TITLE: Extension Educator and Assistant Professor

Non-tenure track, Professional/Academic Position, annually renewable

LOCATION: Department of Plant Pathology, University of Minnesota

DESCRIPTION: This position will serve the needs of a growing urban audience interested in landscape plant maintenance, especially disease prevention. The primary focus will be education and support for Extension Educators, Master Gardeners and the public concerned about urban plant care. The major effort will include: 1) preparing urban plant disease management information, 2) developing rapid diagnostic techniques for urban disease identification and, 3) teaching the disease portion of the Master Gardener core course. The person will be expected to know common urban plant diseases and diagnose new disease problems as they develop. Additional educational efforts may be directed towards the service industry involved in urban plant care.

RESPONSIBILITIES: Assist Extension Educators, Master Gardeners, and concerned individuals with plant disease questions by phone, mail and sample analysis. A major role is to update, revise and develop information on urban plant health care. The person is expected to develop educational workshops and short courses for the Extension Educators, Master Gardeners, Commodity groups and the General Public. The person will be expected to maintain and expand a web-driven disease diagnostic and control data base for public assess. The person will also be expected to become a recognized source of disease control information by the communication media, i.e., newspapers, magazines, radio and TV.

Education: A Master’s degree in plant pathology and training in plant disease diagnosis.

Experience in identifying plant diseases in the urban environment, writing education materials, photography, public speaking/teaching and integrating pest control methods.

Demonstrated skills and abilities to work as an interdisciplinary team member, manage and schedule a variable work load, use computer technology in outreach, make judgments when answering technical questions, and be articulate and understandable.

Salary Benefits: Commensurate with an MS level position, plus standard University Benefits

Appointment: 12-month, 100% time professional and academic appointment (P&A), annually renewable, depending on funding and performance. Excellent University benefits package.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: August 15, 2000 or until a suitable candidate is found.

POSITION AVAILABILITY: September 1, 2000

APPLICATION PROCESS: Send application (letter of interest, curriculum vitae, transcripts and 3 letters of reference) to Dr. Jon Powell, Assistant Professor, Department of Plant Pathology, 495 Borlaug Hall, 1991 Upper Buford Circle, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108-6030.

The University of Minnesota is committed to the policy that all persons shall have equal access to its programs, facilities and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, or sexual orientation.