The Distinguished Endowed Chair in Soil Health for Potato Cropping System

Online applications must be received before 11:59pm on:

May 15, 2026

If a date is not listed above, review the Applicant Instructions below for more details.

Available Title(s):

270-NN_FACULTY - Assistant Professor, 280-NN_FACULTY - Associate Professor, 290-NN_FACULTY - Professor

Business Title:

The Distinguished Endowed Chair in Soil Health for Potato Cropping System

Employee Type:

Faculty

9 Month - Summer

The Opportunity:

The Department of Crop and Soil Sciences (CSS) in the College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences (CAHNRS) at Washington State University (WSU) seeks a collaborative and innovative scientist to join an extraordinary team of faculty members supporting Washington’s potato industry. We are seeking to fill the full-time, continuous, tenured/tenure-track (assistant, associate, or professor rank), Distinguished Endowed Chair in Soil Health for Potato Cropping Systems beginning on or before August 1, 2026.

Washington State is a global leader in potato production.  The successful candidate will engage with industry to envision, design and direct research into healthier, more productive soils for the potato industry, addressing the need to better understand how biological, physical, and chemical qualities of the soil affect potato productivity, quality, and nutrition. A $3+ million endowment created by potato growers, processors, and supporting industries supports the program. Teaching responsibilities include one course per year in soil science, contributions to other courses as needed, and the supervision of graduate students. 

This position is located on the WSU main campus in Pullman, with expectations to conduct research in the irrigated Columbia Basin of central Washington (approximately 2-hr drive from Pullman). The position reports directly to the Chair of CSS.

Responsibilities:

The Distinguished Endowed Chair in Soil Health for Potato Cropping Systems will develop and lead an integrated research-extension program with national and international impact. The program will closely collaborate with growers and the processing industry in the Columbia Basin to develop practical methods, means, and management tools to promote soil health and improve potato productivity by focusing on soil ecosystems in Columbia Basin potato cropping systems, which include rotation crops with potatoes and cover crops.

Recent advances in understanding interactions of the soil microbiome with soil physical and chemical qualities have opened new research and management opportunities to improve soil health for enhanced potato productivity and human nutrition. As a Distinguished Endowed Chair, we seek a leader to join our team of soil scientists, horticulturists, and plant pathologists to further our understanding of and ability to manage these properties and processes to enhance potato production in the Pacific Northwest (PNW).

The individual selected will lead and encourage the regional research community to focus on potato cropping systems with an emphasis on soil health. This includes leading and participating in soil health research proposals to the Northwest Potato Research Consortium and other national funding programs; defining research objectives based in part on existing knowledge gaps and ongoing engagement with industry and other scientists; leading collaborative soil health research projects; and coordinating and assisting grower-based research on commercial farms.

The successful candidate will collaborate with and complement other research and extension activities conducted by WSU including the Washington Soil Health Initiative, and other PNW and U.S. public and private sector scientists, extension professionals, crop consultants, growers, and processors. The individual will pursue and secure extramural funds to support the program and complement the endowment; regularly engage with stakeholders and share research findings; and deliver high quality instruction at the advanced undergraduate or graduate levels.

Required for all ranks:

• Earned Ph.D. in soil science, soil microbiology, biogeochemistry,
  horticulture, plant pathology, or a closely related field by employment start date.

Additional requirements for Associate rank:

• Must have served at least 6 years in academic, industry or a federal lab after Ph.D.

• Must have experience in mentoring and leading funded research programs.

Additional requirements for Professor rank:

• Must have served at least 10 years in academic, industry or a federal lab after Ph.D.

• Must have experience in mentoring and leading funded research programs.

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

Preferred for all ranks:

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

• Demonstrated leadership in developing and executing interdisciplinary research programs.

• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with industry and the crop research community on a local, regional, national, and international scale.

• Demonstrated record of acquiring extramural competitive grant support.

• Knowledge of state-of-the-art techniques applicable to potato soil health research.

• Experience or expressed interest in working with potato-based crop rotations and irrigated agriculture systems.

• Demonstrated evidence of effective teaching and student mentoring.

• Demonstrated knowledge and ability to work effectively with individuals and groups of diverse cultures, backgrounds, and ideologies.

Posting Closing Date: Applicants must submit their completed application by May 15, 2026 at 11:59PM.

Salary:

Base Salary Assistant Professor: $100,000 - $120,000

Base Salary Associate Professor: $110,000 – $130,000

Base Salary Full Professor:: $120,000 - $150,000

Summer Salary: $22,222.22 - $33,333.33

Total Possible Annual Salary: $122,222.22 - $183,333.33

Salary will be determined based on qualifications and experience. The position may be eligible for up to 2 months’ summer salary conditional on successful performance and funding while serving as the endowed chair.

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.

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.

Position Sponsorship Eligibility: May be eligible for work visa sponsorship
 

The Department of Crop and Soil Sciences (CSS)
Faculty, staff, and students in CSS are committed to improving the long-term sustainability of agricultural systems through research, teaching, and extension. Our department offers M.S. and Ph.D. programs in Crop Science and Soil Science, with over 55 graduate students currently enrolled. In addition, we host another 20 graduate students pursuing the M.S. in Agriculture (online) and PhD in Molecular Plant Sciences (in residence) degrees, and the Graduate Certificate in Sustainable Agriculture. Undergraduate students can select B.S. programs in Agricultural and Food Systems (with majors in agricultural education; agricultural technology and production management; agricultural and food business economics; and organic and sustainable agriculture) and Integrated Plant Sciences (with majors in agricultural biotechnology; field crop management; fruit and vegetable management; and landscape, nursery, and greenhouse management). First-class facilities include a new 30-acre organic farm on the Pullman campus, five agronomy farms within a 10-mile radius of Pullman, and labs and farms at research centers in Mount Vernon, Puyallup, Prosser, Othello, and Wenatchee. Partnerships with the USDA Agricultural Research Service, the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, the University of Washington and other universities, commodity commissions, the agriculture industry, and family farms result in well-rounded and timely research, successful outreach, and opportunities for student internships. For more information, visit www.css.wsu.edu

Area/College: College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences (CAHNRS) http://cahnrs.wsu.edu/

Location: Pullman, WA

Application Instructions:

We welcome applications from candidates at the assistant, associate, or professor level whose expertise and accomplishments align with the goals of this endowed chair. Advertising closes on May 15, 2026 and screening will begin immediately after. This position is posted on the WSU Jobs site at https://hrs.wsu.edu/careers/. To apply, submit a detailed letter of application addressing the required and preferred qualifications, a current curriculum vitae, unofficial transcripts (optional) or list of courses relevant to the position, and the name and contact information of 3 references. For questions contact the search committee chair: Rich Koenig, richk@wsu.edu.

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.

Documents may be submitted as one file or separate files. Applicants are encouraged to upload as a PDF, if possible.

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.

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.

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