The Department of Botany and Plant Pathology is seeking candidates for the lead Plant Diagnostician in the Oregon State University (OSU) Plant Clinic. This is a 12-month, 1.0 FTE, College of Agricultural Sciences, fixed-term Assistant Professor of Practice in Botany and Plant Pathology. reappointment is at the discretion of the Department Head.
The duties associated with this position are to provide plant disease diagnostic educational information statewide for all crops using appropriate diagnostic technologies. Educational efforts are provided to individual growers, field consultants, home gardeners, federal and state employees, Master Gardeners, and OSU faculty. Scholarship activities directly relate to the mission and responsibilities of the OSU Plant Clinic. Service may include activities that contribute to the effectiveness of the department, college, university, and/or professional societies.
The OSU Plant Clinic is administered by the Department of Botany and Plant Pathology (BPP) in the College of Agricultural Sciences. BPP maintains a cutting-edge research culture with more than 50 Faculty led research programs. The department also delivers contemporary educational programs with more than 40 graduate students and 300 undergraduate students.
The Plant Clinic is located in BPP on the main Corvallis campus of OSU in the newly renovated Cordley Hall. OSU is the land-grant institution for the state of Oregon with an enrollment of more than 34,000 students, and the College of Agricultural Sciences is the founding college of OSU. Corvallis is located in the heart of the Willamette Valley, approximately 50 miles from the Pacific Ocean and about 75 miles to the Cascade Mountains. It is a vibrant community with excellent K-12 education schools and medical facilities, strong public transportation and biking infrastructure, and local farmers’ markets and agriculture.
Oregon State University is committed to maintaining and enhancing its collaborative and inclusive community that strives for equity and equal opportunity. All faculty members are responsible for helping to ensure that these goals are achieved. Positions with primary responsibility for extension and outreach are likewise committed to learner success through programming appropriate for diverse audience. Faculty members are expected to demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.
75% Extension Teaching and Related Assignments:
Lead OSU Plant Clinic
- Provide oversight and leadership of the OSU Plant Clinic.
- Ensure accurate and timely diagnosis of plant disease samples using the most appropriate means necessary and available in the OSU Plant Clinic.
- Document disease samples with photography.
- Developing or modifying existing protocols for sample handling and ensure proper documentation of procedures and policies.
- Educate growers and others on recognition of diseases (diagnosis) via plant samples that are submitted to the Plant Clinic. Instruct clients on proper disease management, as appropriate.
- Conduct on-going needs-assessment activities to determine service needs relevant to the client groups within the state.
- Create innovative educational materials and use effective Extension teaching methods that meet clientele needs, with materials, methods, and outcomes shared with peers in the state, region, and/or nation.
- This position is expected to solicit peer teaching evaluations and citizen evaluation of teaching.
- Meet the information needs of local and regional audiences by accessing information from a variety of sources and disseminating it through appropriate mechanisms (internet, newsletter, newspaper, radio, television, presentations, etc.).
- Use technology as a tool to increase the impact of program delivery for constituents including participating with Ask-Extension.
- Extension teaching may also involve providing one-on-one consultation and educational programs to target client groups within the state depending on their needs.
- Interpret, relay, and implement research findings from Oregon State University and elsewhere for use by growers, field consultants, Master Gardeners, and extension faculty.
- Participate in presenting guest lectures in Botany and Plant Pathology classes, as appropriate.
- Engage and contribute to equity, inclusion, and diversity as part of teaching, educational delivery, advising, research, Extension, service, and/or scholarly outcomes.
Partnerships/Collaboration/Networking
- Participate as a team member with other Extension faculty in statewide and regional plant disease diagnosis and management programs, including contributing to the Pacific Northwest Plant Disease Management Handbook.
- Support national efforts of biosecurity by actively participating in the National Plant Diagnostic Network, including providing nation-wide or regional diagnostic services for diseases of quarantine significance, participating in preparedness training, uploading Clinic data to a national repository, and representing the university in various committees relating to plant associated agricultural biosecurity.
- Identify program needs and priorities by engaging growers and Plant Clinic clientele. Collaborate with other researchers and Extension faculty and agencies to develop relevant science-based solutions to address prioritized challenges and opportunities.
- Develop and maintain efficient methods for addressing high volumes of topically repetitive clientele inquiries through scholarly outputs like Extension publications, videos, and other electronic and media communication tools and strategies.
Accountability
- Regularly measure and report program impact in the Faculty Success online platform.
- Implement fee-based programming and cost-recovery practices to support and enhance program delivery.
- Keep records and provide necessary reports to Extension Administration, the department and/or college, including plans of work, narrative reports, impact statements, statistical reports, and reports of accomplishments.
15% Scholarship:
Discover new knowledge and develop creative solutions and applications for problems related to aspects of plant pathogen detection and identification, including those important to the sustainability of agricultural systems in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest, investigating novel means of disease management, and documenting discovery of new diseases.
Research discoveries should be communicated to the scientific community, Extension audiences, and practitioners using innovative and contemporary tools in both oral and written venues, including web-based formats. Communication may include refereed journal articles, Extension publications, presentations to state, regional, and national commodity and professional groups, media, and other outlets as appropriate.
Scholarship for this position must include peer reviewed materials that are durable and findable in the web environment, including:
- Publications in peer‐reviewed journals which might encompass description and evaluation of novel community‐based professional practice or research application, program development and innovation, outcomes of innovative programs and/or services, definitive professional practice reviews, or case reports among others.
- Authorship of extension publications, local or regional “practice” publications, book chapters, other educational materials, and electronic information delivery media if it is either peer reviewed before dissemination or if there is evidence of its adoption and use by peers.
These durable, web‐findable materials may be augmented by other forms of peer validation such as the following:
- Invited and contributed presentations, and published abstracts and/or proceedings at state, regional and national levels.
- Secured competitive grants and contracts appropriate for the scope and focus of the faculty member’s position.
- Named inventor of a protected intellectual property in the faculty member’s field.
- Recognition as a professional practitioner in community settings as demonstrated by awards recognizing community, professional and/or scientific achievements, and fellowships in national professional and/or scientific organizations.
- Requests to serve as a technical advisor to government agencies, industry, or professional groups
Best practice is to ensure an inclusive scholarship:
- Including diverse perspectives on the research team, particularly among co-principal investigators.
- Emphasizing diversity to address broadening participation in grant proposals.
- Increasing the diversity of students who serve as research assistants.
10% Service:
- Participate in departmental and faculty meetings and committees, and serve on departmental, Extension, College and University committees that are consistent with the duties of this position. There is an expectation to balance service at multiple levels within the institution with service to the profession (e.g. professional societies).
- Participate in professional development opportunities including in-service training, international volunteer technical consultancies, and active involvement in professional domestic and international societies and associations as appropriate.
- Service on local, state, regional, and national advisory committees, and task forces, as appropriate to position responsibilities.
- Assists with the maintenance of the OSU Extension system on a statewide level. Cooperates with agencies and organizations statewide and other relevant locations.
- Serve as a safe space point of contact for diverse students, faculty, and staff in Botany and Plant Pathology.
- Assist in cohesive marketing of Extension locally, regionally, and statewide.
- Contribute to a welcoming and respectful workplace environment.
- Provide mentorship for newer faculty, staff and students where applicable.
- Participate in appropriate professional and scientific organizations specific to the position discipline.
- Maintain active membership in appropriate professional organizations such as the American Phytopathological Society
Minimum/Required Qualifications:
PhD in Plant Pathology or related field, or Doctor of Plant Medicine (DPM)
Familiarity with a broad range of plant diseases across a diversity of crops
Record of maintaining positive stakeholder relationships
Previous experience managing and mentoring staff and/or students
Demonstrable commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion
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.
Preferred (Special) Qualifications:
Minimum of two years of experience in plant disease diagnosis
Peer-reviewed research publication(s)
Previous experience managing a budget and fee structure
Working Conditions / Work Schedule:
OSU Plant Clinic is located in Cordley Hall. It includes a diagnostics laboratory and a standard office.
The ability to lift and move heavy plants and root balls (up to 40 pounds).
Work with antibiotics and fungicides in media preparation, and arthropods encountered in samples.
This job is in-person, full-time and requires 40 hrs per week.
Special Instructions to Applicants:
When applying you will be required to attach the following electronic documents:
1) A resume/CV; and
2) A cover letter indicating how your qualifications and experience have prepared you for this position.
3) Please attach as Other Document 1 a Plant Clinic vision Statement.
You will also be required to submit the names of at least three professional references, their e-mail addresses and telephone numbers as part of the application process.
For additional information please contact: Aymeric Goyer at Aymeric.goyer@oregonstate.edu or 541-720-7126
The anticipated starting salary will be $75,000 – $85,000.
Letters of Reference will be requested on finalists only. When applying, you will be asked to provide the email address and telephone number for three referees who will be sent a secure quicklink that will allow them to upload the requested letters of reference on your behalf.
OSU is committed to the health of our local and global community. All employees and students are required to comply with the university’s COVID-19 Vaccination Program. for additional information about OSU’s plans for safety and success, as well as options for compliance with the vaccination program.
OSU commits to inclusive excellence by advancing equity and diversity in all that we do. We are an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer, and particularly encourage applications from members of historically underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, women, individuals with disabilities, veterans, LGBTQ community members, and others who demonstrate the ability to help us achieve our vision of a diverse and inclusive community.
OSU will conduct a review of the National Sex Offender Public website prior to hire.
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. Offers of employment are contingent upon meeting all minimum qualifications including the criminal history check requirement.
Closing Date: 03/15/2023