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Associate Professor or Professor in Entomology and Endowed Chair in Urban and Structural Entomology

Employer
Texas A&M University Department of Entomology
Location
College Station, Texas
Salary
Commensurate with education and experience
Closing date
Nov 22, 2024
View more categoriesView less categories
Discipline
Life Sciences, Zoology, Other Life Science
Job Type
Faculty
Organization Type
Academia

Appointment: Nine-month tenured appointment, full-time with position duties of 30% Teaching, 60% Research, and 10% Service. Successful candidates with an exceptional scholarly record will also be considered for the Urban and Structural Entomology Endowed Chair and tenure upon hire as part of this opportunity. The position duties may change in accordance with Departmental needs in consultation with the Department Head. The anticipated start date is August 01, 2025.

Minimum Qualifications: Ph.D. or equivalent degree in Entomology or related biological science field with emphasis on insects and arthropods found in urban environments. It is expected that the incumbent will have a strong record of scholarly achievement with high quality research articles, evidence of successful mentorship and training of students and post-doctoral scientists, and a record of obtaining extramural support. The successful candidate will demonstrate the ability to collaborate in multidisciplinary teams and have excellent written and oral communication skills. It is highly desired for the incumbent to answer major questions in arthropod biology and deliver new tools and approaches to pest management, with special focus on urban and structural entomology.

Justification and Impact: This position builds on the Entomology Department’s established and growing strengths in urban and structural pest management. The Endowed Chair is expected to collaborate broadly within and outside of the Department of Entomology. The Endowed Chair in Urban and Structural Entomology is expected to be a leader in this field of entomology. The Endowed Chair is expected to be used to bridge basic scientific discoveries with the ultimate application of those discoveries through linkages with industry partners. The successful candidate’s research is expected to be highly competitive for funding from large federal agencies (USDA, NSF, and/or NIH), as well as other federal, state, and private agencies.

The Department of Entomology at Texas A&M University (TAMU) has a long history of excellence in developing practical methods of pest control and improving the lives of Texans; for example, changing the paradigm in agriculture to be less reliant on pesticides, and investigating new approaches that reduce arthropod-associated human health burdens. The development of more targeted methods of insect control has played a major role in advancing science and continues to serve as a cornerstone in integrated pest management programs. To build on these strengths, the department seeks to add a mid-career or senior faculty member as an Endowed Chair in Urban and Structural Entomology. Therefore, preference will be given to individuals who have effectively carried out work that addresses the Land Grant university’s mission.

General Duties and Responsibilities: The incumbent faculty member will have primary responsibility in developing an internationally recognized and extramurally funded research program in arthropods of urban and/or structural significance that elucidates new discoveries and methodologies that will have significant positive impacts on the scientific discipline, with the ultimate goal of providing new methods of control that can be implemented by arthropod pest management professionals. The Endowed Chair will be expected to develop strong ties with the pest control industry in the State of Texas, where some 3,000 companies exist that provide a wide range of home and commercial pest control services, and who, as a group, have contributed substantially to the creation of the Endowed Chair and funding the Rollins Urban and Structural Entomology Facility, a 10,000 square-foot research and training facility (https://entomology.tamu.edu/facilities), where the Endowed Chair and their program will be housed.

A 30% teaching appointment is defined by the Department as teaching two, 3-credit hour courses per year and a specialty course taught in alternate years. To fulfill this appointment, the incumbent faculty member will lead ENTO 403 Urban Entomology (3 credits) every spring semester, and will be responsible for developing an advanced course in their area of specialization. ENTO 681 is the seminar series for our graduate program, and faculty share this responsibility on a rotational basis to be the convener and organizer of ENTO 681. With a 60% research appointment, the incumbent faculty member will be responsible for publishing in quality peer-reviewed journals, participating in professional scientific meetings through the organization of symposia, conferences, and delivery of scientific papers. Successful training and mentoring of undergraduate and graduate students as well as post-doctoral research associates is expected. In addition, the incumbent is expected to work collaboratively with AgriLife Extension faculty and urban Extension program specialists to address applied research problems, and to review and help develop Extension education programs in urban and structural entomology. Department, College, University, and Professional service activities appropriate to each individual’s talents and skills are expected of all faculty, as are the expression of good citizenship through participation in department activities (seminars, faculty meetings, committee assignments and other associated activities), and the timely completion of professional development and human resources responsibilities.

Resources: Texas A&M University is a public, land-grant institution with high-quality academic units conducting research in critical areas impacting Texans. The successful candidate will be offered a competitive salary, a startup package and laboratory space, as well as access to facilities associated with Entomology, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. The candidate will have opportunities to collaborate with a broad range of TAMU System researchers and Extension members around the state. A generous benefits package accompanies all faculty positions with respect to access to health care, sick leave, and retirement benefits (see: http://employees.tamu.edu/benefits/).

Service and core research facilities are available through Texas A&M University https://vpr.tamu.edu/research-resources/core-facilities/ and through Texas A&M AgriLife Research https://agriliferesearch.tamu.edu/research-facilities-and-service-centers/.

Administrative Relationships: Supervision will be provided by the Department Head of Entomology, and the Vice Chancellor and Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Endowed Chairs serve a five-year term and are reviewed at the end of each term for re-appointment by the Vice Chancellor and Dean. The incumbent faculty member shall exhibit collegiality to all faculty, staff, students, clientele groups, and local administrators. Additionally, the candidate is expected to cooperate and collaborate with faculty (independent of affiliation) as appropriate to the successful execution of their general duties and responsibilities and in support of the Department of Entomology’s mission and goals.

Application: Applications will only be accepted online through Interfolio by visiting this website: apply.interfolio.com/156011. Applicants must submit: (1) a cover letter of interest, (2) a curriculum vita, (3) a personal statement to include philosophy and plans for research, teaching, and service, and (4) three professional references. Please provide a complete mailing address, email and phone number, and a brief statement of how each reference knows the candidate. To ensure full consideration, packages should be submitted by November 20th , 2024. Review of applications will begin after that date, and will continue until the position is filled. For questions regarding this position, email inquiries to the attention of Dr. Juliana Rangel, Search Committee Chair and Professor of Entomology, via Teresa Gold (teresa.gold@ag.tamu.edu).

Visit http://entomology.tamu.edu for more information about the department.

Texas A&M University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Veterans/Disability Employer committed to diversity. Texas A&M University is aware that attracting and retaining exceptional faculty often depends on meeting the needs of two careers and having policies that contribute to work‐life balance. For more information, visit https://employees.tamu.edu/ocrm/eeo or http://dof.tamu.edu/Faculty‐Resources/Faculty‐WorkLife

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