Endowed Professorship for NW Berry Production and Management

Endowed Professorship for NW Berry Production and Management – Oregon State University

Oregon State University is seeking an exceptional, internationally recognized individual for the Endowed Professorship for Northwest Berry Production and Management at the associate or full professor level in the Department of Horticulture. This individual is responsible for the design, development, implementation and evaluation of integrated statewide research (60%), extension (20%), and teaching (15%) programs focused on physiology and production systems of berry crops (blueberry, strawberry, blackberry, red and black raspberry, cranberry, and minor berries). This position includes responsibilities as the Berry Research Program Leader at the North Willamette Research and Extension Center (NWREC) in Aurora, Oregon, including serving as the OSU lead horticulturist working collaboratively with the two USDA/ARS berry crop geneticists in the USDA-ARS/OSU Cooperative Berry Breeding Program. Field research facilities, including trials of advanced selections and production systems research will be primarily located at the NWREC and include office and shared lab space.

Primary office location is on the Corvallis OSU campus. This person will teach one on-campus course and co-teach another in the fall in alternate years and lead an established Ecampus course taught each spring and in alternate fall terms. The position is supported in part by an endowment and revenues from intellectual property from plant patents, commodity commission and other grants, and includes partial support for a Faculty Research Assistant. Programs will be informed by and responsive to industry priorities and funding, gifts, federal grants as well as other resources and interests. The endowment support is on a renewable five-year term.

With its diversity of agricultural production and mild climate that allows year-round production, the Willamette Valley of Oregon is renowned as a food lover's paradise. Oregon's berry crops offer tantalizing flavors, color, taste, and nutrition contributing to healthy foods and lifestyles. The superb quality of Oregon's berry crops is known worldwide, adding a farm gate value of over $250M (2020) from over 35,000 acres and 1,500 farms, many of which are family farms. Consumers are attracted to products, local markets, U-pick, and festivals featuring Oregon berries, including blackberries, blueberries, red and black raspberries, strawberries, cranberries, currants, gooseberries, kiwifruit, haskaps, and lingonberries.

Oregon State is an international public research university that draws people from all 50 states and more than 100 countries. We are diverse and welcoming. We embrace our responsibility to Oregon and the world. OSU is one of three land-, sea-, space- and sun-grant universities in the U.S. The University has two campuses, 11 colleges, 12 experiment stations around the state, extension programs in all 36 counties and over 200 academic programs. More than 32,000 undergraduate and graduate students attend one of the campuses. The 150-year-old Corvallis campus is located by the Willamette River in the heart of the Willamette Valley. More information about OSU can be found at https://jobs.oregonstate.edu/.

Corvallis is a bike-friendly community of about 60,000 located about two hours south of Portland and an hour north of Eugene. Outdoor activities are nearby with the scenic Pacific Coast an hour to the west and the Cascade Mountains and skiing one to two hours to the east of Corvallis.
NWREC is a large and dynamic agricultural research experiment station located in the Willamette Valley 70 miles north of the OSU campus in Corvallis. NWREC features world-class field research in horticulture and crop sciences. A video featuring NWREC can be accessed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hH1whmkg3Uw and additional information can be found at https://extension.oregonstate.edu/nwrec

Requirements

Required Qualifications

  • Ph.D. degree in Horticulture or closely related field at the time of appointment.
  • Expertise in horticultural crop physiology, production, and management.
  • Commitment to promoting and enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusion.
  • Ability to secure and maintain an Oregon pesticide license.
  • Academic/professional record or equivalent that would qualify the applicant to be awarded tenure at the rank of Associate or Full Professor.
  • Demonstrated ability to provide inspiration and leadership in research, outreach, engagement, and teaching.
  • Demonstrated ability to assemble and lead multi-disciplinary teams.
  • Demonstrated ability for attracting the necessary funding to sustain a vigorous research and Extension program.
  • Proven oral and written communication skills.
  • This position is designated as a critical or security-sensitive position; therefore, the incumbent must successfully complete a Criminal History Check and be determined to be position qualified as per OSU Standard 576-055-0000 et seq. Incumbents are required to self-report convictions and those in Youth Programs may have additional Criminal History Checks every 24 months.
  • This position requires driving a university vehicle or a personal vehicle on behalf of the University; therefore, the incumbent must successfully complete a Motor Vehicle History Check, possess and maintain a current, valid driver's license in their state of residence, be determined to be position qualified and self-report convictions as per OSU Standard 576-056-0000 et seq.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Exceptional record of sustained extramural funding, publication and disciplinary leadership in berry crops physiology and production systems.
  • Successful record of working with industry in terms of partnerships, collaborations, sponsored programs or in other ways.
  • Demonstrable commitment to excellence in teaching and mentoring undergraduate and graduate students.
  • Record of/commitment to work with underrepresented/underserved students or other audiences.
  • Life experience, education, or training that broadens capacity to equalize student success or impact to underserved audiences.

This position contributes to the Food and Farm Systems theme within the Department of Horticulture and agricultural competitiveness and resilience focus of the College of Agricultural Sciences while ensuring that all people have equal employment and program participation opportunities regardless of race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, marital status, disability, and disabled veteran or Vietnam-era veteran status.

College of Agricultural Sciences faculty are committed to enhancing student success by engaging students in quality academic, research, internships, global studies, and other experiential learning opportunities. Positions with primary responsibility for Extension and outreach are likewise committed to learner success through programming appropriate for diverse audience.

Additional job information and instructions on how to apply can be found at: https://jobs.oregonstate.edu/postings/107263

Tags: 
small fruits
plant physiology
berry production
berry management
Location: 
Corvallis, OR (USA)