Assistant Professor of Vegetable Crop Production

The Department of Plant Sciences in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at the University of California, Davis is recruiting an Assistant Professor Vegetable Crop Productions. This is an academic year (9-month), tenure track Assistant Professor position that includes an appointment in the California Agricultural Experiment Station (AES). Faculty members who hold an Agricultural Experiment Station appointment have a responsibility to conduct research and outreach relevant to the mission of the California Agricultural Experiment Station. Participation in outreach programs and performance of university service are also expected.

The appointee is expected to establish a competitively funded research program to address critical or emerging issues in Vegetable Crop Production. Applicants with experience and accomplishments in other systems that can be applied towards vegetable crop production in California and internationally are encouraged to apply. Research areas may include but are not limited to vegetable crop production systems, climate resilience, sustainable soil, water, and nutrient management practices, technological advances such as AI and remote sensing, weed management, crop quality, food safety, and human nutrition. Interdisciplinary partnerships with other UC researchers, UC ANR, and beyond are expected to develop holistic solutions for the future. The appointee will be responsible for teaching courses in plant sciences that support vegetable production systems. Typical teaching expectations include serving as instructor of record for 2.5 courses per year on average, with specific course assignments determined in consultation with the Department Chair and Vice Chair for Instruction and Curriculum. Potential courses include Organic Crop Production (PLS 049) and Crop Management Practices in Vegetable Crop Production (PLS 110) with additional opportunities for co-teaching in large enrollment undergraduate courses (e.g., Just Coffee, PLS 007V, Botany and Physiology of Cultivated Plants, PLS2) as well as upper level undergraduate (e.g., Environmental Interactions of Cultivated Plants, PLS 100C) and graduate courses (e.g., Horticulture & Agronomy: Practices, HRT 200B) in Plant Sciences and related disciplines. The candidate is expected to be active in graduate student advising and undergraduate student mentoring and curricular development. Participation in and development of public outreach and/or community engagement programs, and performance of departmental and university service is expected. This position is expected to collaborate with Cooperative Extension Specialists and Advisors, partners in allied industries or other appropriate public stakeholders.

This recruitment is conducted at the assistant rank. The resulting hire will be at the assistant rank, regardless of the proposed appointee's qualifications.

Initial review of applications will be conducted using anonymized versions of the Statement of Research Accomplishments and Interests. Applications demonstrating sufficient potential based on this review will be advanced to full review.

A. Basic qualification: Ph.D. or equivalent in a field of Plant Sciences, Horticulture, Agronomy, Agroecology or relevant discipline at the time of appointment.

B. Evidence of organizational skills relevant to the development of a successful research, teaching and outreach program in discipline.

C. Evidence of scholarship during graduate or post-graduate activities.

D. Demonstrated ability or potential to obtain extramural support for research activities.

E. Demonstrated ability or potential to develop and instruct undergraduate and graduate courses and to present information to scientific audiences.

F. Willingness and interest to advise undergraduates.

G. Demonstrated ability or potential and interest to mentor M.S. and Ph.D. students.

H. Evidence of communication skills and collegiality consistent with effective departmental, campus and professional citizenship.

I. Interest, understanding, and commitment to the objectives of a land-grant university and the Agricultural Experiment Station including mission-oriented research and a substantive outreach engagement programming.

• 4-6 required (contact information only)

The names, addresses, including e-mail, of four professional references (not from UC Davis). Two addtional optional references may be from UCDavis.

As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct, are currently being investigated for misconduct, left a position during an investigation for alleged misconduct, or have filed an appeal with a previous employer.

• "Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer.
• UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
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• APM - 035: Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment

To implement this process, UC Davis requires all applicants for any open search to complete, sign, and upload the form entitled, "Authorization to Release Information" into UC RECRUIT as part of their application. If an applicant does not include the signed authorization with the application materials, the application will be considered incomplete, and as with any incomplete application, will not receive further consideration.

UC Davis is a smoke and tobacco-free campus (http://breathefree.ucdavis.edu/).

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state for federal law.

Under Federal law, the University of California may employ only individuals who are legally able to work in the United States as established by providing documents as specified in the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. Certain UC Davis positions funded by federal contracts or sub-contracts require the selected candidate to pass an E-Verify check. More information is available at: http://www.uscis.gov/e-verify

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As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.