Position Description

INTRODUCTION

The Department of Extension is seeking applicants for a full-time (11-month) non-tenure-track faculty member at the Assistant/Associate Extension Educator rank to work with Pesticide Safety and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs. The candidate will work in areas complementary to pesticide safety and risk assessment, including but not restricted to traditional, organic, and genetically engineered pest controls, their ecological and evolutionary impacts, regulatory issues, human health, and socio-economic effects, or related topics. The focus will be to build an Extension program creating climate and economically resilient agricultural and general pest management systems. The successful applicant will develop an interdisciplinary education and applied research program in pesticide safety addressing diverse cropping systems that include ornamental and turfgrass crops, greenhouse, food and forage crops as well as other pest-related issues. The successful candidate will actively participate with the CAHNR IPM team to collaborate and create programs based on needs assessments, and applied research. The IPM program builds partnerships primarily focused on the needs of landscape professionals, growers, and agricultural professionals working with turf, field, and horticultural crops and plants. Responsibilities will include making recommendations for using appropriate management practices and the latest technologies to protect human health, soil health, water quality, and quantity as well as other natural resources of CT and Long Island Sound. The Extension Educator will collaborate with UConn personnel, state and federal agency partners, pesticide applicators, growers, and producers as appropriate. They will have familiarity with how to leverage federal, regional, and state programs and funding. Programs are delivered via educational meetings, field days, newsletters, podcasts, webinars, online courses, and supporting websites. The successful candidate will have previous experience in one or more IPM disciplines that builds on the technical foundation of the program, its faculty, staff, and partners. The successful applicant will serve as UConn’s Pesticide Safety Education Coordinator and maintain an active partnership with the Pesticide Safety and Environmental Education Program.

CAHNR has developed and implemented a Strategic Vision to guide the development and focus of our teaching, research, and Extension programs in the years 2020-2025. All faculty and technical staff are expected to contribute to the implementation of CAHNR’s five strategic priorities (https://cahnr.uconn.edu/visionandvalues). 

• Ensuring a vibrant agricultural industry and sustainable food supply 
• Enhancing health and well-being locally, nationally, and globally
• Fostering sustainable landscapes across urban-rural interfaces
• Advancing resilience and adaptation in a changing climate
• Dismantling structural racism and fostering environments that advance racial equity, inclusion, and belonging by advocating for antiracist policies, practices, and norms. 

The Department of Extension in the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources works collaboratively with partners in all 169 municipalities across Connecticut, throughout the northeast region, and beyond. It is a non-tenuring unit with 35 faculty, and an additional 30 program and administrative staff. Additional grant-specific program personnel assist in solving problems, and enhance the well-being of our state citizens where they live, work, and learn. Work carried out by the Department constitutes the majority of the UConn Extension System programs. Faculty and staff conduct educational activities through eight-county/community-based centers and may be co-located with additional community/agency-based working partners when applicable.

The University and CAHNR prioritize scholarship in areas that impact quality of life, including human, animal, plant, and environmental health and sustainability. We encourage and provide support for cross-disciplinary, collaborative scholarship across the College, University, nation, and globe. UConn is committed to Life Transforming Education for students and Extension audiences. UConn is recognized as one of the most sustainable and environmentally friendly campuses by the Sierra Club. Through research, teaching, service, and extension, UConn embraces diversity and inclusion, and cultivates leadership, integrity, and engaged citizenship in its students, faculty, staff, and alumni.  

Founded in 1881, UConn is a Land Grant and Sea Grant institution and member of the Space Grant Consortium. It is the state’s flagship institution of higher education and includes a main campus in Storrs, CT, four regional campuses throughout the state, and 13 Schools and Colleges, including a Law School in Hartford, and Medical and Dental Schools at the UConn Health campus in Farmington. The University has approximately 10,000 faculty and staff and 32,000 students, including nearly 24,000 undergraduates and over 8,000 graduate and professional students. UConn is a Carnegie Foundation R1 (highest research activity) institution, among the top 25 public universities in the nation. Through research, teaching, service, and outreach, UConn embraces diversity and cultivates leadership, integrity, and engaged citizenship in its students, faculty, staff, and alumni. UConn promotes the health and well-being of citizens by enhancing the social, economic, cultural, and natural environments of the state and beyond. The University serves as a beacon of academic and research excellence as well as a center for innovation and social service to communities. UConn is a leader in many scholarly, research, and innovation areas. Today, the path forward includes exciting opportunities and notable challenges. Record numbers of undergraduate applications and support for student success have enabled the University to become extraordinarily selective.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Provide leadership and science-based information on pesticide safety to stakeholders, policymakers, and the public on solutions and methods to manage and reduce pests and promote pesticide safety practices. 
• Seek external funding and create scholarship and technical materials to enhance extension programs. Activities also include building collaborative, interdisciplinary networks including those with IPM.  
• Advise on climate-smart pesticide practices to reduce risk from climate-related stress on soils and water (e.g. heavy rains, seasonal droughts).
• Extend the reach of UConn Extension by integrating distance technology into the program delivery through computer/mobile applications, webpages, multimedia technologies, online courses, and other emerging electronic communications.
• Establish and maintain cooperative relationships and be a resource for educational expertise, content, and curriculum with the CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, other government agencies, industry associations, and professional societies involved with pesticide safety and IPM.
• Experience with integrating research-based and technical information across academic disciplines to produce effective peer-reviewed works and learner-focused educational materials.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS 

• The Assistant level requires: an earned Master’s degree and two years of experience in entomology, plant pathology, soil science, or a closely related discipline.
• The Associate level requires: a minimum of a Master’s degree in a related field and at least five years of experience as an Assistant Cooperative Extension Educator or 6 or more years of experience in the field of entomology, plant pathology, soil science, or a closely related discipline. For those with a Ph.D., 2 years of experience is required in the field of entomology, plant pathology, soil science, or a closely related discipline.  In addition, for appointment at the Associate level incumbents must provide evidence of appropriate teaching, research, and service.
• Demonstrated expertise in developing and delivery of outreach programs working with a wide range of industry partners and related professionals who use organic and/or conventional pesticides to address pesticide safety and risk assessment.
• Knowledge of climate smart practices for developing adaptation and mitigation strategies.  
• Demonstrated record of seeking grants and creating appropriate scholarship related to the applicant’s field of expertise.
• Excellent written communication and strong interpersonal and collaborative skills.
• Familiarity with the use of educational software and technology including webinars, internet conferencing, social media, or online course management.
• Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation.
• Willingness and ability to work occasional evening and weekend hours.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS 

• Familiarity and knowledge of diverse pesticide application practices including greenhouse, nursery production, arboriculture, landscape, turfgrass, fruit, and vegetables.
• Knowledge of weed science and management.
• Experience in conducting outreach activities including effective oral and presentation skills.
• Record of assessing and evaluating program impact and integration of social science concepts in extension programming.
• Earned Ph.D. in the field of entomology, plant pathology, soil science, or a closely related discipline.
• Bilingual in Spanish.

APPOINTMENT TERMS 

This is a full-time, 11-month position with an anticipated start date of August 2022. The successful candidate will be based at the University of Connecticut’s Hartford County Extension Center located in Farmington, CT. Travel to the Storrs campus, other extension centers, and elsewhere in the state is expected. Evening and weekend work may also be required.  Salary and faculty job level will be commensurate with training and experience.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Employment of the successful candidate is contingent upon the successful completion of a pre-employment criminal background check.

TO APPLY 

Please apply online to Academic Jobs Online https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/22048 and submit the following application materials:

• A cover letter summarizing how your qualifications and experience meet the position requirements (maximum two pages)
• Curriculum vitae
• A statement of academic disciplinary interests: summarize how your professional outreach/Extension and research accomplishments will contribute to the College’s success in achieving its Strategic Vision (maximum one page)
• Personal statement on Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (maximum one page)
• Names and contact information (phone/email) for at least three letters of reference

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until a successful candidate is selected. Any inquiries should be sent by email to the search committee chair, Vicky Wallace at Victoria.wallace@uconn.edu.

At the University of Connecticut, our commitment to excellence is complemented by our commitment to building a culturally diverse community.

This position will be filled subject the budgetary approval.

All employees are subject to adherence to the State Code of Ethics which may be found at http://www.ct.gov/ethics/site/default.asp.

The University of Connecticut is committed to building and supporting a multicultural and diverse community of students, faculty and staff. The diversity of students, faculty and staff continues to increase, as does the number of honors students, valedictorians and salutatorians who consistently make UConn their top choice. More than 100 research centers and institutes serve the University’s teaching, research, diversity, and outreach missions, leading to UConn’s ranking as one of the nation’s top research universities. UConn’s faculty and staff are the critical link to fostering and expanding our vibrant, multicultural and diverse University community. As an Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity employer, UConn encourages applications from women, veterans, people with disabilities and members of traditionally underrepresented populations.