What are the responsibilities and job description for the Ast Prof - Fixed Term position at Michigan State University?
Position Summary
The selected candidate will play a key role in (a) conducting research related to turfgrass management, (b) teaching undergraduate turfgrass management courses, and (c) advising and recruiting students in the Institute of Agricultural Technology (IAT) Golf and Sports and Commercial Turf Management Certificate Programs. Experience and interest in sports turfgrass management research is required. There is funding for the successful candidate to conduct field studies providing data for the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) for the 2026 World Cup games. The successful candidate will have access to field, greenhouse, and laboratory facilities. MSU’s Hancock Turfgrass Research Center is a 56-acre field research facility adjacent to campus with state-of-the-art equipment and an attached laboratory.
Teaching Responsibilities:
- CSS 232: Introduction to Turfgrass Management: Turfgrass utilization, identification, establishment, and management principles. Responses to various cultural practices. (4 credits; 2 credits starting Fall 2026).
- CSS 262: Turfgrass Management Seminar: Presentations by turf students and industry professionals. Topics include internship experiences, technical expertise, and keys to successful career pathways. (1 credit).
- CSS 267: Performance Turf Design and Instruction: Performance turfgrass design, construction, renovation and establishment principles. (2 credits).
- CSS 269: Turfgrass Strategies: Issues in turfgrass management including employee relations, cultural, and environmental problems. Offered the first ten weeks of spring semester. (2 credits).
- AT 293: Professional Internship in Ag Tech: (3 credits) summer semester.
Advising Responsibilities:
- Professional advising for ~40 IAT students annually, including admissions, orientation, and academic, career, and internship planning.
- Internship visits for the IAT students as well as coordinating visits for the students in the turfgrass concentration.
- Advisor of MSU Turfgrass Club, a registered student organization (RSO).
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.
Required Degree
Doctorate -Crop science, turfgrass science and management, biology, or related field
Minimum Requirements
- Ph.D. in turfgrass or a related field by start date.
- Graduate or post-doctoral research experience in sports turf management.
- Publications in refereed journals and/or presentations at professional meetings.
- Experience in teaching and mentoring college students.
- Dedication to professional development.
- Commitment to fostering student success.
- History of collaboration in research and teaching.
Desired Qualifications
- Experience in supervising or mentoring student internships experiences.
- Proficiency in student-centered, active, and inquiry-based learning methodologies.
- Demonstrate a willingness to integrate and collaborate with the existing research programs in the department.
Required Application Materials
Applicants are to submit the following documents as PDFs:
- Curriculum Vitae.
- Cover Letter (max. 1 page) detailing your interest and suitability for the position, and any other relevant information that is not included in the statements below.
- Research Statement (max. 2 pages) explaining your past research accomplishments and your research goals.
- Teaching Statement (max. 2 pages) including (1) how your previous experiences will inform your instruction in the assigned courses and (2) how you will utilize student-centered teaching methods as a course instructor and as a research mentor.
- A description of how you will contribute to CANR’s positive culture, fair access to resources, and creating a sense of belonging should be addressed throughout these documents.
- Contact information for three professional references (references will be contacted during the screening process).
Special Instructions
For inquiries regarding the position or any accommodation requests, please contact Thomas Nikolai (nikolait@msu.edu).
Review of Applications Begins on March 10, 2025.
https://hr.msu.edu/benefits/index.html
).Review of Applications Begins On
03/10/2025
Website
https://www.canr.msu.edu/psm/
Department Statement
The PSM department includes over 70 faculty members and strong graduate and undergraduate programs. The IAT includes over 25 appointed faculty and staff with substantial student enrollment. MSU, PSM, and IAT are committed to fostering accessibility and an inclusive community that enriches our learning environment and innovative research and seek colleagues driven by the same motivation.
http://worklife.msu.edu/
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.
Commitment to Creating a Sense of Belonging:
Michigan State University occupies the ancestral, traditional, and contemporary Lands of the Anishinaabeg – Three Fires Confederacy of Ojibwe, Odawa and Potawatomi people. The University resides on Land ceded in the 1819 Treaty of Saginaw.
PSM community norms
.MSU Statement
Michigan State University has been advancing the common good with uncommon will for more than 160 years. One of the top research universities in the world, MSU pushes the boundaries of discovery and forges enduring partnerships to solve the most pressing global challenges while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community through more than 200 programs of study in 17 degree-granting colleges.
