Endowed Chair in Raspberry Breeding at WSU - Department of Horticulture in Mount Vernon, Washington

Posted in Other about 10 hours ago.

Type: full-time





Job Description:

The Department of Horticulture within the College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences (CAHNRS) at Washington State University (WSU) is
recruiting an ENDOWED CHAIR IN RASPBERRY BREEDING to join an extraordinary team of scientists and extension experts at Washington State University. The position is supported by a $1.5 million investment by the Washington Red Raspberry Commission. Washington leads the nation in processed red raspberry production with this high quality, machine-harvested crop transformed into high-value products including individually quick frozen whole fruits
and crumbles, purees, and juice.
The position is a permanent nine-month tenure track appointment with an additional two months summer work and salary while serving as the endowed chair. The position will be hired at the Assistant, Associate, or Professor level commensurate with the level of experience of the successful candidate. The position will be based at the WSU Mount Vernon Northwestern Washington Research and Extension Center (WSU NWREC) with additional resources in the Lynden area of Whatcom County and Puyallup Research and Extension Center. Washington State University has strong expertise in the areas of small fruit horticulture, genomics of Rosaceae fruit crops, arthropod pest and disease management, and extension. The raspberry breeder will join this strong, collaborative team that serves the Pacific Northwest region. Furthermore, the region has a strong and collaborative network of public and private small fruit crop breeders in Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia, Canada. The successful candidate will be expected to engage with these collaborative programs to further enhance their statewide, national, and international impact.

LIFE IN MOUNT VERNON AND NORTHWESTERN WASHINGTON. The successful candidate will be housed at the WSU NWREC located in Mount Vernon, Washington. The region is characterized by a mild marine climate, diverse farming enterprises that include annual and perennial production systems, and close rural-urban interactions. Western Washington is well known for its scenic beauty that includes beautiful farming operations nestled between the Cascade Mountain Range and Puget Sound. The region is also noted for its food culture, which includes local, sustainable, and organic production and processing systems with a focus on value-added enterprises. Major cities and their attractions-including Seattle and Vancouver, Canada-are accessible via a two to three hour drive.

RESEARCH RESPONSIBILITIES.
The incumbent will lead a nationally recognized and regionally relevant program focused on raspberry breeding and cultivar release to enhance crop productivity and profitability. Washington State University has a successful history in raspberry breeding dating back to 1929 with important contributions in machine harvestability, Phytophthora root rot tolerance, and Raspberry bush dwarf virus (RBDV) resistance. Opportunities may also arise to expand the program to include other commercially important and/or alternative small fruit crops, but the primary focus shall be on raspberry. The endowment is funded by the Washington Red Raspberry Commission and the successful incumbent will work in partnership with grower-stakeholders in Whatcom County and an endowment advisory committee to enhance the red raspberry program success and impact.

OUTREACH AND TEACHING RESPONSIBILITIES.
The incumbent's program is expected to also engage in discipline-appropriate outreach and teaching. The individual will contribute to undergraduate or graduate education in the Department of Horticulture. Teaching will be expected after three years in the position with the expectation to teach three credits every year. Mentorship of graduate students is expected within the first year in the position, as this is a critical component of workforce development and addressing
the needs of the region. Excellence in mentorship and maintaining standards of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the recruitment of students and staff are expected.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS (ALL RANKS).
A PhD degree in plant breeding or a closely related field.
Experience with field-based breeding, evaluation, and selection of new cultivars.

CANDIDATES FOR ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR.
Have held the rank of Assistant Professor at an accredited college or university.
Demonstrated record of scholarly accomplishments in research, extension, and/or teaching commensurate with career level within the field of plant breeding (or a closely related field).

CANDIDATES FOR FULL PROFESSOR.
Professor rank will need a record of scholarship aligned with effort devoted to scholarship in previous positions, a higher level of national/international recognition, and a higher level of scholarship and teaching/outreach experience as compared to Associate Professor applicants. Considerations regarding rank will be determined based on the qualifications of the candidate.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS.
Demonstrated experience in perennial fruit crop breeding, and development and release of new cultivars.
Experience in application of new breeding technologies.
Demonstrated ability to conduct original research.
Demonstrated ability to communicate (oral, written, and electronic) effectively with technical and nontechnical audiences.
Demonstrated record or capacity to acquire and/or manage extramural competitive grant support.
Ability or capacity to teach and mentor undergraduate and graduate students.
Ability to work effectively with interdisciplinary teams and stakeholders.
More information regarding faculty rank qualifications from the Office of the Provost (provost.wsu.edu/promotion-and-tenure/).

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