Assistant Professor & Extension Specialist, Green Industry IPM

ollege Park Department of Entomology; College Park (MD); On-site; USD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Maryland, College Park invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist position focused on Integrated Pest Management relevant to the Green Industry.

The successful candidate will lead a regionally relevant, externally funded program addressing Maryland’s green industry needs and will engage with stakeholders across arboriculture, nurseries, and turfgrass sectors.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. required with strong record of scholarly work.
• Excellent communication and outreach skills preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop an integrated pest management research/extension program for Maryland's green industry.
• Contribute to teaching, mentoring, and service within the department and university.

Education

Ph.D. in entomology, horticulture, plant sciences, integrated pest management, ecology, applied biology, or a related field

Job description

The Department of Entomology at the University of Maryland, College Park invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist position focused on Integrated Pest Management relevant to the Green Industry.

We seek a candidate who will develop a vibrant, stakeholder-engaged research and extension program addressing the needs of Maryland’s green industry, which includes the arboriculture, Christmas tree, cut flower, greenhouse, landscape maintenance, nursery, and turfgrass industries. Potential areas of emphasis include biological control, climate resilience, ecological approaches to managing pests, diagnostics, invasive species, pesticide stewardship, and sustainable management of arthropod pests.

The successful candidate is expected to support the land-graft mission of the University of Maryland by developing a regionally relevant, nationally recognized, externally funded research/extension program that responds to Maryland green industry needs. The individual will lead the development of research-supported sustainable approaches and technologies that address stakeholder needs while promoting adoption of proven strategies using an innovative mix of extension outreach tools and educational programming. In addition, the successful candidate will contribute to undergraduate and graduate teaching and mentoring, and participate in departmental, college, university, and professional service.

The individual will join a supportive Department with broad strengths in basic and applied ecology, genetics, genomics, evolutionary biology, biodiversity and systematics, pollinator science, arthropod vectors of disease, and integrated pest management. The Department is jointly affiliated with the College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences and the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and there are strong opportunities for interdisciplinary work across the university. They will also find collaborative support within the University of Maryland (UMD)/University of Maryland Extension (UME) network, which provides opportunities for research on the 10 research farms and education centers, as well as consultative support for program planning, evaluation, and reporting. Our strategic location in the greater Washington, D.C. region provides opportunities for interaction with a plethora of institutions including the NIH, USDA , the Smithsonian Institution, state and federal agencies, nonprofit organizations, and regional research institutions. College Park also provides access to the cultural, scientific, policy, and recreational resources of the D.C. metropolitan area, Chesapeake Bay, Appalachian region, Atlantic coast, and surrounding parks and natural areas, offering many opportunities for diverse recreational activities.

Applicants must have a Ph.D. in entomology, horticulture, plant sciences, integrated pest management, ecology, applied biology, or a related field by the time of appointment. Candidates should demonstrate evidence of research excellence, strong communication skills, extension and/or outreach experience, and the ability or potential to work effectively to meet the needs of a diverse stakeholder group.