Assistant Professor - Plant Health & Microbe Interactions

University of Massachusetts Amherst; Amherst (MA); On-site; USD 79,350 - 122,191; Full time

Job summary

The Stockbridge School of Agriculture at the University of Massachusetts Amherst invites applications for a 9-month, full-time, tenure-track Assistant Professor position in Plant Health and Plant-Microbe Interactions. The appointee will focus on innovative and sustainable disease management strategies and contribute to both undergraduate and graduate education.

We seek a candidate with a strong research plan addressing plant pathogens, plant-microbe interactions, and translational approaches for

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in a relevant field is required by appointment start date.
• Postdoctoral experience or equivalent research experience is desirable.
• Demonstrated expertise in plant pathology, plant health, plant disease ecology, or plant-microbe interactions.
• Strong evidence of research productivity (publications, presentations, grants).
• Experience or demonstrated potential for securing extramural funding.
• Teaching experience or potential to teach and mentor effectively at undergraduate and graduate levels.
• Excellent communication and collaborative skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop, evaluate, and apply innovative strategies for plant disease management.
• Build a nationally and internationally recognized research program.
• Collaborate with SSA faculty, UMass Extension, farmers, and stakeholders to translate research into practical solutions.
• Contribute to undergraduate and graduate education within the Stockbridge School of Agriculture.

Skills

Excellent communication

Collaborative skills

Teaching experience

Education

Ph.D. in Plant Pathology, Plant Health, Microbiology, or closely related field

Job description

Title: Assistant Professor - Plant Health & Microbe Interactions

Executive Area: Academic Affairs

College/School/MBU: College of Natural Sciences

Department: Stockbridge Sch of Agriculture

Work Location: Amherst

Schedule: Full Time

Work Arrangement: Onsite

Job Summary

The Stockbridge School of Agriculture (SSA) at the University of Massachusetts Amherst is seeking applications for a 9-month, full time, tenure-track Assistant Professor in Plant Health and Plant-Microbe Interactions, with a focus on innovative and sustainable approaches to managing plant diseases. We are seeking talented applicants qualified for an assistant professor position. Under exceptional circumstances, highly qualified candidates at other ranks may receive consideration.

The Stockbridge School of Agriculture (SSA) plays a vital role in advancing the College’s and University’s strategic goals in agriculture, horticulture and soils through three focus areas: soil and environmental health; sustainable farming and landscapes; and plant health. SSA functions as a full University department. We offer excellent 4-year undergraduate degree programs (on-campus and online), solid graduate education and research, and significant knowledge transfer and translation of our applied research through collaborations with UMass Extension and CAFE. Uniquely, SSA also offers highly applied 2-year AS degrees. SSA contributes to UMass’s ranking as a top Agricultural University nationally and globally (US News) and is committed to fostering this globally recognized research success. We also continue to ensure excellent education in our areas of expertise for all students, particularly through highly ranked programs (DataUSA 2022) in Sustainable Food & Farming (no.1) and Turf (no. 6), and a large online program generating over $2 million total revenue.

Essential Functions

This position will include a robust research program that develops, evaluates, and applies innovative strategies for plant disease management, helping address the increasing complexity of plant disease challenges facing agricultural systems. The emergence and spread of new plant pathogens in both agricultural and urban landscape systems, and the failure of some existing management tools, driven in part by climate change, present new problems. At the same time, the rise of modern technologies to better understand plant pathogens and their ecology offers new opportunities to solve them.

The successful candidate will be expected to develop a nationally and internationally recognized research program focused on plant pathogens, integrating fundamental investigations of plant-microbe interactions with applied, translational approaches that deliver field-level disease management solutions. Although emphasis should be placed on horticultural and specialty crops of economic importance to Massachusetts and the Northeast region, research on other crops will also be considered.

Areas of research may include, but are not limited to, host resistance, biological control, plant-soil-microbe interactions, advanced diagnostic and genomic technologies, and precision disease management. Candidates with demonstrated expertise in applying state-of-the-art techniques—such as molecular, genomic, computational, AI/machine learning, and/or precision agriculture tools—to address both basic mechanisms and practical disease management challenges are especially encouraged to apply.

The candidate is expected to collaborate with SSA faculty across disciplines, faculty from other departments, UMass Extension educators, farmers, and other stakeholders to generate and disseminate research-based, practical solutions for emerging and economically significant plant diseases in Massachusetts and the Northeast region. We expect this position will strengthen SSA’s cross-disciplinary capacity in plant-microbe-soil systems and contribute to the resilience of regional food and landscape systems.

Other Functions

Work collaboratively and effectively to promote teamwork, equality and inclusiveness.

Work in partnership with colleagues within the CNS community and across the campus to support the Dean’s strategic priorities.

Perform other duties as assigned in support of the mission and goals of the College of Natural Sciences.

Minimum Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Plant Pathology, Plant Health, Microbiology, or a closely related field (required by appointment start date).
• Postdoctoral experience or equivalent research experience is desirable.
• Demonstrated expertise in plant pathology, plant health, plant disease ecology, or plant-microbe interactions.
• Strong evidence of research productivity (publications, presentations, grants).
• Experience or demonstrated potential for securing extramural funding.
• Teaching experience or potential to teach and mentor effectively at the undergraduate and graduate level.
• Excellent communication and collaborative skills.

Additional Details

Candidates may be invited to describe how their work aligns with the university’s values and strategic goals, found in the Inclusive Excellence : College of Natural Sciences : UMass Amherst, and For the Common Good - 2024-2034 : Strategic Plan : UMass Amherst. These reflections offer insight into how applicants foster respectful collaboration, support student success, and contribute to an inclusive academic environment. This information is not used to exclude candidates, but to better understand their potential to advance departmental and institutional priorities. Search committees may request these reflections from candidate/applicants within the cover letter, teaching or research statements, as appropriate.

Working Conditions

Work is primarily performed in an indoor university environment and involves lifting and transporting materials or equipment and general physical activity, including prolonged standing, walking, or assuming low postures.

Work Schedule and Work Arrangement

The preferred start date is as early as possible (ideally February 1, 2027). However, the start date is negotiable, and candidates who prefer a later appointment, including a start date as late as September 1, 2027, are encouraged to discuss their availability.

Salary Information

The expected salary range for this position is between $79,350 and $122,191.

Please Note

The low-end of the pay range in all faculty searches at the University of Massachusetts Amherst is the minimum salary for the rank included in the collective bargaining agreement between the University and the Massachusetts Society of Professors, UMass Amherst/MTA/NEA.

The high-end of the pay range reflects an increase above the median of salaries at this rank within the department for faculty who may have multiple years of faculty experience.

The specific pay for this position will be determined by the University based on consideration of all relevant factors when and if it decides to extend and offer of employment.