Working/Functional Title
Ast/Assoc Professor/Prof Micro Ecology

Position Summary
MISSION: Explore the interface of microbial ecology, genomics, and microbial mediated processes in the context of basic and applied questions in agroecosystems (including plants and soils) and other managed or natural environments.

MICROBIAL ECOLOGY: PSM, MMG and MSU faculty have been international leaders in this area for decades through the Center for Microbial Ecology. Faculty such as Bonito, Cole, Dazzo, Evans, Friesen, Hashsham, Lenski,Marsh, Reguera, Rose, Schrenk, Shade, Tiemann, Tiedje and Walker form a strong core in microbial ecology at MSU, and link with other MSU faculty members who apply microbial ecology to problems in plant stress resilience, bioremediation and pollutant fate, plant pathology, human health, biogeochemistry, and more.

POSITION: The Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences and the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics invite applications for a 9-month,tenure-track position at the rank of Associate or Assistant Professor in microbial ecology with experience in using technological advances in genomics and applications in the field to study agricultural, managed or natural ecosystems. The position is 75% research and 25% teaching. The position is funded by AgBio Research and the General Fund.

Responsibilities and Performance Expectations: The successful candidate is expected to develop a vigorous research program in microbial ecology, emphasizing research using genomics approaches, sequencing analyses, and other new approaches to characterize microbial communities and their interactions with other organisms and the environment. The candidate should, ideally, have experience with bioinformatics. Research will contribute to programs that integrate faculty across the microbiological and ecological disciplines to address the interactions of microorganisms with plants, animals, water, and soils (cell to cell interactions) including elucidating the molecular mechanisms that control these interactions. Environmental analyses of microbial ecosystems often incorporate concepts that require a fundamental understanding of ecosystem functions, community interactions, and environmental microbiomes, allowing questions related to biodiversity, systems analysis, and complexity to be explored.

Candidates are welcome who use molecular approaches to work in any area of microbial ecology. However, preference may be given to researchers who address basic and applied questions in agroecosystems (including plants and soils) and other managed environments. The candidate should, ideally, have interests and the ability to work in interdisciplinary teams.

The person filling this position will be responsible for teaching modules in undergraduate courses that address microbial ecology and will develop and teach a graduate course in an area of expertise.

Required Degree
Doctorate -Microbiology, Ecology, or related field

Minimum Requirements
Applicants must have an earned doctorate in microbiology, ecology or a closely related field, and show evidence of excellence in research and teaching through scholarly activities, and postdoctoral research experience.

Desired Qualifications
Candidates are expected to emphasize microbial ecology in their research, with additional expertise in metagenomics techniques, molecular tools, and bioinformatics, focusing on agricultural systems (soil, plants and water) or other managed and natural environments. Candidates should have a strong research record, an interest in multidisciplinary research and concerned commitment to teaching and graduate education. There should be a demonstrated ability to obtain competitive external grants in support of research and/or educational programs and experiential teaching. The successful candidate is expected to have strong communication skills.

Required Application Materials
Qualified individuals should submit: a) a letter of application; b) a statement of research and teaching interests; c) curriculum vitae; d) a summary of your experience with diversity in the classroom and/or in your research endeavors, any experience mentoring diverse students, and an explanation of how you will contribute to our goals of inclusive excellence; and e) names and contact information for three references.

Special Instructions
Applications for this position should be submitted online at https://careers.msu.edu(posting number 454097). Review of applications will begin October 1, 2017 and continue until the position is filled. Inquiries about the position should be addressed to Dr. Joan B. Rose (rosejo@msu.edu), Chair of the Search Committee.

Summary of Health Risks
Experience with BSL2 laboratory procedures and pathogens is anticipated.

Advertised: Aug 8, 2017 Eastern Daylight Time
Applications close:


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