Career Center

The Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology at Oklahoma State University – Stillwater, Oklahoma is seeking candidates for a non-tenure track faculty position. 

LOCATION: Southwest Research and Extension Center (SWREC), Altus, Oklahoma (3 miles from Altus, OK). 

POSITION DESCRIPTION: The Integrated Pest Management (IPM) for Cotton Assistant Extension Specialist is an 11-month, non-tenure track faculty position with an extension (75%) and research (25%) appointment in the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology. The successful candidate will develop an externally funded, regionally and nationally recognized, integrated extension and research program focused on pest management of arthropods and plant pathogens in cotton. Collaborative research and extension activities with county educators, area specialists, SWREC staff, and faculty in the Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (DASNR) is expected. Opportunities to collaborate with Oklahoma State University faculty, USDA-ARS scientists, and agricultural industry partners are plentiful and expected. 

SWREC: The Southwest Research and Extension Center (SWREC) consists of 245 acres of irrigated, limited-irrigated, and dryland research primarily devoted to cotton. The Tipton Valley Research Station located near Tipton, OK is approximately 22 miles southeast of SWREC and consists of 80 acres of highly productive soil of the Tipton soil series. It has been the site of a great deal of research conducted in the fight against verticillium wilt in cotton. The Caddo research station is approximately 85 miles northeast of SWREC and consists of 110 acres of deep, very gently sloping to sloping soils of the Cobb Soil Series. Research activities include investigating the profitability of cropping systems and their pest interactions. Crops grown include peanuts, wheat, cotton, grain sorghum. Research and extension activities at SWREC focus on improving the sustainability and profitability of cotton in Oklahoma. The Oklahoma cotton industry is the 5th ranked agricultural commodity in terms of value with an estimated $225 million generated and is the 4th ranked agricultural export from the state with an estimated value of $216 million.  Majority of acreage is in the Southwest with increasing production occurring in the Panhandle and North-Central parts of the state.      

EXTENSION/RESEARCH AREAS OF EMPHASIS: Extension activities will include demonstrations on the SWREC, Tipton Valley Research Station, Caddo Research Station, and local producers’ fields that are consistent with informational needs of farmers, industry, and other clientele in cotton production. Building and maintaining good working relationships with farmers, industry, and other clientele in the Oklahoma cotton industry is essential. Extension outreach and educational programs will emphasize increasing the sustainability and profitability of cotton in the region and will be a collaborative effort with county extension educators, SWREC staff, area specialists and campus-based faculty. The Extension plan of work should be based on expected impacts in the cotton industry. Attendance and participation in local, regional, and national professional meetings is expected. 

Research programs should emphasize innovative pest management strategies to address challenges to the cotton industry. As such, it is expected that the incumbent will provide a unique contribution to collaborative efforts with DASNR faculty to develop multi-disciplinary projects aimed at advancing pest management solutions for the cotton industry.  This individual is expected to provide specific leadership in advancing new pest management strategies through improvements in agro-chemical evaluations and alternative control of both arthropod pests as well as plant pathogens. Potential areas of emphasis include but are not limited to improving assessment of efficacy trials managing common cotton pests, pathogens, and abiotic disorders of cotton and evaluating alternative management practices such as biological control. Oher crop opportunities will be available in this position with the understanding that the primary focus is on cotton. Scholarly activity, including publication of research findings and generation of extension materials, is expected. There are many opportunities to engage in collaborative co-authorship of extension and research peer-reviewed publications with plant and soil scientists, entomologist and plant pathologists. 

ADMINISTRATION AND PROGRAM ACCOUNTABILITY: This position is directly accountable to the Department Head with input from the Assistant Directors of the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service and Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station. The Department Head is responsible for the annual appraisal of the Integrated Pest Management for Cotton Extension Specialist.  The incumbent is expected to work and communicate closely with the station superintendent for farm management.  

QUALIFICATIONS:  
Minimum qualifications include:  
* M.S. in entomology, plant pathology, crop science, or a closely related field and knowledge of cotton production 
* Experience in conducting field-based trials and cotton management 
* Ability to effectively and proficiently deliver technical information to a non-technical audience in an Extension capacity 
* The successful candidate must be, or will become, proficient and properly licensed to legally operate all the vehicles and equipment located on the SWREC. In addition, the individual must have or will obtain within three months of employment a Certified Pesticide Applicator license in categories IA and 10, through the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry.  

Preferred qualifications include: 
* Ph.D. in one of the above mentioned fields. 
* A farm management background or farm experience in cotton and other crops. 
* Experience in and knowledge of cotton harvesting, planting, and agro-chemical applications

EMPLOYMENT 
This is an 11-month non tenure track faculty position. The position will be filled as soon as an acceptable applicant is available. While applications will be accepted until a successful candidate has been identified, interested parties are encouraged to submit their information by August 1, 2022.  

INFORMATION 
For more information about this position, contact Dr. Tom Royer, Search and Screen Committee Chair, at 405.744.5643, tom.royer@okstate.edu or Dr. Justin Talley, Dept. Head, at 405.744.5643, justin.talley@okstate.edu .   

APPLICATION PROCEDURE 
Submit application materials to:  https://jobs.okstate.edu (Search by keyword/requisition ID req11881). 
* A letter of application that includes qualifications, associated research and extension activities, and vision for the position. 
* A separate statement of research interests and philosophy 
* A separate extension philosophy statement. 
* A copy of transcripts 
* A listing of three names, with telephone number and e-mail address, for those who may be contacted for additional information.