- Agency
- Virginia Tech Department of Entomology
- Location
- Blacksburg, VA
- Job Category
- Faculty Appointments, Full Time Positions
- Website
- Virginia Tech Entomology Insect Microbial Interactions Tenure Track Faculty Position
- Description
- Virginia Tech's Department of Entomology invites applications for a tenure-track faculty member at the level of Assistant Professor in the area of insect-microbial interactions. This position has a primary research and secondary teaching nine-month appointment and is based on the main campus of Virginia Tech, a Research I land-grant university located in Blacksburg, VA. Responsibilities: The successful candidate for this position will be expected to develop an extramurally funded and internationally recognized research program focused on insect-microbial interactions. Areas of research could include (but are not limited to): Insect microbial communities that influence arthropod fitness and ecology, metabolomics, evolutionary genomics, pathology, symbiosis, and/or pathogen infection and transmission. Research could focus on interactions with pests (agricultural, public and animal health), model organisms, beneficial and/or invasive species. A successful applicant will be expected to contribute to research, scholarship, and teaching in ways that support the department’s mission. This includes a strong commitment to graduate education, where the successful candidate will be expected to recruit and mentor graduate students, and serve on graduate student committees throughout Virginia Tech. The incumbent will also be expected to develop and teach courses, which could include (but would not be limited to): Insect Pathology, Insect Microbe & Pathogen Interactions, Forensic Entomology, or any course in the candidate’s specific area(s) of expertise. Collaboration with current departmental research strengths and Extension colleagues both on- and off-campus is expected. Collaboration with University Institutes and Centers is highly encouraged (e.g. Fralin Life Science Institute, Global Change Center, Vector-borne Disease Research Group, Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Science, Integrated Pest Management Innovation Lab, or Translational Plant Sciences). Further, the selected candidate will have the opportunity to contribute to transdisciplinary research, teaching, and outreach initiatives that align with Virginia Tech’s Global Systems Science (GSS) Destination Area and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences SmartFarm Innovation Network. The selected candidate is expected to participate in institutional and professional service activities that align with the candidate’s strengths and expertise.
- Qualifications
- Applicants are required to hold a Ph.D. in entomology, molecular biology, microbiology, ecology, biology, virology, genetics, or a closely related field. Preference will be given to individuals with an established record of research accomplishments and postdoctoral research experience in insect-microbial interactions, a demonstrated ability to secure extramural funding, and publications in high-quality peer-reviewed journals.
- Job Number
- 136
- Contact Person
- Dr. Aaron Gross
- Contact Phone
- 540-232-8448
- Contact eMail
- adgross@vt.edu