[Pollinator] Research/Museum job for pollinator/pollination specialist

[Peter Bernhardt]

Assistant Professor, Insect Systematics
Division of Plant Science and Technology
University of Missouri - Columbia
The Division of Plant Science and Technology (DPST) in the College of Agriculture, Food and
Natural Resources (CAFNR) at the University of Missouri (MU), a land-grant institution, invites
applications for a 9-month tenure-track Assistant Professor position in Insect Systematics with a
focus on pollinators. This faculty position is located at the MU main campus in Columbia, MO and
has a 45% research, 35% teaching and 20% service appointment.
Responsibilities: The selected candidate will be expected to establish a high-profile and
externally funded research program aimed at generating a fundamental understanding of insect
pollinators, their classification, evolution, biodiversity or interactions with plants. Key areas of
research can include, but are not limited to, the study of pollinator systematics, the co-evolution
of pollinators and plants, pollinator conservation, and the factors that affect pollinator
populations.
In addition to research, the incumbent will teach courses that contribute to the graduate
and undergraduate curriculum in DPST. The expected teaching workload includes the
development of undergraduate/graduate courses on insect systematics, biodiversity, and
conservation and to contribute to the development of an undergraduate certificate program in
Insect Science.
The incumbent will also serve as Director of the MU Enns Entomology Museum. The Enns
Entomology Museum was founded in 1874 by C.V. Riley as its first curator. Currently, it holds
approximately 7 million specimens of insects, arachnids and fossils, and is one of the largest
university-owned insect collections worldwide. The Museum is of national and international
importance because it is the primary source of insect and arachnid specimens representative of
the Ozark Plateau. It is also of great regional importance because the Museum closely
collaborates with the Missouri Department of Conservation, Missouri Department of Natural
Resources, Missouri Department of Agriculture, and the USDA Biological Control of Insects
Laboratory. The selected candidate is expected to contribute to collection development,
preservation, and advancement using modern collection management approaches and
extramural funding. In addition, the incumbent is expected to foster and support the use of the
Museum by outside scientists and for educational and outreach opportunities.
DPST includes a group of renowned faculty leading pioneering research in basic and
applied aspects of entomology and plant sciences. The incoming faculty can also rely on excellent
collaborative research programs such as the campus-wide Interdisciplinary Plant Group (IPG),
one of the top plant biology programs in the nation. MU has state-of-the-art facilities available
for research including the Bond Life Science Center, the Plant Transformation Core Facility, a
well-equipped Genomics Technology Core, Proteomics and Metabolomics Centers,
modern plant growth facilities, agricultural experiment stations, an imaging center, and an
electron microscopy core.
Minimum Qualifications: Ph.D. in Entomology or a related field by the time of appointment.Candidates will be evaluated on: Peer-reviewed publications and experiences in collection
management, grant-writing, and undergraduate or graduate teaching. Postdoctoral experience,
skills in verbal and written communication, and research collaborations are desirable.
Application Procedure: Please submit your CV, a cover letter in which the experiences and the
suitability for the advertised position are clearly described, a 2-page research vision statement,
up to 2-pages teaching philosophy statement, and contact information for at least three
references. Applications should be submitted at the following website:
https://hr.missouri.edu/job-openings, Job ID 58583.
Review of applications will begin March 01, 2026, and will continue until a suitable candidate is
identified. Questions about the position may be directed to Dr. Qisheng Song
(songq at missouri.edu), Chair of the Search Committee, at the University of Missouri. Questions
regarding the application process should be directed to Human Resource Services at (573) 882-
7976 or muhrs at missouri.edu.
University of Missouri: The University of Missouri campus is located in Columbia, MO, a vibrant
and growing college town of over 120,000 with a high quality of life and relatively low cost of
living. Columbia is located in central Missouri, half-way between Kansas City and St. Louis, about
2 hours from each of those metropolitan areas. Missouri is a state with both a strong agriculture
base and abundant natural areas for recreation and enjoyment. Learn more about Columbia and
Missouri at https://www.visitcolumbiamo.com.
Benefits: The University offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental and
vision plans, retirement, and educational fee discounts. For additional information on university
benefits, please visit the Faculty & Staff Benefits website.
The University of Missouri is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
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