The Agronomy Department at Kansas State University seeks an Assistant Professor to join an interdisciplinary network of researchers, by providing a focus on the study, development, and application of synthetic microbial communities in the rhizosphere. The successful candidate's research program will involve designing, constructing, and evaluating microbial consortia to understand plant-microbe and microbe-microbe interactions and their impact on plant health, nutrient cycling, resilience to biotic and abiotic stress, and soil ecosystems. Possible areas of interest include plant symbioses with fungi or bacteria, endophytes, and rhizosphere microbes that enhance plant resilience to stressors, and the ecology of plant-microbe interactions, including community structure and dynamics. The candidate will have the opportunity to work with plant breeders/geneticists, crop physiologists, and allied microbiologists and plant scientists within and outside of the Agronomy Department. Collaborations with plant breeders could investigate links with root architecture and exudates that support rhizosphere microbial communities, and the most competitive research program will have a field component that leads to productive and resilient crop systems.
This position will be part of the Biomanufacturing hiring initiative at Kansas State University: https://www.kstate.edu/biomanufacturing/relatedinitiatives/multidisciplinary-hiring-initiative/. The cluster hire includes plant synthetic biology and biotic plant interactions. Kansas State University has diverse plant genetic resources to serve as a platform for novel plant-microbe interactions. Additional resources include the Wheat Genetics Resource Center (WGRC Resources), Center for Sorghum Improvement (Home | Csip), Integrated Genomic Facility (K-State Integrated Genomics Facility), and high-performance computing cluster (BEOCAT). KSU also has research fields across the state, covering a range of climatic zones, soil types, and cropping systems.
As a department at a land-grant, public research university, we are committed to teaching and learning, research, and service to the people of Kansas, the nation, and the world. We believe our collective mission is best accomplished when every member of the University community acknowledges and practices our University Principles of Community..
This position is on-site.
Employee must have availability to be on campus for routine and scheduled meetings frequently during the work week
Minimum Qualifications:
Preferred Qualifications:
Sponsorship eligibility:
This position is eligible for sponsorship
Please submit the following documents:
Immediately and continues until position is filled. For best consideration, apply by July 31, 2025.
$90,000 - $120,000
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Kansas State University offers a supportive and inclusive community, dedicated to your professional growth. While specific benefits may vary by position, many roles come with comprehensive packages that support your well-being and work-life balance, including health and life insurance, retirement plans, and generous paid time off. To learn more about benefits that are available for various positions, visit our benefits overview page.
Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States at the time of employment.
Kansas State University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, age, national origin, disability or status as a protected veteran.
Upon acceptance of a contingent offer of employment, a candidate may be subject to a background check per K-State’s background check policy.
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