Assistant Professor of Horticultural Cropping Systems - Virginia Tech : Job Details

Job no: 532664Work type: Teaching & Research FacultySenior management: Agriculture & Life SciencesDepartment: Eastern Shore ARECLocation: Painter, VirginiaCategories: Agriculture / Life Science

Job Description

Virginia Tech is inviting applications for an Assistant Professor of Commercial Vegetable Horticulture (9-month, tenure track position, 50% Research, 50% Extension) to be located at the Eastern Shore Agricultural Research and Extension Center (ESAREC). The position will have academic affiliation with the School of Plant and Environmental Sciences at Virginia Tech (SPES). Specific responsibilities will be to develop an innovative, nationally recognized research and extension program focused on commercial horticulture for vegetables and other potential crops for the Eastern Shore, Northern Neck, Southeast Virginia, and other parts of the Commonwealth where vegetable production is important. Large acreage vegetable crops include snap bean, potato, tomato, pumpkin, broccoli, among others. Programs should advance understanding of varieties, fumigation, irrigation, high tunnels, equipment, and introduce new crops to our state. Innovative technologies, to develop management practices, should be utilized within the SmartFarm Innovation NetworkTM. The incumbent is expected to secure funding to develop and implement a sustainable and dynamic program with targets to innovate current production systems, produce higher yield and/or high-quality vegetable products, and lead team efforts to increase vegetable economic outputs in Virginia. Research should be applicable to grower needs and publishable in refereed journals.

Candidates must demonstrate excellent communication skills and collaborate well with producers, farm consultants, researchers, extension agents, agribusiness personnel, and government agencies to develop and deliver educational programs. Scholarship must be demonstrated through peer-reviewed research and extension publications, recruiting, and advising graduate students, and securing extramural funding to support research and extension programs. Prior to employment, candidates must have an earned Ph.D. in Horticulture or a closely related field. Knowledge of production agriculture is expected.

Required Qualifications

Preferred Qualifications

Salary Information

$85,000 - $100,000; commensurate with experience

Review Date

April 23, 2025

Additional Information

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

About Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech is dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), and enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in various colleges. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $500 million in research annually.

Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of age, color, disability, sex, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, ethnicity or national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, or military status.

If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact Dr. Mark Reiter at [email protected] during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.

Advertised: March 12, 2025Applications close: Open until filled