Assistant/Associate Professor of Turfgrass Science

Job Description

The School of Plant and Environmental Sciences (School) at Virginia
Tech seeks applicants for a 9-month, tenure-track faculty position
at the Assistant or Associate Professor rank in Turfgrass Science.
The successful candidate will develop a nationally recognized
research and Extension program that supports Virginia’s diverse
turfgrass industries, including golf course management, sports
field management, sod production, and professional lawn care.

Research priorities should be designed to meet
stakeholder-identified needs across the Commonwealth. The
successful candidate may focus on any relevant area of turfgrass
adaptation and management, including but not limited to:

• Water-use efficiency and irrigation scheduling, water

quality

• Adaptation of warm- and cool-season grasses to environmental

conditions

• Modeling the distribution and spread dynamics of turfgrass pests,

including diseases, weeds, insects, and other arthropods

• Autonomous and GPS-guided equipment, or other labor-saving and

input-reducing technologies and management strategies

• Energy transitions, including evaluation of gas-powered vs.

electric equipment

• Economic evaluation of turfgrass management practices and

adoption of new technologies

The successful candidate is expected to develop a productive,
externally funded research program that advances turfgrass science
through improved management strategies. The position also includes
statewide Extension leadership through the delivery of timely,
science-based information that addresses real-world challenges
faced by turfgrass professionals. Collaboration with Virginia Tech
faculty, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Agricultural Research and
Extension Centers (ARECs), and statewide turfgrass industry
partners will support the development of Extension publications,
digital tools, and decision-support materials. Additional
responsibilities include presenting at stakeholder and Extension
organized meetings, advising graduate students, and contributing to
the broader scholarly mission of the School.

The candidate will contribute to the School’s teaching mission at a
level consistent with a 10% teaching appointment. This may include
collaborating with colleagues to strengthen existing turfgrass
courses, developing shared course modules (for example, integrated
turfgrass pest management or turfgrass water use), guest lecturing,
and mentoring students. Candidates who wish to lead a full course
may do so by mutual agreement with the School.

Required Qualifications

The successful candidate must hold a Ph.D. in Turfgrass Science,
Agronomy, Horticulture, Plant Sciences, Environmental Science,
Entomology, or a closely related field. Candidates should
demonstrate strong potential for impactful, externally funded
research and Extension programming; a developing publication record
(peer-reviewed journal articles and Extension materials); effective
communication skills; and the ability to engage diverse stakeholder
groups. The research program must include a substantial applied
component, with findings delivered to turfgrass stakeholders and
readily usable in management practice. The position also requires
the capacity to work cooperatively as part of a multidisciplinary
team and travel within Virginia and elsewhere as required to
support Extension programming.

Additional Qualifications for Associate Professor

Appointment at the Associate Professor rank requires a demonstrated
record of success including a sustained record of peer-reviewed
publications and Extension materials; a history of competitive
external funding as principal investigator or equivalent; evidence
of statewide or national Extension leadership; and a documented
program of applied research that has been delivered to and adopted
by stakeholders. Candidates must also show a record of graduate
student mentoring and collaborative work with industry, agencies,
and professional associations commensurate with rank.

Preferred Qualifications

Preferred qualifications include expertise in one or more
stakeholder-identified priority areas described above. Candidates
with experience collaborating with industry partners, government
agencies, or professional associations, and those with a background
in field-based research and problem-solving with end users, will be
especially competitive.

Overtime Status

Exempt: Not eligible for overtime

Appointment Type

Regular

Salary Information

85,000-100,000

Hours per week

40

Review Date

12/04/2026 (Open until filled)

Additional Information

Application packets should include:

a. A formal cover letter summarizing qualifications,

b. a statement describing Teaching and Research philosophy (2-pg
max),

c. a statement describing Extension philosophy (2-pg. max).

d. a current curriculum vitae, and

e. the names and contact information of three professional
references who can assess the applicant’s qualifications for this
position.

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal
conviction check.

About Virginia Tech

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve),
Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a
hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be
leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution
that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the
world, Virginia Tech is an
inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and
creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse
enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and
professional students in eight
undergraduate colleges , a
school of medicine , a
veterinary medicine college,
Graduate School , and
Honors College . The university has a significant presence
across Virginia, including Blacksburg, the greater Washington, D.C.
area, the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke, sites
in Newport News and Richmond, and numerous
Extension offices and
research institutes . A leading global research institution,
Virginia Tech conducts more than $650 million in research
annually.

Virginia Tech endorses and encourages participation in professional
development opportunities and university shared governance . These valuable
contributions to university shared governance provide important
representation and perspective, along with opportunities for unique
and impactful professional development.

Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or
applicants on the basis of age, color, disability, sex (including
pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic
information, ethnicity or national origin, political affiliation,
race, religion, sexual orientation, or military status, or
otherwise discriminate against employees or applicants who inquire
about, discuss, or disclose their compensation or the compensation
of other employees or applicants, or on any other basis protected
by law.

If you are an individual with a disability and desire an
accommodation, please contact Dr. David McCall at dsmccall@vt.edu during regular
business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.