Hello ECOLOG,

Please find below the job announcement for a tenure-track Molecular
Microbial Ecologist at Michigan State University.

Cheers,
Ashley Shade


POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT

Molecular Microbial Ecologist
DEPARTMENT OF PLANT, SOIL AND MICROBIAL SCIENCES
DEPARTMENT OF MICROBIOLOGY AND MOLECULAR GENETICS
MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY

MISSION: Explore the interface of microbial ecology, genomics, and microbial
mediated processes in the context of basic and applied questions in
agroecosystems (including plants and soils) and other managed or natural
environments. 

Microbial Ecology. PSM, MMG and MSU faculty have been international leaders
in this area for decades through the Center for Microbial Ecology. Faculty
such as Bonito, Cole, Dazzo, Evans, Friesen, Hashsham, Lenski, Marsh,
Reguera, Rose, Schrenk, Shade, Tiemann, Tiedje and Walker form a strong core
in microbial ecology at MSU, and link with other MSU faculty members who
apply microbial ecology to problems in plant stress resilience,
bioremediation and pollutant fate, plant pathology, human health,
biogeochemistry, and more.
 
Position: The Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences and the
Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics invite applications for a
9- month, tenure-track position at the rank of Associate or Assistant
Professor in microbial ecology with experience in using technological
advances in genomics and applications in the field to study agricultural,
managed or natural ecosystems. The position is 75% research and 25%
teaching. The position is funded by AgBioResearch and the General Fund.
 
Responsibilities and Performance Expectations: The successful candidate is
expected to develop a vigorous research program in microbial ecology,
emphasizing research using genomics approaches, sequencing analyses, and
other new approaches to characterize microbial communities and their
interactions with other organisms and the environment. The candidate should,
ideally, have experience with bioinformatics. Research will contribute to
programs that integrate faculty across the microbiological and ecological
disciplines to address the interactions of microorganisms with plants,
animals, water, and soils (cell to cell interactions) including elucidating
the molecular mechanisms that control these interactions. Environmental
analyses of microbial ecosystems often incorporate concepts that require a
fundamental understanding of ecosystem functions, community interactions,
and environmental microbiomes, allowing questions related to biodiversity,
systems analysis, and complexity to be explored. 

Candidates are welcome who use molecular approaches to work in any area of
microbial ecology. However, preference may be given to researchers who
address basic and applied questions in agroecosystems (including plants and
soils) and other managed environments. The candidate should, ideally, have
interests and the ability to work in interdisciplinary teams. 
The person filling this position will be responsible for teaching modules in
undergraduate courses that address microbial ecology and will develop and
teach a graduate course in an area of expertise. 

Qualifications: Applicants must have an earned doctorate in microbiology,
ecology or a closely related field, and show evidence of excellence in
research and teaching through scholarly activities, and postdoctoral
research experience. Candidates are expected to emphasize microbial ecology
in their research, with additional expertise in metagenomics techniques,
molecular tools, and bioinformatics, focusing on agricultural systems (soil,
plants and water) or other managed and natural environments. Candidates
should have a strong research record, an interest in multidisciplinary
research and concerned commitment to teaching and graduate education. There
should be a demonstrated ability to obtain competitive external grants in
support of research and/or educational programs and experiential teaching.
The successful candidate is expected to have strong communication skills. 

Application Procedure: Qualified individuals should submit: a) a letter of
application; b) a statement of research and teaching interests; c)
curriculum vitae; d) a summary of your experience with diversity in the
classroom and/or in your research endeavors, any experience mentoring
diverse students, and an explanation of how you will contribute to our goals
of inclusive excellence; and e) names and contact information for three
references. Applications for this position should be submitted online at
https://careers.msu.edu (posting #454097). Review of applications will begin
October 1, 2017 and continue until the position is filled. Inquiries about
the position should be addressed to Dr. Joan B. Rose (ros...@msu.edu), Chair
of the Search Committee. 

MSU is a land-grant university and one of the top research universities in
the world committed to engagement and solving community and global problems.
The Department of Plant, Soil, and Microbial Sciences, (formed more than 5
years ago from the merger of Departments of Crop and Soil Sciences and Plant
Pathology) is an internationally recognized department of more than 50
faculty members, with diverse interests spanning applied and fundamental
research. With more than 150 microbial and plant science faculty at MSU—
including vast expertise in microbe-soil-plant interactions—collaborative
opportunities in the areas of microbial ecology and evolution,
biogeochemistry, agricultural ecology, genomics, hydrology, environmental
engineering, biochemistry, and soil, water and ecosystem sciences exist. The
Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics (MMG) is one of the
largest and oldest microbiology departments in the country, home to over 50
faculty members, almost 300 undergraduate majors, about 50 graduate
students. MMG is at the forefront of the new and exciting discoveries being
made in microbial ecology, microbial pathogenesis, molecular genetics,
virology, genomics, immunology and cancer. 

Opportunities for this position arise through work with AgBioResearch and
adjunct appointments in university-level programs include Sustainable
Agriculture and Food Systems, Institute of Environmental Toxicology;
Ecology, Evolutionary Biology and Behavior; and Environmental Science and
Policy Program. Access to diverse research support is available. Other
opportunities for collaboration include the KBS Long-Term Ecological
Research site, the BEACON Center for the Study of Evolution in Action, and
the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center. 

MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer. MSU is committed
to achieving excellence through a diverse workforce and inclusive culture
that encourages all people to reach their full potential. The University
actively encourages applications and/or nominations of women, persons of
color, veterans and persons with disabilities. 

College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences
1066 Bogue St. A286 Plant and Soil Science Bldg. Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824-6254
517-353-0271

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