Search #: 494869
Work type: Full-time
Location: Storrs Campus
Categories: Faculty Tenure Track

INTRODUCTION

The University of Connecticut (UConn) is pleased to invite applications for a faculty position in the Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture in the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources. This is a tenure-track position at the rank of Assistant Professor with 50/50, Research/Teaching appointment. The successful candidate will develop a nationally recognized, externally funded program that integrates research-based outcomes in soil nutrient management and soil health investigations with other strengths in the Department and College related to plant, soil, and environmental health and sustainability of managed agricultural, horticultural, and amenity landscapes.

The selected candidate will develop a nationally recognized, externally funded research program in the area of soil nutrient management and soil health. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to: soil nutrient management; nitrogen and phosphorus cycling; manure management; indicators of soil health; soil organic matter and organic carbon; carbon sequestration and carbon cycling; soil greenhouse gas emissions; soil microbiome relationships with organic matter, nutrient cycling, and greenhouse gas emissions; water quality; or other areas related to soil nutrient management and soil health. The selected candidate will collaborate with other departmental and college researchers in providing interdisciplinary support of sustainability and environmental health goals. This will include working closely with extension personnel in support of outreach educational programs. Some of the state’s active grower groups include, but not limited to, dairy crop and forage production, vegetable, fruit, greenhouse, nursery, turfgrass, and tobacco. It is expected that the selected candidate will interact and collaborate with local, state, and national agencies or groups to develop new or further enhance existing nutrient management and soil health efforts and programs. This will include contributing to developing a definition of soil health and a set of recommended objective tests that best estimates healthy soils for Connecticut.

Teaching will include two undergraduate courses (Environmental Soils and Soil Fertility) and an alternate year graduate course related to the individual’s expertise. The selected candidate will be expected to mentor and advise undergraduate and graduate students and assist in the department’s student recruiting activities.

The selected candidate will have access to the UConn Soil Nutrient Analysis Laboratory. This facility employs several staff members and provides support, diagnostic, and testing services for research, commercial, and public needs. It is expected that the person filling this position will provide support for soil test recommendations from the lab and participate in the Northeast Coordinating Committee on Soil Testing.

The College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources at the University of Connecticut has developed and implemented a Strategic Vision to guide the development and focus of our teaching, research, and extension programs in the years 2020–2025. Faculty hired for this position will be expected to make significant contributions in their area of expertise, contributing to the advancement of one or more of the CAHNR’s four strategic initiatives:

The CAHNR Strategic Vision [https://cahnr.uconn.edu/visionandvalues/] provides additional information on the strategic initiatives and their related areas of emphasis.

Founded in 1881, UConn is a Land Grant and Sea Grant institution and member of the Space Grant Consortium. It is the state’s flagship institution of higher education and includes a main campus in Storrs, CT, four regional campuses throughout the state, and 13 Schools and Colleges, including a Law School in Hartford, and Medical and Dental Schools at the UConn Health campus in Farmington. The University has approximately 10,000 faculty and staff and 32,000 students, including nearly 24,000 undergraduates and over 8,000 graduate and professional students. UConn is a Carnegie Foundation R1 (highest research activity) institution, among the top 25 public universities in the nation. Through research, teaching, service, and outreach, UConn embraces diversity and cultivates leadership, integrity, and engaged citizenship in its students, faculty, staff, and alumni. UConn promotes the health and well-being of citizens by enhancing the social, economic, cultural, and natural environments of the state and beyond. The University serves as a beacon of academic and research excellence as well as a center for innovation and social service to communities. UConn is a leader in many scholarly, research, and innovation areas. Today, the path forward includes exciting opportunities and notable challenges. Record numbers of undergraduate applications and support for student success have enabled the University to become extraordinarily selective.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

APPOINTMENT TERMS

This is a full-time, 9-month, tenure-track position with an anticipated start date of August 2021. The successful candidate’s academic appointment will be at the Storrs campus. Faculty may also be asked to teach at one of UConn’s regional campuses as part of their ordinary workload. Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

TO APPLY

Please apply online to Academic Jobs Online https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/17500 and submit the following application materials:

1. A cover letter addressing how the applicant meets the minimum and preferred qualifications and why the applicant is the best fit for the position,
2. Curriculum vitae,
3. Research and scholarship statement (innovative concepts that will form the basis of academic career, experience in proposal development, mentorship of graduate students, etc.);
4. Teaching statement (including teaching philosophy, teaching experience, commitment to effective learning, concepts for new course development, etc.);
5. Commitment to diversity statement (including broadening participation, integrating multicultural experiences in instruction and research and pedagogical techniques to meet the needs of diverse learning styles, etc.);
6. Sample journal articles or books
7. Contact information for three references.

Evaluation of applicants will begin immediately. For more information regarding the Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture please visit the department website at http://psla.uconn.edu/. For more information regarding the position opening please contact Karl Guillard at karl.guillard@uconn.edu.

At the University of Connecticut, our commitment to excellence is complemented by our commitment to building a culturally diverse community.

Employment of the successful candidate is contingent upon the successful completion of a pre-employment criminal background check.

This position will be filled subject to budgetary approval.

All employees are subject to adherence to the State Code of Ethics which may be found at http://www.ct.gov/ethics/site/default.asp.

The University of Connecticut is committed to building and supporting a multicultural and diverse community of students, faculty and staff. The diversity of students, faculty and staff continues to increase, as does the number of honors students, valedictorians and salutatorians who consistently make UConn their top choice. More than 100 research centers and institutes serve the University’s teaching, research, diversity, and outreach missions, leading to UConn’s ranking as one of the nation’s top research universities. UConn’s faculty and staff are the critical link to fostering and expanding our vibrant, multicultural and diverse University community. As an Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity employer, UConn encourages applications from women, veterans, people with disabilities and members of traditionally underrepresented populations.

Advertised: Nov 09 2020 Eastern Standard Time
Applications close: Dec 23 2020 Eastern Standard Time