Description

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Department of Crop and Soil Sciences (CSS) in the College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences (CAHNRS) at Washington State University (WSU) seeks a collaborative and innovative scientist to join an extraordinary team of faculty members supporting Washington’s potato industry. We are seeking to fill the tenured/tenure-track (assistant, associate, or professor rank), Distinguished Endowed Chair in Soil Health for Potato Cropping Systems beginning on or before August 1, 2026.

Washington State is a global leader in potato production.  The successful candidate will engage with industry to envision, design and direct research into healthier, more productive soils for the potato industry, addressing the need to better understand how biological, physical, and chemical qualities of the soil affect potato productivity, quality, and nutrition. A $3+ million endowment created by potato growers, processors, and supporting industries supports the program. Teaching responsibilities include one course per year in soil science, contributions to other courses as needed, and the supervision of graduate students. 

This position is located on the WSU main campus in Pullman, with expectations to conduct research in the irrigated Columbia Basin of central Washington (approximately 2-hr drive from Pullman). The position reports directly to the Chair of CSS.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Distinguished Endowed Chair in Soil Health for Potato Cropping Systems will develop and lead an integrated research-extension program with national and international impact. The program will closely collaborate with growers and the processing industry in the Columbia Basin to develop practical methods, means, and management tools to promote soil health and improve potato productivity by focusing on soil ecosystems in Columbia Basin potato cropping systems, which include rotation crops with potatoes and cover crops.

Recent advances in understanding interactions of the soil microbiome with soil physical and chemical qualities have opened new research and management opportunities to improve soil health for enhanced potato productivity and human nutrition. As a Distinguished Endowed Chair, we seek a leader to join our team of soil scientists, horticulturists, and plant pathologists to further our understanding of and ability to manage these properties and processes to enhance potato production in the Pacific Northwest (PNW). 

The individual selected will lead and encourage the regional research community to focus on potato cropping systems with an emphasis on soil health. This includes leading and participating in soil health research proposals to the Northwest Potato Research Consortium and other national funding programs; defining research objectives based in part on existing knowledge gaps (see Hills et al., 2018: https://wpcdn.web.wsu.edu/cahnrs/uploads/sites/44/Safeguarding-Potato-Cropping-Systems-in-the-PNW-Through-Improved-Soil-Health.pdf; and Hills et al., 2019: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12230-019-09742-7) and ongoing engagement with industry and other scientists; leading collaborative soil health research projects; and coordinating and assisting grower-based research on commercial farms. 

The successful candidate will collaborate with and complement other research and extension activities conducted by WSU including the Washington Soil Health Initiative, and other PNW and U.S. public and private sector scientists, extension professionals, crop consultants, growers, and processors. The individual will pursue and secure extramural funds to support the program and complement the endowment; regularly engage with stakeholders and share research findings; and deliver high quality instruction at the advanced undergraduate or graduate levels.

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS

Required for all ranks:

• Earned Ph.D. degree in soil science, soil microbiology, biogeochemistry, horticulture, plant pathology, or a closely related field by employment start date.

Additional requirements for Associate rank:

• Must have served at least 6 years in academic, industry or a federal lab after Ph.D.
• Must have experience in mentoring and leading funded research programs.

Additional requirements for Professor rank: 

• Must have served at least 10 years in academic, industry or a federal lab after Ph.D.
• Must have experience in mentoring and leading funded research programs.
• Must be a recognized leader through national/international accomplishments and awards. 

Preferred for all ranks:

• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with technical and nontechnical audiences in oral, written, and electronic forms.
• Demonstrated leadership in developing and executing interdisciplinary research programs. 
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with industry and the crop research community on a local, regional, national, and international scale.
• Demonstrated record of acquiring extramural competitive grant support. 
• Knowledge of state-of-the-art techniques applicable to potato soil health research.
• Experience or expressed interest in working with potato-based crop rotations and irrigated agriculture systems.
• Demonstrated evidence of effective teaching and student mentoring. 
• Demonstrated knowledge and ability to work effectively with individuals and groups of diverse cultures, backgrounds, and ideologies.

APPLICATION PROCESS

We welcome applications from candidates at the assistant, associate, or professor level whose expertise and accomplishments align with the goals of this endowed chair. Advertising closes on May 15, 2026 and screening will begin immediately after. This position is posted on the WSU Jobs site at https://hrs.wsu.edu/careers/. To apply, submit a detailed letter of application addressing the required and preferred qualifications, a current curriculum vitae, unofficial transcripts (optional) or list of courses relevant to the position, and the name and contact information of 3 references.