What are the responsibilities and job description for the Assistant Professor Potato and Sugarbeet Pathology position at North Dakota State University?
The Department of Plant Pathology, Microbiology, and Biotechnology (PPMB) invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position. The successful applicant will: 1) join over two-dozen faculty in a recently merged department with established histories of high-quality and high-impact research and Extension with excellent undergraduate and graduate programs, 2) join a team of collaborative pathologists and other scientists working to help the industry produce and protect potatoes and sugarbeets, and 3) collaborate with a broader team of public- and private-sector professionals and stakeholders. The successful candidate will be eligible for nomination to the John T. Nordgaard Endowed Faculty Professorship, which provides support for salary, potato pathology research, graduate student stipends, and teaching.
Responsibilities: The appointment is 80% research (North Dakota Agriculture Experiment Station), 10% teaching (College of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Natural Resources) and 10% service. The successful candidate will develop and lead a regionally-, nationally- and internationally-recognized research program that addresses established and emerging diseases that threaten the production, storage and profitability of potatoes and sugarbeets. The position is open to all areas of plant disease research, with opportunities to collaborate and conduct complementary research with faculty, USDA researchers and other university researchers working on potato and sugarbeet pathology. The successful applicant will advise graduate students, teach in areas that utilize their expertise and fit the needs of the department, engage in outreach to stakeholders, and contribute service to PPMB, NDSU and professional societies.
Qualifications: Minimum qualifications are: an earned Ph.D. in plant pathology or a closely related field with extensive background in plant pathology at the time of hire; demonstrated ability to conduct and publish research in high-quality and relevant journals; demonstrated experience in applied research; strong communication skills (interpersonal, written, verbal, etc.); capacity to work effectively, cooperatively, and collegially with a diverse population of stakeholders, colleagues, students, and scientists from other disciplines. Preferred qualifications are: professional experience beyond a Ph.D. (such as post-doc or industry); demonstrated experience obtaining extramural funding and publishing refereed journal articles from such funding; demonstrated experience using modern and traditional techniques for potato/sugarbeet disease research; evidence of effective teaching and/or pedagogical training; experience mentoring and/or managing students and/or staff.
Application: Review of applications will begin October 20, 2026. Applicants must apply online: ndsu.edu/employment/joblist
A complete application will include:
An application letter that describes your research and teaching interests relative to the position and how the minimum and preferred qualifications are met (max. 2 pages).
Curriculum vitae (max. 10 pages).
Name and contact information for three professional references.
Direct Questions to: Dr. Samuel Markell, Search Committee Chair at samuel.markell@ndsu.edu
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