Assistant Professor – Plant Biotechnology. The Department of Horticulture at Oregon State University seeks applications for a 9-month tenure-track faculty position (55% Research and Scholarship, 25% Teaching, 15% Mentoring and Supervision, 5% Service). Summer salary will be provided for the first three years. This position will secure external funding, conduct research and discover new knowledge on genome editing, tissue culture, and functional gene analysis of specialty crops that are economically important to Oregon agriculture, possibly including hazelnut, potato, vegetables, nursery crops, mint, berries, wine grapes, and cannabis. Cooperation with Plant Breeding, Genetics and Genomics faculty, other plant science faculty, and industry stakeholders, is expected. Teach Plant Tissue Culture annually and offer an additional upper-level course based on candidate’s expertise and curriculum needs. Provide service on committees and to professional societies. This position is based on the main campus in Corvallis. The Department of Horticulture is a comprehensive department with active research, Extension, and resident instruction missions. The department serves a diverse and changing horticultural industry and strives to serve the horticultural needs of all citizens of Oregon. To meet these missions, the department has approximately 60 faculty, of which 60% are on-campus and 40% at off-campus locations. Off-campus faculty are located at Experiment Stations and County Extension offices throughout the state. Cooperators include USDA-Agricultural Research Service researchers. Applications are being accepted on-line until June 18, 2023. (https://jobs.oregonstate.edu/postings/137440).  For more information, contact search committee chair S. Mehlenbacher. 

Required Qualifications (7 items): 

Ph.D. in Genetics, Plant Science, Horticulture, Agronomy or other relevant discipline.
Research experience in modern gene editing tools. 

Research experience in micropropagation and other plant tissue culture techniques. 

Potential to develop academic research and teaching programs in gene editing and functional analysis.

Potential to secure extramural funding.

Demonstrable commitment to promoting and enhancing diversity as it relates to teaching and mentoring students, and collaborating on research projects with other scientists.

Demonstrated record of peer-reviewed publications, and strong scientific writing and technical presentation skills (in English). 

Preferred qualifications (9 items): 

Experience with gene functional analysis and appropriate tissue culture techniques.

Research experience and interest in higher plants, especially specialty crops including hazelnut, potato, vegetables, nursery crops, mint, berries, wine grapes, and cannabis. 

Demonstrated ability to develop academic research and teaching programs in gene editing and functional analysis.

Demonstrated interest in trans-disciplinary research.

Demonstrated capacity for intellectual curiosity, creativity, leadership, and collaboration with local, regional, and national colleagues.

Demonstrated ability to secure extramural funding.

Demonstrated ability to communicate orally and in writing to stakeholder groups and the general public, work independently and cooperatively within a team, and work and communicate with colleagues.

Record of working with and leading underrepresented/underserved students or other audiences.

Life experience, education, or training that broadens capacity to equalize student success or impact underserved audiences.