290 faculty, 2984 undergraduate students, and 690 graduate students.
A background check is required for employment in this position
Purdue University is an equal opportunity/equal access university.