Assistant Professor - Medical and Veterinary Entomology

Mississippi State University; Mississippi; On-site; USD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Mississippi State University in Starkville invites applications for a tenure-track, nine-month Assistant Professor position in Medical/Veterinary/Public Health Entomology. The appointment will be about 60% research and 40% teaching, with an externally funded program focused on arthropods and pathogens affecting human and animal health.

The successful candidate will teach undergrad and graduate courses, advise students, and collaborate across the College of Veterinary Medicine, Wildlife,

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Entomology or related field is required by the appointment date.
• Strong training in medically or veterininarily important arthropods, vector biology, vector-borne disease, ectoparasites, or related area.
• Scholarly productivity, strong experimental and quantitative skills, excellent written and oral communication, ability to work in interdisciplinary teams.

Responsibilities

• Establish an externally funded research program in Medical/Veterinary/Public Health Entomology.
• Teach Medical and Veterinary Entomology and foundational insect courses.
• Advise graduate students and serve on graduate committees; contribute to service and One Health initiatives.
• Collaborate with College of Veterinary Medicine, Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture, and public health agencies.

Skills

Research design

Grant writing

Quantitative analysis

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Communication

Mentoring

Education

PhD in Entomology or closely related field

Job description

Position Function:

The Department of Agricultural Science and Plant Protection (AGSPP)at Mississippi State University seeks to fill a tenure-track,9-month Assistant Professor position in Medical/Veterinary/PublicHealth Entomology based on the main campus in Starkville. Theposition will consist of approximately 60% research and 40%teaching. The successful candidate will develop an externallyfunded research program focused on arthropods and arthropod-bornepathogens of medical, veterinary, wildlife, or public-healthimportance and will contribute to undergraduate and graduateinstruction in Entomology. The program should advance a One Healthperspective by connecting arthropod biology, vector ecology,host-vector-pathogen interactions, surveillance, disease risk, andmanagement across human, animal, wildlife, and environmentalsystems.

Salary Grade : UC

Please see Staff Compensation Structure or Skilled Crafts and ServiceMaintenance Compensation Schedule for salary ranges. For salarygrade UC, these positions are "Unclassified" and salary ranges aredetermined by the hiring department.

Department Profile:

The Department of Agricultural Science and Plant Protection (AGSPP)has academic, research, and Extension education missions within theland-grant tradition. The department includes expertise inentomology, plant pathology, weed science, and interdisciplinaryagricultural science, with faculty located on the Starkville campusand at research and Extension centers throughout Mississippi. AGSPPsupports the B.S. in Agricultural Science and graduate education inEntomology and is integrating Weed Sciencecoursework and graduate pathways into the department. Facultyprograms address fundamental and applied problems in plantprotection, agricultural production, environmental stewardship,human and animal health, and stakeholder education.

Area of Specialization:

Medical and Veterinary Entomology

Anticipated Appointment Date:

August 16, 2027.

Tenure Track Status:

Yes.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

The successful candidate will establish a nationally recognized,extramurally funded research program in Medical/Veterinary/PublicHealth Entomology. Research may include, but is not limited to, theecology, biology, surveillance, epidemiology, or management ofmosquitoes, ticks, biting flies, ectoparasites, invasive vectors,and other arthropods affecting human or animal health;vector-pathogen-host interactions; arthropod-borne pathogenecology; emerging or re-emerging vector threats; quantitative riskassessment or spatial epidemiology; integrated vector management;and related One Health questions. The incumbent will pursuecompetitive federal and other extramural funding, publish inpeer-reviewed outlets, mentor graduate and undergraduate students,and build collaborations with AGSPP colleagues and complementaryprograms such as the College of Veterinary Medicine, Wildlife,Fisheries and Aquaculture, biological sciences, public-health andvector-control agencies, Extension, and other state or federalpartners. Teaching responsibilities are expected to include Medicaland Veterinary Entomology (EPP/ASPP 4173/6173) and contribution toa foundational course such as Introduction to Insects or GeneralEntomology; the final teaching rotation will be established beforeadvertisement. The faculty member will advise graduate students,serve on graduate committees, contribute to departmental andprofessional service, and participate actively in interdisciplinaryOne Health teams.

Minimum Qualifications:

A Ph.D. in Entomology or a closely related biological, veterinary,public-health, wildlife, or vector-biology field is required by thedate of appointment. Candidates must demonstrate substantialtraining or research experience in medically or veterinarilyimportant arthropods, vector biology, vector-borne disease,ectoparasites, or a closely related area. Evidence of scholarlyproductivity, strong experimental and quantitative skills,excellent written and oral communication, and the ability to workeffectively in interdisciplinary teams are required.

ABDs or degree pending considered (all but DISS):

Yes.

Preferred Qualifications:

Postdoctoral or equivalent research experience; demonstratedpotential or success in obtaining competitive extramural funding;experience with field surveillance or experimental research onvectors or ectoparasites; expertise in one or more complementaryapproaches such as disease ecology, epidemiology, spatial analysis,molecular diagnostics, pathogen detection, quantitative ecology,vector management, or One Health research; and experience teaching,mentoring students, or collaborating across veterinary, wildlife,public-health, or Extension programs are desirable.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Ability to design and conduct rigorous field, laboratory, and/orquantitative research; develop competitive grant proposals; manageresearch projects and personnel; teach and mentor undergraduate andgraduate students; communicate with scientific, veterinary,public-health, wildlife, agency, and stakeholder audiences; andbuild productive interdisciplinary collaborations. The successfulcandidate should be able to connect arthropod biology withquestions of human and animal health while maintaining an active,externally supported research program.

Working Conditions and Physical Effort

Research and teaching may require outdoor fieldwork in Mississippiheat and humidity, walking over uneven terrain, collectingarthropods during daytime or nighttime hours, traveling to samplingsites, and handling arthropod specimens. Depending on the researchprogram, duties may involve work with arthropod-borne pathogens,vertebrate animals, or regulated biological materials underrequired institutional biosafety, animal-care, occupational-health,and other safety approval processes.

Screening Date:

November 5, 2026, until filled.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

Mississippi State University is an equal opportunity institution.Discrimination is prohibited in university employment, programs oractivities based on race, color, ethnicity, sex, pregnancy,religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation,genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, or any other statusto the extent protected by applicable law. Questions about equalopportunity programs or compliance should be directed to the Officeof Civil Rights Compliance, 231 Famous Maroon Band Street, P.O.6044, Mississippi State, MS 39762, [phone].

What do I do if I need an accommodation?

In compliance with the ADA Amendments Act (ADA), if you have adisability and would like to request an accommodation in order toapply for a position with Mississippi State University, pleasecontact the Department of Human Resources Management at tel: [phone] or [e-mail] . If you have any questions regarding this policy, contact theDepartment of Human Resources Management at [phone] or [e-mail] . Uponrequest, sections of this job listing are available in large print,and readers are available to assist the visually impaired.