Job Description

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) is seeking a Nursery Production Specialist for the Hampton Roads Agricultural Research and Extension Center (HRAREC) in Virginia Beach, VA. This is a full time 9 or 12-month (to be determined by the successful candidate) Assistant Professor, tenure track faculty position in Nursery Production, and a tenure home in the School of Plant and Environmental Sciences.
The Nursery Production Specialist is expected to maintain a highly productive research and statewide extension program in nursery crop production with relevance to the vision and mission of HRAREC and in support of the nursery industry in Virginia.
Potential research areas include water use, water quality, irrigation management, nutrient management, propagation, evaluating new plant introductions, remote sensing, precision agriculture, agrichemical management and remediation, including development and evaluation of best management practices, and/or physiochemical properties of soilless substrates. The candidate's research and extension programs are expected to engage with stakeholders across Virginia, the SmartFarm Innovation Network, and the Center for Advanced Innovation in Agriculture (CAIA) and effectively collaborate with the ARECs and Blacksburg campus faculty and Virginia Cooperative Extension agents through other Virginia Tech initiatives as appropriate
Responsibilities: The primary responsibility of this position is to assist the Virginia nursery industry in improving resource efficiency, optimizing production, and minimizing environmental impacts while ensuring sustainable revenues. The Nursery Production Specialist will also provide expertise in current and future integrated research and extension programs focused on critical issues in the production and use of nursery crops.
Expectations include successful recruiting and mentoring of graduate students to degree completion, working collaboratively with Virginia Cooperative Extension agents and specialists, and developing cooperative partnerships with external stakeholders. The individual will support Virginia Cooperative Extension through in-service training and by disseminating information via social media, extension publications, presentations, newsletters and other means to producers, extension agents and others affiliated with the nursery industry. Guest lectures are also encouraged to support existing undergraduate and graduate courses. Participation in institutional and professional service activities that align with the candidate's strengths will also be expected. In combination, the successful candidate's career will contribute to the national and global recognition of HRAREC and expansion of Virginia Tech's reputation in this domain.

Required Qualifications

* An earned Ph.D. in horticulture, agriculture or related discipline that will support a highly competitive research and extension program in Nursery Production
* Demonstrated skills in oral and written communication,
* Demonstrated publication record
* Demonstrated ability to develop and conduct scholarly research, both independently and collaboratively.

Preferred Qualifications

* Knowledge of nursery production
* Demonstrated research and/or extension programming that contributes to the growth of digital agriculture
* Demonstrated success in obtaining extramural support from commodity and industry groups, governmental agencies, and/or foundations

Regular

Salary Information

Commensurate with experience

Review Date

July 3, 2023

Additional Information

Applications should include:
* The completed on-line application
* A formal, concise cover letter summarizing the applicant's qualifications fitting the position (2-page max)
* A statement of research interests, extension philosophy and programming interests (2-page max)
* A current curriculum vitae, and a complete list of research and extension publications and grants; and
* Three (3) names and contact information of references who can assess the candidate's qualifications for this position.
For questions regarding the search, please contact:
Alejandro Del-Pozo, Ph.D., Chair
Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist
Hampton Roads Agricultural Research and Extension Center
Department of Entomology
Virginia Tech
adelpozo@vt.edu

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

About Virginia Tech

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight , a , a college, , and . The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including the in Northern Virginia; the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke; sites in Newport News and Richmond; and numerous and . A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $500 million in research annually.