Assistant Professor - Organic Horticulture/Agronomic and Alternative Crops
Position Description:
This is a new, 12-month, tenure-track faculty position, held jointly by the
departments of Horticulture (70%) and Agronomy (30%). The position will
be housed in Horticulture with responsibilities of 70% extension and 30%
research. The extension specialist will be responsible for implementing an
interdisciplinary outreach program directed at commercial sustainable
systems for many of the field grown horticulture and agricultural crops in
Iowa. In the spirit of sustainable systems the successful candidate will
be expected to address issues of economic viability, environmental and
natural resource conservation and protection, and social impact.
Sustainable and alternative field crops and systems may include, but will
not be limited to, organic farming, corn, soybeans, small grains,
vegetables, fruits, ornamentals and turf, living mulch, and alternative
cropping systems. The specialist will generate and provide technical
cropping information for new and existing markets, but will not be directly
responsible for marketing initiatives. The successful applicant will be
expected to obtain external funding to support a research program
complementing their extension effort in sustainable crops. Promotion and
tenure will be contingent on demonstration of scholarly activity in both
the extension and research components of the position.
Start Date:
January 1, 1997.
Qualifications:
Ph.D. in horticulture, agronomy, or a related agricultural or biological
science. Training and experience in extension and diverse cropping systems
is desirable.
Salary:
Salary will be commensurate with training and experience. An excellent
benefits package will include life, health, and disability insurance. The
retirement plan is TIAA/CREF or IPERS.
Application:
Submit a letter of application that includes specific extension and
research interests, a resume, college transcripts, and publication
reprints. Request three colleagues to submit letters of reference. Also
provide names, addresses, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses of references
with the application. Submit all materials to:
Dr. David D. Minner
Associate Professor and Search Committee Chairperson
Department of Horticulture
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011-1100
phone: (515) 294-5726, fax: (515) 294-0730, e-mail: dminner@iastate.edu
Application Deadline:
December 1, 1996 or until a suitable candidate is found.
Departmental Profiles:
Iowa is a leader in agriculture and was the first state to accept the terms
of the federal Morrill Act in 1864. The Leopold Center for Sustainable
Agriculture, developed under the Iowa Groundwater Protection Act of 1987
and located on the Iowa State University campus, is a source of competitive
funding and information. Iowa State's baccalaureate horticulture program
is ranked #1 in the Midwest and #3 nationally by the Gourman Report.
The Department of Horticulture is academic home to over 210 undergraduate
majors who specialize in one of six curricular options: nursery production
and management, environmental horticulture, floriculture/greenhouse
production, science, fruit and vegetable production and management, and
turfgrass management. A growing graduate program offers the M.S. and Ph.D.
to majors in horticulture or to students in interdepartmental majors in
plant physiology, genetics, water resources, and molecular cellular and
developmental biology.
Situated on a park-like campus 30 miles north of Des Moines, the Department
of Horticulture is equipped with modern educational and research
facilities. Students and staff use over 26,000 square feet of greenhouse
space adjacent to Horticulture Hall. The 227-acre Horticulture Station,
nine miles northeast of Ames, provides excellent opportunities for field
research. A new, multi-million-dollar public garden facility on campus
also is available for ornamentals education, research, and outreach.
Computer facilities to support teaching and research are exceptional. The
College of Agriculture's Brenton Center, the university's Center for
Teaching Excellence, and a state-wide fiber-optics network facilitate
on-campus and distance education.
The mission of the Iowa State University Department of Horticulture is to
create and maintain relevant research, teaching, and extension programs.
Providing students with educational experiences of the highest caliber is a
fundamental departmental goal to which all of the faculty are committed.
Iowa State University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.
Women, minorities, and members of other protected groups are encouraged to
apply.