Research Assistant Professor - Career

Washington State University; Pullman (WA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 86,000; Full time

Job summary

Washington State University invites applications for a full-time Research Assistant Professor in Pullman, WA. The role focuses on economic entomology and ecological pest management, using digital agriculture, predictive modeling, and weather resilience to help growers manage pests across specialty crops.

The position is 12-month, fixed-term with possible renewal, starting Spring 2027, and involves field, data, and modeling work with diverse crops and stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated expertise in phenology modeling, integrated pest management, insect biology, pesticide chemistry and application, digital agriculture, AI, and climate research.
• Evidence of work across multiple agricultural cropping systems relevant to Washington crops.

Responsibilities

• Design and conduct research addressing pest population dynamics and phenology.
• Develop predictive pest-management models using weather and climate data.
• Create decision-support tools for growers and publish findings.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams and mentor students.

Education

Ph.D. in life-science

Tools

R

Python

GIS

Remote sensing

Job description

Online applications must be received before 11:59pm on:

November 19, 2026

Available Title(s):

155-NN_FACULTY - Research Assistant Professor - Career, 155-YN_FACULTY - Research Assistant Professor - Career

Business Title:

Research Assistant Professor - Career

Employee Type:

Faculty (+) (Fixed Term)

Position Term:

12 Month

Position Details:

The Opportunity:

The Department of Entomology at Washington State University invites applications for a full-time Research Assistant Professor, career-track faculty position in Pullman, Washington, specializing in economic entomology and ecological pest management. The successful candidate will use digital agriculture, predictive modeling, and research on resilience to weather variability to develop practical tools that help Washington growers rapidly and precisely manage insect pests, pathogens, and diseases across specialty-crop systems. This is a 12-month, fixed-term appointment for 1 year with the possibility of renewal, contingent upon satisfactory performance and continued availability of grant and contract funding. The anticipated start date for this appointment is during the Spring 2027 semester, subject to departmental needs and hiring timelines.

Job duties:

The anticipated workload is 100% Research. The successful candidate will design and conduct research addressing pest population dynamics, phenology, integrated pest management, and the effects of weather and climate variability on agricultural systems. The position will integrate field-monitoring, environmental, and crop data with digital agriculture, artificial intelligence, and predictive modeling to develop and validate practical decision support tools for growers. The candidate will conduct research across multiple cropping systems, including potato, tree fruit, small fruits, grains, hops, alfalfa, and vegetable seed crops; publish findings in peer-reviewed outlets; present results to scientific and stakeholder audiences; collaborate with growers, commodity groups, Extension professionals, agencies, and interdisciplinary research teams; contribute to grant and contract proposals and project reporting; and mentor students or research personnel as appropriate.

Additional Information:

Annual Salary:

$70,000 - $86,000 | Commensurate with experience and qualifications

Benefits:

WSU offers a comprehensive benefits package which includes paid sick and vacation leave; paid holidays; medical, dental, life and disability insurance package for employees and dependents; retirement; deferred compensation, optional supplemental retirement accounts. For additional information, please review the detailed Summary of Benefits offered by WSU for Faculty and Total Compensation.

Position Sponsorship Eligibility: May be eligible for work visa sponsorship

About WSU, Pullman, CAHNRS, and the Department of Entomology:

Washington State University is a land-grant, multiple-campus Research 1 institution. This position will serve on the Pullman campus, which has an enrollment of approximately 20,000 students and is located in southeastern Washington on the homelands of the Nimíipuu (Nez Perce) Tribe and Palus people. Located about 80 miles south of Spokane, Pullman is also near the Idaho panhandle and Moscow Mountain. The rolling hills of the Palouse offer a wide range of activities and a four season climate. The area provides access to the cultural and academic resources of both Washington State University and the University of Idaho in neighboring Moscow, Idaho. For information about the region, visit https://pullmanchamber.com.

The College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences provides research, teaching, and Extension programs that support Washington agriculture, communities, natural resources, and human well-being. Learn more at https://cahnrs.wsu.edu.

For more than 50 years, the WSU Department of Entomology has contributed solutions to important agricultural and ecological problems in Washington and beyond. Its faculty lead nationally recognized programs in biological control, arthropod integrated pest management and education, pollinator biology, decision-support systems, and pesticide education. Faculty are located in Pullman and at Research and Extension Centers across Washington, providing access to laboratories, grower fields, and diverse specialty-crop systems. Learn more at https://entomology.wsu.edu.

Area/College: College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences (CAHNRS)
Department Name: Department of Entomology
Location: Pullman, WA

Required Qualifications:

• An earned Ph.D. in a life-science discipline by the position start date.
• Demonstrated skills and expertise in phenology modeling, integrated pest management, insect biology, pesticide chemistry and application, digital agriculture, artificial intelligence, and climate-change research.
• Demonstrated expertise working across multiple agricultural cropping systems, including but not limited to potato, tree fruit, small fruits, grains, hops, alfalfa, and vegetable seed crops.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct independent research and work collaboratively with interdisciplinary teams and agricultural stakeholders.
• Demonstrated written and oral communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated research experience in economic entomology, ecological pest management, or a closely related field.
• Experience integrating field-monitoring, environmental, weather, climate, and crop data to develop or validate predictive pest-management models.
• Experience developing practical digital decision-support tools or recommendations for agricultural producers.
• Experience with statistical analysis, geographic information systems, remote sensing, sensor data, or programming tools such as R or Python.
• Knowledge of specialty-crop production systems important to Washington State or the Pacific Northwest.
• Record of peer-reviewed publications appropriate to the candidate’s career level.
• Experience preparing competitive grant or contract proposals and supporting externally funded research projects.
• Experience collaborating with growers, commodity organizations, government agencies, Extension professionals, and interdisciplinary research teams.
• Experience communicating research findings to technical and nontechnical audiences through publications, presentations, workshops, reports, or digital platforms.
• Experience mentoring or supervising students, postdoctoral researchers, or other research personnel.

Background Check: This position has been designated by the department to require a background check because it requires access to children or vulnerable adults as defined by RCW 74.34, engages in law enforcement, requires security clearance, interacts with WSU students in a counseling or advising capacity, has access to personal identifying and/or financial information, unsupervised access to university buildings/property, or other business-related need. A background check will not be completed until an initial determination of qualification for employment has been made.

Time Type: Full time

Washington State University encourages all qualified candidates to apply, including members of the military and veterans, and persons with disabilities.

WSU employs only U.S. citizens and lawfully authorized non-U.S. citizens. All new employees must show employment eligibility verification as required by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

WSU is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, education and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact Human Resource Services: 509-335-4521 (v), Washington State TDD Relay Service: Voice Callers: 1-800-833-6384; TDD Callers: 1-800-833-6388, 509-335-1259(f), or [e-mail].

Notice of Non-Discrimination

In matters of admission, employment, housing or services, or in the educational programs or activities it operates, WSU does not discriminate or permit discrimination by any member of its community against any individual on the basis of sex, race, color, national or ethnic origin, physical disability, mental disability, sensory disability, use of a trained service animal, age, religion, creed, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, honorably discharged veteran, member of the military, or immigration or citizenship status except as authorized by federal or state law, regulation, or government contract.

Inquiries about the application of federal and state laws and regulations (including inquiries regarding the application of Title IX, ADA/Section 504, and implementing regulations), as well as reports and complaints of discrimination and harassment, can be made verbally or in writing to WSU’s Compliance and Civil Rights, the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights, or both.

More information, resources, and contact information are available here: https://ccr.wsu.edu/notice-of-nondiscrimination/