Assistant Professor of Plant Pathology

Position overview

Salary range :

The salary range for this position is $105,700 - $129,600 (annual). "Off-scale salaries" and other components of pay, creating a salary that is higher than the published system-wide salary at the designated rank and step, are offered when necessary to meet competitive conditions, qualifications, and experience.

Application Window

Open date : September 22, 2025

Next review date : Monday, Dec 1, 2025 at 11 : 59pm (Pacific Time)

Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.

Final date : Monday, Sep 21, 2026 at 11 : 59pm (Pacific Time)

Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

Position description

As part of UC Davis' commitment to hire leading research faculty with an outstanding commitment to teaching, research and service that will address the needs of our increasingly diverse state and student population, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, at the University of California announces an Assistant Professor faculty position (9-month) in the Department of Plant Pathology. Applications are encouraged from candidates with a strong background in any current or emerging area that will fit within our department's disciplinary focus in plant pathology.

As one of the country's leading R1 institutions, UC Davis seeks candidates with exceptional potential for research, teaching, and inclusive excellence. Successful candidates will help advance UC Davis' strategic goal of improving access and building an inclusive community for all. The successful candidate also will have an accomplished track record (calibrated to career stage) of teaching, research, or service activities and a clearly articulated vision of how their work at UC Davis will continue to contribute to the University's mission of serving the needs of our diverse state and student population.

This is an academic year (9-month), Assistant Professor tenure-track position with teaching, research, outreach / engagement and service responsibilities and includes the expectation that the appointee will conduct mission-oriented research and outreach / engagement of relevance to the California Agricultural Experiment Station (https : / / caes.ucdavis.edu / research / aes).

Responsibilities :

The Department of Plant Pathology at the University of California, Davis is seeking applications for a full-time, tenure-track Assistant Professor position in Mycology, with a focus on plant pathogenic, symbiotic, or mycotoxigenic fungi and fungal-like organisms (e.g., oomycetes). We are looking for a highly motivated and creative scientist with a strong background in mycology and / or the biology of fungi and fungal-like organisms that interact with plants. The successful candidate will be expected to develop a world-class, externally funded research program that integrates both fundamental and applied aspects of fungal biology within the context of plant pathology. We welcome applicants pursuing a wide range of research topics related to plant-associated fungi, including but not limited to mechanisms of fungal pathogenesis or symbiosis with plants, population genomics and evolution of fungal plant pathogens, plant-associated fungal microbiomes and plant-microbe interactions, and / or one health approaches to fungal diseases and antifungal resistance. Applicants working in other relevant research areas involving pathogenic, symbiotic, or mycotoxigenic fungi or fungal-like organisms that affect plant health are also encouraged to apply. The successful candidate will have significant opportunities for collaboration with faculty in plant pathology, microbiology, genomics, and agricultural sciences, and to contribute to addressing issues of importance to California's agricultural and natural ecosystems.

The appointee primary teaching responsibilities will be teaching Introductory Mycology, an upper-division lab class, and SAS 30, Mushroom, Molds & Society, a general education class for non-majors. Additional graduate and undergraduate teaching responsibilities may be assigned based on departmental needs and the candidate's expertise. The department offers modern instructional facilities, including a newly renovated teaching laboratory.

Mentoring of graduate students, undergraduate student advising, curricular development, participation in and development of outreach programs, and performance of departmental and university service is expected. The successful candidate will be an active member of the Plant Pathology Graduate Program and other graduate groups as appropriate to the appointee's interests and expertise. Participation in and development of outreach / engagement programs, and performance of departmental and university service is expected. This position is expected to collaborate with extension educators and partners in allied industries.

This recruitment is conducted at the Assistant Professor rank. The resulting hire will be at the Assistant Professor rank, regardless of the proposed appointee's qualifications.

Initial review of applications will be conducted using anonymized versions of the Statement of Research Accomplishments and Interests. Applications demonstrating sufficient potential based on this review will be advanced to full review.

UC Davis supports Family-friendly recruitments. UC Davis covers travel expenses for a second person to accompany an invited faculty recruitment candidate who is a mother (or single parent of either gender) of a breast or bottle-feeding child less than two years of age. http : / / academicaffairs.ucdavis.edu / programs / work-life / index.html

UC Davis recognizes the necessity of supporting faculty with efforts to integrate work, family and other work-life considerations. To recruit and retain the best faculty, the campus sponsors a Work Life

Program that provides programs and services that support faculty as they strive to honor their commitments to work, home and community. http : / / academicaffairs.ucdavis.edu / programs / worklife / index.html

The UC Davis Partner Opportunities Program (POP) and Capital Resource Network (CRN) are services designed to support departments and Deans' offices in the recruitment and retention of outstanding faculty. For information about POP, please visit https : / / academicaffairs.ucdavis.edu / partner-opportunities-program-pop. For information about the CRN, please visit https : / / academicaffairs.ucdavis.edu / capital-resource-network. Please note eligibility for these programs may be based on policy and funding availability.

Qualifications

Basic qualifications (required at time of application)

Ph.D. degree in plant pathology, mycology, microbiology, or a related field with experience, interest and academic coursework related to fungal biology relevant to plant systems (degree must be awarded by start of appointment).

Preferred qualifications (other preferred, but not required, qualifications for the position)

• Postdoctoral experience preferred.
• Evidence of leadership and organizational skills relevant to the development of a successful research, teaching and outreach program in the discipline of plant pathology and mycology.
• Evidence of scholarship during graduate and post-graduate activities.
• The successful candidate must have a record that documents productivity in research as evidenced by publications in peer-reviewed journals.
• Demonstrated ability or potential to obtain extramural support for research activities.
• Demonstrated ability or potential to develop and instruct undergraduate and graduate courses and to present information to scientific audiences.
• Willingness and interest to advise undergraduates.
• Demonstrated ability or potential and interest to mentor M.S. and Ph.D. students.
• Evidence of communication skills and collegiality consistent with effective departmental, campus and professional citizenship.
• Interest, understanding, and commitment to the objectives of a land-grant university and the Agricultural Experiment Station including mission-oriented research and a substantive outreach engagement programming.

Application Requirements

Document requirements

Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.

Cover Letter (Optional)

Statement of research accomplishments and future research plans relevant to plant pathology and fungal biology

Statement of teaching accomplishments and philosophy

Authorization to Release Information Form - This form is required for all applicants applying to academic recruitments. Please see the Employment Disclosure Requirements webpage for more information. Download, complete, sign, and upload the form.

Publications - Please upload up to three publications

Transcripts - If the applicant is within five years of Ph.D. degree, please upload transcripts.

(Optional)

Reference requirements

Arrange to have letters from at least three professional references be uploaded to Recruit.

Apply link :

https : / / recruit.ucdavis.edu / JPF07339

Help contact : lvaldovinos@ucdavis.edu

About UC Davis

As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct, are currently being investigated for misconduct, left a position during an investigation for alleged misconduct, or have filed an appeal with a previous employer.

To implement this process, UC Davis requires all applicants for any open search to complete, sign, and upload the form entitled, "Authorization to Release Information" into UC RECRUIT as part of their application. If an applicant does not include the signed authorization with the application materials, the application will be considered incomplete, and as with any incomplete application, will not receive further consideration.

UC Davis is a smoke and tobacco-free campus (http : / / breathefree.ucdavis.edu / ).

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state for federal law.

Under Federal law, the University of California may employ only individuals who are legally able to work in the United States as established by providing documents as specified in the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. Certain UC Davis positions funded by federal contracts or sub-contracts require the selected candidate to pass an E-Verify check. More information is available at : http : / / www.uscis.gov / e-verify

The University of California, Davis (UC Davis) is committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for all employees and students. Our excellence in research, teaching, and service are embodied by members of our academic community who share our commitment to these values. A variety of resources and programs are available to academics, staff, and students that reflect the core values reflected in our strategic plan : "To Boldly Go," our Principles of Community, the Office of Academic Affairs' Mission Statement, and the UC Board of Regents Policy 4400.

UC Davis also is making important progress towards our goal of achieving federal designation as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI). There are numerous links available on the About Us webpage where you can learn more about our administration, campus rankings, locations, campus safety, sustainability, visiting UC Davis and UC Davis Health.

The university is consistently ranked among the top institutions in the world for campus sustainability practices by the UI Green Metric World University Rankings. UC Davis is focused on achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions and repeatedly shown its commitment to preserving a healthy and sustainable environment for generations to come.

As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and / or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.

Job location

Davis, CA