Assistant Nematologist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Department Contact: Jennifer Randall, 575-646-2920, jrandall@nmsu.edu

Internal or External Search: External - Open to all applicants

Advertising Summary: The Department of Entomology, Plant Pathology, and Weed Science seeks to hire an Assistant Professor to develop an innovative, fundamental, and applied research program in nematology related to integrated pest management in the semi-arid west and teach courses needed by the Department and the College

Position Title: Assistant Professor of Nematology

College/Division: Agricultural,Consumer & Env Sci Col

Department: 303000-ENTOMOLOGY PLANT PATH AND WEED SCI

Location: Las Cruces

Offsite Location (if applicable):

Target Hourly/Salary Rate: Commensurate with qualifications.

Appointment Full-time Equivalency: 1.0

FLSA Status: Exempt

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

Contingent Upon Funding: Not Applicable

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

If Not a Standard Work Schedule: 

Job Duties and Responsibilities: The Department of Entomology, Plant Pathology, and Weed Science seeks to hire an Assistant Professor to develop an innovative, fundamental, and applied research program in nematology related to integrated pest management in the semi-arid west and teach courses needed by the Department and the College for student training. The position is tenure-track, 85% Research and 15% Teaching. This position will develop a creative, collaborative, extramurally funded research program focused on plant-parasitic nematode interactions across New Mexico's agricultural to urban ecosystems. Research areas could include, but are not limited to: sustainable management of plant parasitic nematodes addressing nematode issues impacting agricultural crops (e.g., root-knot nematodes and stem nematodes) and recreational areas (e.g., nematodes in turfgrass systems); nematodes as a component of sustainable agriculture, including nematodes as biological control agents and their roles in nutrient cycling; community ecology of nematodes, including ecology and function of plant associated and free living nematodes in dryland soils; the biology of soil nematodes including nematode-plant interactions and nematode response to variable abiotic factors; investigation of the morphological and functional diversity of soil nematodes, their pathogenicity, and biological control properties. The Department seeks an individual who can work collaboratively with faculty across academic departments and colleges. Teaching responsibilities will include Nematology and the potential to develop new courses depending on expertise (e.g., Soil Ecology), as well as supervision of graduate students.
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) Applied and Agricultural Biology and (2) General Agriculture, with five concentrations in Applied Biology, Applied Microbiology, Environmental Biology, Entomology, and Pest Biology & Management, and participates in the offering of two graduate degrees: A Master of Science and a Doctorate in Applied and Agricultural Biology. For more information about the department, please visit https://eppws.nmsu.edu/.

Required Education and Experience: 
A Ph.D. in Nematology, Plant Pathology, or related biological science. The degree must be in hand by the date of hire. Candidates must have a strong background and experience in nematology and bring a novel skill set to the department, including but not limited to behavioral/chemical ecological tools, modeling/Al approaches, or other novel approaches to investigate nematode interactions. Applicants must have good communication skills, a strong commitment to teaching, and to independent and collaborative research. The successful candidate will be expected to pursue competitive grant funding and to meet the minimum qualifications for an NMSU graduate faculty appointment.

Equivalent Qualifications: 

Preferred Qualifications: 
Postdoctoral experience is preferred

Special Certification/Licensure: 

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.