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Assistant Professor of Urban Horticultural Crops

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Position description

The Department of Plant Sciences in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at the University of California, Davis is recruiting an Assistant Professor of Urban Horticultural Crops. The successful candidate should apply fundamental plant biological, crop physiological or ecological concepts in the context of urban ecosystem functioning. Potential areas of research could include, but are not limited to: environmental horticulture, urban agriculture, indoor food production, precision application of water and nutrients, the use of plants in sustainable green design, or ecological restoration of polluted lands. This is an academic year (9-month), Assistant Professor tenure-track position with teaching, research, outreach/engagement and service responsibilities and includes the expectation that the appointee will conduct mission-oriented research and outreach/engagement of relevance to the California Agricultural Experiment Station (http://caes.ucdavis.edu/research/agexpstn).

The appointee is expected to establish a competitively funded research program in urban horticulture to address critical or emerging scientific questions and/or societal issues in use of vegetation and vegetation management in urban areas. The successful candidate will collaborate with existing departmental and center/institute colleagues who have expertise in environmental horticulture and urban ecology, ecosystem restoration and management, crop production and management, plant physiology, and post-harvest biology, and with other colleagues on campus working on urban environments, including one other who is being hired as part of this urban horticultural cluster hire.

Responsibilities:
The appointee is expected to establish a competitively funded research program in studying basic concepts in plant biology and vegetation ecology to address critical or emerging scientific questions and/or societal issues in use of vegetation and vegetation management in urban areas. The appointee will be responsible for teaching undergraduate and graduate classes as assigned by the department chair, which will include Introduction to Environmental Plants (ENH 6), and Taxonomy and Ecology of Environmental Plant Families (ENH 105). Additional teaching may include classes in the Horticulture and Agronomy, Ecology and/or Geography graduate groups. The typical teaching expectation is two courses per year. Participation in departmental and university service is expected.

Qualifications:

Ph.D. or equivalent degree in plant science, horticulture, ecology, agronomy, soil science, or a related field. Post-doctoral experience is preferred. Evidence of research excellence is expected. The candidate should have the ability to develop and instruct undergraduate and graduate courses and the ability to develop and conduct extramurally funded research in the area of urban horticulture. Candidates with a willingness to build relationships with industry, community organizations and relevant State of California and federal agencies are desired.

Salary:
Commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Applications:
Application materials must be submitted via the following website: https://recruit.ucdavis.edu. The position will remain open until filled. To ensure consideration, applications should be received by January 31, 2018.

Required application materials include: 1) curriculum vitae including publication list, 2) up to three publications, 3) transcripts if the applicant is within five years of Ph.D. degree, 4) statement of research accomplishments, 5) statement of teaching accomplishments and philosophy, 6) statement of future research plans relevant to the position 7) Statement of Contributions to Diversity, and 8) the names, addresses, including e-mail, of four professional references. Additional inquiries should be directed to the Search Committee Chair, Astrid Volder (avolder@ucdavis.edu).

UC Davis supports Family-friendly recruitments. UC Davis covers travel expenses for a second person to accompany an invited faculty recruitment candidate who is a mother (or single parent of either gender) of a breast or bottle-feeding child less than two years of age. http://academicaffairs.ucdavis.edu/programs/worklife/index.html

UC Davis recognizes the necessity of supporting faculty with efforts to integrate work, family and other work‐ life considerations. To recruit and retain the best faculty, the campus sponsors a Work Life Program that provides programs and services that support faculty as they strive to honor their commitments to work, home and community. http://academicaffairs.ucdavis.edu/programs/worklife/index.htm

UC Davis was ranked #1 in 2016 on Forbes Magazine list of the 13 most important STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) universities for women, and is expecting to earn the U.S. Department of Education’s “Hispanic Serving Institution” designation by 2018-2019. Davis celebrates the multi-cultural diversity of its student body by creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for students through such organizations and programs as the Center for African Diaspora Student Success; the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual Resource Center; Casa Cuauhtémoc Chicano-Latino Theme House; Asian Pacific American Theme House; ME/SA (Middle astern/South Asian) living-learning community; Multi- Ethnic Program (MEP); Chicano/Latino Retention Initiative; and Native American Theme Program.

The UC Davis Partner Opportunities Program (POP) is a service designed to support departments and deans’ offices in the recruitment and retention of outstanding faculty. Eligibility for POP services is limited to full-time Academic Senate Ladder Rank faculty (including Lecturers with Security of Employment (LSOE), Lecturers with Potential Security of Employment (LPSOE) Senior Lecturer with Security of Employment (SLPSOE)), and Cooperative Extension Specialists.

UC Davis is a smoke- and tobacco-free campus effective January 1, 2014. Smoking, the use of smokeless tobacco products, and the use of unregulated nicotine products (e-cigarettes) will be strictly prohibited on any property owned or leased by UC Davis-- indoors and outdoors, including parking lots and residential space.

Application Requirements

Document requirements
  • Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.

  • Statement of Research

  • Statement of Teaching Accomplishments and Philosophy

  • Statement of Future Research Plans relevant to Urban Horticulture

  • Publication #1

  • Publication #2 (Optional)

  • Publication #3 (Optional)

  • Transcripts - Only needed if you are within five years of Ph.D. degree (Optional)

  • Statement of Contributions to Diversity - Diversity contributions documented in the application file will be used to evaluate applicants. Visit http://academicaffairs.ucdavis.edu/diversity/equity_inclusion/index.html for guidelines about writing a diversity statement and why one is requested.

Reference requirements
  • 4-5 required (contact information only)
2023 Forbes Award: Best Employers for Diversity 2023 Forbes Award: Best Employers for Women

Job location

Davis, CA