Assistant Professor-Tenure System

About the Program

This position is a key component of the new Agricultural Climate Resiliency Program, a strategic partnership among Michigan State University (MSU), the Plant Coalition, and the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. The program aims to develop innovative solutions to long-term climate and water-related challenges facing agriculture. As part of an extensive cluster hire process, this role seeks to attract expertise critical to addressing these grand challenges within a well-established research and extension network.

About the Role

The successful candidate will serve as a full-time, 12-month tenure-track Assistant Professor with a split assignment of 60% research and 40% extension. Based in East Lansing, MI, you will lead the development and implementation of geospatial models across multiple scales. Your work will integrate remote sensing, vegetation, climate, and soil-sensor data to conduct hypothesis-driven research on climate-smart management practices.

Beyond research, you will build a forward-thinking extension program to advise farmers, industry advisors, and policymakers. This involves creating educational materials and toolboxes that demonstrate the return on investment for new management technologies, ultimately influencing change across the agricultural industry. Applicants with experience leveraging machine learning, neural networks, or artificial intelligence are particularly encouraged to apply.

About Michigan State University

Michigan State University is a top-tier global research university and a Land Grant institution with a park-like campus in East Lansing, adjacent to the state capital. MSU is home to a diverse community of scholars, students, and artists dedicated to regional, national, and international leadership in food, energy, water, and environmental research. The university is proactive in supporting work-life balance, including dual-career family opportunities, and is committed to accessibility for all employees and students.

Hiring Process & Application Instructions

The search committee will begin reviewing applications on November 30, 2024, and will continue until a suitable candidate is selected. Interested applicants must submit their materials online at careers.msu.edu; incomplete applications will not be considered.

Required application materials include:

• Cover letter
• Current curriculum vitae
• A 2-page description of how you will contribute to diversity, equity, and inclusion goals
• A 2-page statement of research
• A 2-page statement of extension/outreach philosophy
• Names and contact information for three professional references

For questions regarding this position, please contact the Search Committee Chair, Patrick Edger, at edgerpat@msu.edu.

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

Michigan State University occupies the ancestral lands of the Anishinaabeg – Three Fires Confederacy of Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi people. The College of Agriculture and Natural Resources is committed to creating an accessible and inclusive culture that values cultural and academic diversity. We are an equal opportunity employer and are particularly interested in candidates who are committed to the principle that academic excellence is achieved through open access and proactive inclusion.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, or protected veteran status.