Overview
Assistant/Associate Professor – Agricultural Insect Spatial and Community Ecology
Auburn University, College of Agriculture
The Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology at Auburn University seek exceptional applicants for the position of Assistant/Associate Professor in Agricultural Insect Spatial and Community Ecology. Expected start date is August 16, 2027.
Responsibilities
This is a 9-month tenure-track position with 70% research and 30% instruction responsibilities focused on understanding how insect populations and communities respond to environmental, landscape, and management factors in southern row crop agroecosystems. The successful candidate will lead a nationally recognized research program that advances hypothesis-driven, quantitative studies that link insect populations and communities to landscape-scale ecological processes with a focus on insects in field and pasture cropping systems. The successful candidate is expected to foster interdisciplinary research, collaborate with Extension specialists, secure extramural funding to support programs and summer salary, publish technical and referred articles, and address emerging challenges in agroecology.
The instructional appointment would support the Entomology graduate and undergraduate curriculums. Instructional responsibilities will include co-instruction in a graduate level insect ecology course, co-instruction of a graduate and undergraduate IPM course (every other year), and an Economic Entomology course. Mentoring graduate students, contributions to graduate student professional development, and service on graduate student advisory committees are expected. Service to the department, college, and university is also expected.
Qualifications
An earned doctoral degree in Entomology, Ecology, Agroecology, Population genetics or a related discipline at the time employment begins; doctoral or postdoctoral training with demonstrated expertise in one or more of these areas: agricultural insect spatial ecology, community dynamics, ecological networks, movement ecology, population ecology, or quantitative ecological modeling. Evidence of teamwork and capability to teach undergraduate and graduate level courses. The candidate selected for the position must meet eligibility requirements for work in the United States at the time of appointment and continue working legally for the term of employment. Desired qualifications include demonstrated ability to connect ecological processes across various spatial scales; a record of strong quantitative skills using one or more of the following: GIS, Spatial statistics modeling, Remote sensing, Network analysis, or Omics approaches. Evidence of conceptual thinking, and interdisciplinary collaboration; a record of publication quality that includes first-author papers, corresponding-author papers, or highly cited papers in well respected or high impact journals; and a record of grantsmanship and graduate student mentorship.
Application
Complete applications must include:
- A letter of interest
- Curriculum vitae
- Statement of teaching philosophy
- Statement of research philosophy
- List three references with all contact information
All materials should be uploaded into the applicant system under “other documents”. Any questions should be sent to search chair, Dr. Scott Graham, shg0013@auburn.edu.
Only complete application materials will be considered. Active review of applications will begin on December 1, 2026, and will continue until the position is filled.
The University
Classified as a Carnegie R1 university, Auburn University is a public flagship land-grant institution with a student enrollment of more than 30,000. The University provides instruction in approximately 70 academic departments and maintains graduate research and public service programs of a broad scope. The University is located in the city of Auburn in east-central Alabama, near the metropolitan areas of Birmingham, Alabama, and Atlanta, Georgia, as well scenic escapes in the southern Appalachians or along the Gulf of Mexico.
AUBURN UNIVERSITY IS AN EEO/VET/DISABILITY EMPLOYER
Contract Type
Continuing
Why Work at Auburn?
- Life-Changing Impact: Our work changes lives through research, instruction, and outreach, making a lasting impact on our students, our communities, and the world.
- Culture of Excellence: We are committed to leveraging our strengths, resources, collaboration, and innovation as a top employer in higher education.
- We’re Here for You: Auburn offers generous benefits, educational opportunities, and a culture of support and work/life balance.
- Sweet Home Alabama: The Auburn/Opelika area offers southern charm, vibrant downtown scenes, top-ranked schools, and easy access to Atlanta, Birmingham, and the Gulf of Mexico beaches.
- A Place for Everyone: Auburn is committed to fostering an environment where all faculty, staff, and students are welcomed, valued, respected, and engaged.
Ready to lead and shape the future of higher education? Apply today! War Eagle!
Equal Opportunity Compliance Statement
It is our policy to provide equal employment and education opportunities for all individuals without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other classification protected by applicable law. Please visit the Office of Equal Opportunity Compliance's website to learn more.
