Position:                      Assistant Professor, Vegetable Crop Physiology/Biochemistry (12-month, tenure-track)

Location:        Department of Plant Sciences, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN

Effective Date: Screening of applicants will begin on January 30, 2019 and continue until the position is filled. The anticipated start date is July 1, 2019, or as negotiated.

Overview: This position is a 20% teaching and 80% research appointment in the Department of Plant Sciences at the University of Tennessee, Institute of Agriculture. The successful candidate will establish a nationally-recognized research program in plant physiology/biochemistry of vegetable crops in controlled and/or protected environments.

Primary Responsibilities: The physiological, environmental and genetic interactions basic to plant nutrition and development and their impact on the nutritive value (including primary and secondary metabolites) of vegetable crops for human nutrition are expected to be a major focus of the program. The successful candidate will provide leadership in this area while interacting and working cooperatively with scientists at the University of Tennessee, other universities, government agencies and private companies. The candidate will be expected to seek extramural funding, to publish in refereed journals, to present research findings, to participate in relevant scientific societies, and to actively participate in graduate student mentoring. The primary teaching expectation is to teach PLSC 333 (Plant Physiology & Nutrition) annually. Additional teaching responsibilities may include contributing to PLSC 210 (Horticulture: Principles & Practices), advising undergraduate students in the Plant Sciences major, and/or contributing to a graduate course related to the candidate’s area of expertise.

Required Qualifications:

• The candidate must have an earned doctorate by date of hire in Horticulture, Crop Science, Plant Science/Biology or a closely related discipline with coursework and research experience in plant physiology/biochemistry.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct controlled and/or protected environment research at the whole plant level.
• Demonstrated ability to interact effectively with diverse faculty, students and clientele.

Desired Qualifications:

• Advanced knowledge of vegetable crop production systems.
• Teaching experience at the collegiate level.
• Experience with grant writing.
• Familiarity with modern plant molecular techniques.

Support: The candidate's lab will reside in a multi-disciplinary plant biotechnology research building. Three large, state-of-the-art greenhouse facilities that support faculty research and teaching are located on the University of Tennessee campus, totaling 22,000 square feet. Additional greenhouse, high tunnel, and field research facilities are located on University of Tennessee Research and Education Centers in Knoxville, Crossville, and other locations throughout the state. Growth chamber facilities to support faculty research are located in the Phytotron on the ground floor of the Plant Biotechnology Building.

The University of Tennessee Knoxville (UTK) is the state’s flagship research institution, a campus of choice for outstanding undergraduate and graduate students. As a land-grant university, it is committed to excellence in scholarship, learning and service and aims to enrich and elevate society. Knoxville is situated in a valley between the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Cumberland Plateau, areas of great beauty and among the most bio-diverse in the USA. Knoxville is a city of 200,000 offering many amenities of urban life. Knoxville has a beautiful and walkable downtown, active neighborhoods, and eclectic cultural activities, restaurants, and shopping. Trip Advisor recently named Knoxville a Top Ten Destination on the Rise. Knoxville is located within easy driving distance to Asheville, Atlanta, and Nashville. The Knoxville campus of the University of Tennessee is seeking candidates who have the ability to contribute in meaningful ways to the diversity and intercultural goals of the University.

Salary and benefits are competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience. Benefits available include group medical insurance, dental insurance, group and individual life insurance, long-term disability insurance, workers’ compensation, retirement plan with UT contribution, sick leave, annual leave, paid holidays and administrative leave days, unemployment compensation, educational discounts, and use of University Services.

To apply send a cover letter that includes a 1-page statement of research accomplishments/interests and a 1-page statement of teaching philosophy or approach, a C.V., unofficial copies of all college transcripts, and the names, e-mail addresses and phone numbers of five professional references as a single PDF file by e-mail to Ms. Dawn Seigel, dbrown10@utk.edu. Inquiries regarding the position should be directed by e-mail to the chair of the search committee: Dr. David Butler, dbutler@utk.edu.

All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment and admission without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, and parental status, or any other characteristic protected by federal or state law. In accordance with the requirements of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the University of Tennessee affirmatively states that it does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, or disability in its education programs and activities, and this policy extends to employment by the university. Inquiries and charges of violation of Title VI (race, color, and national origin), Title IX (sex), Section 504 (disability), the ADA (disability), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (age), sexual orientation, or veteran status should be directed to the Office of Equity and Diversity, 1840 Melrose Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37996-3560, telephone 865-974-2498. Requests for accommodation of a disability should be directed to the ADA Coordinator at the Office of Equity and Diversity.