Job Description

Job Summary:

The Department of Plant and Agroecosystem Sciences in the College of Agricultural & Life Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, seeks a 9-month tenure track Assistant Professor of Weed Science to investigate novel approaches to weed management across a broad range of Wisconsin cropping systems. The incumbent will provide leadership in weed science teaching and design novel weed management systems that can enhance benefits and reduce risks to agriculture and the environment. The incumbent will have the opportunity to work on a broad range of Wisconsin cropping systems, including grain, forage, specialty and emerging crops. Research will document the efficacy and suitability of novel weed management approaches and estimate their impact on agroecosystem services such as crop productivity and water quality.

An integrative approach to research is needed in the development, evaluation, and implications of novel ecological weed management approaches alternative or complementary to conventional weed control methods (e.g., cropping systems diversification and intensification, ecological approaches to tolerate or suppress weeds, weed seed management, precision control methods, robotics technologies, etc.). Fundamental questions related to weed ecology could also be explored, such as the role of crop, community and ecosystem traits in weed colonization and competition, the role of soil health in weed community selection and development, and the role of ecological disruptions in crop-weed competition.

The position carries a commitment to instruction and research, as well as professional and university service as appropriate to the faculty rank. The incumbent will be expected to develop and grow a collaborative and extramurally funded research and teaching program recognized at state, regional, national, and international levels. Research efforts will form the foundation for a strong teaching and mentoring program that supports students across departments and colleges at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The incumbent will be expected to develop and teach courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels, including an upper-level course in weed biology, ecology and management. The incumbent will be expected to recruit and mentor graduate students.

The Department of Plant and Agroecosystem Sciences is committed to inclusivity and diversity; therefore, we strongly encourage applications from candidates who foster and promote these values.

Responsibilities:

The candidate will be expected to:
1. Develop an independent, extramurally funded and recognized research program at the state, regional, national, and international levels.
2. Teach graduate and undergraduate students, commensurate with college expectations and consistent with the teaching loads of the department. Mentor students and promote their development and success in a collaborative environment.
3. Contribute to outreach and service functions of the department, college, university, and professional societies.
4. Contribute to programs aimed at increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion within the department, college, and university. Promote an inclusive and diverse climate within our campus and associated communities.
Institutional Statement on Diversity:

Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.

For more information on diversity and inclusion on campus, please visit: https://diversity.wisc.edu/

Requirements
PhD in Weed Science, Agronomy, Horticulture, Plant Science, Crop Science, Agroecology, or closely related discipline is required by the start date of the position.

Qualifications:

Candidate must have a strong foundation in the ecological principles and concepts of weed and agricultural sciences; and demonstrated ability to communicate (oral and written), teach, publish, and secure competitive funding.

Successful candidates will have a record of or demonstrate potential for:
i) Extramural grant-writing
ii) Publications in peer reviewed journals
iii) Graduate student training/mentoring
iv) Teaching and curriculum development
v) Contribution to the outreach and service functions of CALS
vi) Promoting an inclusive and diverse climate within our campus and associated communities

All requirements must be met by the start date.