Responsibilities: Purdue University’s nationally and internationally recognized Agronomy Department is seeking a dynamic head with a broad vision for plant, soil, and environmental sciences. The Head will lead a diverse group of talented faculty and staff in fulfilling the research, teaching and extension missions of a premier Agronomy Department in a major land grant university. The Head has latitude in making administrative, fiscal, and human resource decisions. The Head is also expected to uphold the department’s long-standing commitment to international programs; perform a liaison role within the university and with government agencies and industry groups; help strengthen interdisciplinary activities; and represent the department to professional organizations, the university community, and society at large.
Qualifications: The successful candidate should have an outstanding record of scholarly achievement and a demonstrated commitment to excellence in research, teaching, and extension. He/she should also have leadership, communication, and administrative abilities coupled with an appreciation for the diverse interests and missions of the department as well as the land grant university philosophy. Experience in building teams and in facilitating interdisciplinary research, education, and extension programs is highly desired. Candidates must have an earned doctoral degree and be eligible for tenure at the rank of full professor.
The Department: The Agronomy Department is one of the largest and most diverse departments in the , with research spanning basic to applied topics in soils, crops, environmental, and earth system sciences. The department has 43 faculty and 70 professional, clerical, and technical staff. Undergraduates (170 students) choose from eight plans of study within the department. An additional 60 undergraduates are enrolled in the interdisciplinary program in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, which is currently directed by an Agronomy faculty member. Graduate research programs (70 students) include: plant genetics and breeding, plant biology, soil and earth system sciences, turf science and cropping systems. Faculty participate in interdisciplinary programs in biochemistry and molecular biology, genetics, geographic information systems and remote sensing, plant physiology, water resources, and in several interdisciplinary research/learning centers across the campus. The department has a productive research partnership with USDA/ARS in both crops and soils. Extension education serves crops, soils, and environmental clientele across and the nation. The department is committed to international dimensions of the discipline and has historically been engaged in global education and research.
The department has excellent office/laboratory/greenhouse space and field research capabilities near campus and at locations across the state. The department’s annual budget is approximately $12 million, with more than half of this from extramural sources. The department just completed a CSREES review in February and is poised to develop new programs to address larger interdisciplinary societal issues. The new head will provide leadership to these efforts.
Application Procedure: Qualified persons are requested to submit the following: a letter of application; a statement of the applicant’s vision and administrative philosophy, emphasizing their ability to provide leadership to the research, teaching, and extension missions of the department; a complete curriculum vita including names, addresses, telephone numbers, and e-mail addresses of five references. Nominations of outstanding potential candidates for the position are welcomed. Please note that references will be contacted only upon approval of the applicant.
Nominations or letters of interest should be sent to: Dr. Peter Goldsbrough, Department Head of Botany and Plant Pathology and Chair of the Search Committee. Electronic submission is preferred and should be sent to rdr@purdue.edu. Screening will commence November 9, 2009, and continue until this position is filled. Questions regarding the position can be addressed to Dr. Goldsbrough at (765) 494-4615 (goldsbrough@purdue.edu).
is an equal opportunity/equal access/affirmative action employer
fully committed to achieving a diverse workforce.