Job description

Online applications must be received before 11:59pm on:
March 3, 2026
If a date is not listed above, review the Applicant Instructions below for more details.

Available Title(s):
280-NN_FACULTY – Associate Professor, 290-NN_FACULTY – Professor, 395-NN_FACULTY – New Tenure-Track – Pre-Academic Year

Business Title:
Rosalie and Harold Rea Brown Distinguished Endowed Chair in Plant Pathology

Employee Type:
Faculty

Position Term:
9 Month

Position Details:

The Opportunity:

The Department of Plant Pathology at Washington State University (WSU) seeks a leader in Dryland Cropping Systems Plant Pathology at the rank of Associate or Full Professor with 60% research, 20% extension, 10% teaching, and 10% service responsibilities. This endowed chair position offers the opportunity to lead internationally recognized research and extension efforts addressing diseases of wheat, barley, and other key dryland rotational crops, including canola, chickpea, dry pea, lentil, camelina, and others. This position is supported by a $3.0 million endowment, made possible by the Rosalie and Harold Rea Brown Charitable Trust to support translational research and extension in plant pathology at WSU. The successful candidate will advance innovative strategies for disease management, strengthen partnerships with dryland cropping system stakeholders across Washington and the greater Pacific Northwest, and provide leadership to sustain the productivity and profitability of the region’s dryland cropping systems. In addition, the position will play an important role in graduate education by contributing to the teaching of core plant pathology courses. The person in this position will also mentor graduate students, contribute to interdisciplinary research initiatives, and enhance the visibility and impact of WSU’s Plant Pathology program. The Endowed Chair in Dryland Cropping Systems Plant Pathology will hold tenure in the WSU Department of Plant Pathology and report to the Chair of the Department.

Responsibilities:

The successful candidate will lead a world-class research program focused on disease management in dryland cropping systems in central and eastern Washington, and design and deliver an impactful extension program that addresses stakeholder needs for disease management, sustainability, and improved profitability in Washington’s dryland agriculture as a member of the Dryland Cropping Systems Extension team. The successful applicant will be expected to conduct a program of robust research and effective engagement consistent with the mission of the Office of Research of the WSU College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences (https://cahnrs.wsu.edu/research/). The person in this position will contribute to teaching in the Department of Plant Pathology, including co-teaching PL_P 429 (General Plant Pathology) and PL_P 551 (Plant Disease Epidemiology and Management), and contributing to other courses as needed by the Department. The person in this position will mentor graduate and undergraduate students. The successful candidate will collaborate with other researchers and Extension faculty in the Department of Plant Pathology, USDA-ARS scientists, industry partners, and regional, national, and international researchers to address important diseases affecting dryland crop production. The person in this position will pursue extramural funding through regional, state, and federal grants and contracts, provide professional service to the Department, College, University, and relevant scientific and professional organizations, and help strengthen the visibility and leadership of the WSU plant pathology program.

Additional Information:

SALARY

This is a 9-month Academic Year, tenure-track position. This position may be eligible for up to 2 months’ summer salary, conditional on successful performance and funding.

9-Month Base Salary: $90,000 – $150,000

Potential Summer Salary: $10,000 – $16,666.67 per month

Total Possible Annual Salary: $110,000 – $183,333.34 (Commensurate with experience and qualifications)

In accordance with RCW 49.58.110, the above salary reflects the full salary range for this position. Individual placement within the range is based on the candidate’s current experience, education, skills, and abilities related to the position. Successful candidates typically begin up to mid-point of the salary range. For additional information, please review WSU’s Administrative Professional Compensation Structure.

Benefits: WSU offers a comprehensive benefits package which includes paid sick and vacation leave; paid holidays; medical, dental, life and disability insurance package for employees and dependents; retirement; deferred compensation, optional supplemental retirement accounts. For additional information, please review the detailed Summary of Benefits offered by WSU for Faculty and Total Compensation.

Required for both ranks

• Earned Ph.D. in plant pathology or related field

• Evidence of leadership in developing and executing a robust research program in plant pathology, including a strong record of peer-reviewed publications

• Demonstrated ability to engage and communicate effectively with technical and nontechnical audiences in oral, written, and electronic forms

• Sustained record of acquiring extramural competitive grant support

Additional requirements for Associate rank

• Must have served at least 6 years in academic, industry, or a federal lab after completion of a PhD degree

• Must have experience in mentoring and demonstrated leadership in funded research programs

Additional requirements for Professor rank

• Must have served at least 10 years in academic, industry, or a federal lab after completion of a PhD degree

• Must have experience in mentoring and demonstrated leadership in funded research programs

• Must be a recognized leader through national/international accomplishments and awards

Preferred for both ranks

• Evidence of excellence in teaching and mentoring graduate students

• Evidence of successful research leading to improved management of diseases in dryland cropping systems

• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with individuals and groups from diverse cultures, backgrounds, and perspective

Position Sponsorship Eligibility: Not eligible for work visa sponsorship

Washington State University:

Founded in 1890, Washington State University is a comprehensive land-grant university with teaching, research, and extension missions, and one of two research universities in Washington State. WSU is organized into 11 academic colleges, the Honors College, and the Graduate School. It has an enrollment of more than 31,000 undergraduate and graduate students on 5 campuses (Pullman, Spokane, Tri-Cities, Vancouver, and Everett) with approximately 21,000 students located on the main campus in Pullman, WA. WSU ranks among the top 60 public research universities and is a Carnegie I, Doctoral/Research Extensive University. WSU strongly values diversity among its faculty, staff, and students, and seeks to ensure a welcoming community for all. Further information about WSU can be found at: https://wsu.edu/ and https://wsu.edu/about/.

College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences (CAHNRS):

The College of Agricultural, Human and Natural Resource Sciences (CAHNRS) at Washington State University is an expansive and diverse college that includes 13 academic units, three extension program units, four research and extension centers distributed across the state, 13 subject matter centers, and one tribal and 39 county extension offices. CAHNRS fosters disciplines that serve at the interface of scientific discovery and its application to the advancement of society and improvement of human experience. Our mission is to provide global leadership in discovering, accessing, and disseminating knowledge that contributes to producing a safe, abundant food and fiber supply; promotes the well-being of individuals, families, and communities; enhances sustainability of agricultural and economic systems; and promotes stewardship of natural resources and ecological systems. CAHNRS personnel embrace the opportunity to fulfill the university’s land-grant mission by making groundbreaking research discoveries, by delivering relevant, progressive extension programs that synergistically generate outcomes that enhance the quality of life for the citizens of Washington State, as well as for people around the globe. For more information, visit http://cahnrs.wsu.edu.

Department of Plant Pathology:

The tenure unit for this position is the Department of Plant Pathology (https://plantpath.wsu.edu/), which offers one of the most comprehensive plant pathology programs in the country. Faculty are engaged in a wide range of research activities that 4 address biological, molecular, epidemiological, and biotechnological investigations into diverse groups of microorganisms that threaten the sustainability and profitability of numerous economically important crops. Protecting crops from destructive diseases and ensuring plant health by using environmentally sound and sustainable strategies based on robust fundamental and applied research are some of the core strengths of our department. Plant pathology faculty are located on the WSU main campus in Pullman and at Research and Extension Centers in Mount Vernon, Prosser, Puyallup, and Wenatchee. Several USDA-ARS scientists hold adjunct faculty appointments in the department.

Area/College: College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences (CAHNRS)
Department Name: Plant Pathology
Location: Pullman, WA

Application Instructions: Applicants must apply online through https://hrs.wsu.edu/jobs/. A complete application will include the following materials, combined into a single PDF file prior to uploading:

1) a cover letter (maximum 2 pages);

2) a current curriculum vitae;

3) a statement of vision and goals for the position, describing how you would serve the research and extension needs of the dryland crop industries in Washington State (maximum 2 pages); and

4) a teaching and mentoring statement outlining relevant experience (maximum 2 pages).

The application should clearly address each of the required and preferred qualifications for the position.

External candidates, upload all documents in the “Application Document” section of your application.
Current WSU Employees (internal candidates), before starting your Workday application, please use these instructions to update your education and experience in your worker profile in Workday. Internal candidates, upload all documents in the “Resume/Cover Letter” section of your application.

Reference contact information will be requested later in the recruitment process through Workday.

Background Check: This position has been designated by the department to require a background check because it requires access to children or vulnerable adults as defined by RCW 74.34, engages in law enforcement, requires security clearance, interacts with WSU students in a counseling or advising capacity, has access to personal identifying and/or financial information, unsupervised access to university buildings/property, or other business-related need. A background check will not be completed until an initial determination of qualification for employment has been made.

Time Type:
Full time

Washington State University encourages all qualified candidates to apply, including members of the military and veterans, and persons with disabilities.

WSU employs only U.S. citizens and lawfully authorized non-U.S. citizens. All new employees must show employment eligibility verification as required by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

WSU is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, education and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact Human Resource Services: 509-335-4521 (v), Washington State TDD Relay Service: Voice Callers: 1-800-833-6384; TDD Callers: 1-800-833-6388, 509-335-1259(f), or [email protected].

Notice of Non-Discrimination

In matters of admission, employment, housing or services, or in the educational programs or activities it operates, WSU does not discriminate or permit discrimination by any member of its community against any individual on the basis of sex, race, color, national or ethnic origin, physical disability, mental disability, sensory disability, use of a trained service animal, age, religion, creed, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, honorably discharged veteran, member of the military, or immigration or citizenship status except as authorized by federal or state law, regulation, or government contract.

Inquiries about the application of federal and state laws and regulations (including inquiries regarding the application of Title IX, ADA/Section 504, and implementing regulations), as well as reports and complaints of discrimination and harassment, can be made verbally or in writing to WSU’s Compliance and Civil Rights, the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights, or both.

More information, resources, and contact information are available here: https://ccr.wsu.edu/notice-of-nondiscrimination/

How to apply

To apply, visit