Description

The University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Plant Pathology is seeking highly motivated and talented candidates for the Ethel and O.N. Allen Chair of Phytobacteriology at the Assistant, Associate, or Full Professor level.  We seek applicants with established successful research programs investigating the biology, ecology, and/or evolution of plant-associated bacteria, inclusive of pathogenic, commensal, and beneficial plant-bacterial interactions.  We welcome candidates with research foci across any level of biological scale, including but not limited to molecular, cellular, organismal, population, and community levels.  Applicants applying integrative solutions to solving outstanding and timely questions in the field of phytobacteriology are particularly encouraged to apply.  This position will contribute not only research, but also critical instruction in support of the department, college, and campus missions.  Instructional roles may include teaching at the graduate and undergraduate levels in areas of the candidate’s specialty and broadly in the areas of biology, plant pathology, and plant-microbe interactions. 

The Ethel and O.N. Allen Chair of Phytobacteriology was established by a generous gift to support an endowed chair in the field of phytobacteriology, which includes substantial ongoing research support for the Chair, contingent upon endowment fund performance.  We seek candidates with a distinguished record of research impact who will pursue the mission of this endowment through innovative and impactful research and teaching.  We expect that this faculty member will continue to expand on an independent, externally funded and internationally recognized research program in phytobacteriology.

The UW-Madison Department of Plant Pathology has been globally recognized for its strength in phytobacteriology and plant-microbe interactions more broadly, and we anticipate that this new faculty member will find many opportunities for research collaborations within our department and across the University of Wisconsin-Madison, including with the UW-Madison Data Science Institute and the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery. 

This position is part of UW-Madison's Excellence in Mentoring Initiative. The Excellence in Mentoring Initiative aims to recruit outstanding faculty who, in addition to their demonstrated excellence or strong potential in research and teaching, have demonstrated the ability and commitment to mentor at-risk, first-generation, or under-represented undergraduate or graduate students to achieve academic success.  Candidates who may not qualify for the EIM should still apply and will be given full consideration.  https://facstaff.provost.wisc.edu/faculty-hiring-and-retention-resources/#excellence-in-mentoring-initiative

Requirements

Key Job Responsibilities:
Expand an ongoing, independent, externally funded and internationally recognized research program.  The successful candidate will be expected to continue to secure extramural funding. 
Teach students at various levels, commensurate with college expectations and consistent with the teaching loads of the department.
Contribute to the department’s mission through graduate student instruction and mentoring.
Mentor students and promote their development and success in a collaborative environment. 
Contribute research and instructional expertise to courses led by others in the department.
Contribute to service functions of the department, college, and campus communities.

Department:
Department of Plant Pathology 

Compensation:
Negotiable – 9 months / ongoing

Required Qualifications:
Successful candidates will have: 

               - Strong foundational knowledge in the principles and concepts of phytobacteriology and relevant research experience

               - A successful record of publishing in peer-reviewed journals

               - Experience training and mentoring graduate students

               - Experience teaching and developing curriculum materials

               - Effective oral and written communication skills

Preferred Qualifications:
Preferred candidates will have the following:

               - Demonstrated ability to attract extramural funding

               - Demonstrated ability to work and communicate with diverse stakeholders

Education:
PhD in Biology, Microbiology, Evolutionary Biology, Genetics, Ecology, Plant Pathology, Plant Sciences, or related discipline.

Additional information:

Applicants can find relevant information about the Department of Plant Pathology at www.plantpath.wisc.edu, and any questions regarding the position, including specifics of the Allen Endowment, may be directed to the position search committee chair, Dr. Amanda Gevens, gevens@wisc.edu.  Applications are encouraged from all potentially qualified individuals.  Option to start on or after July 1, 2026. 

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is one of the world’s premier research universities and attracts a diverse body of outstanding faculty, staff, and graduate students from around the world.  State-of-the-art research and teaching facilities are provided both in Madison and at multiple agricultural research stations throughout the state.  The 963-acre campus is located on the shores of Lake Mendota in Madison, Wisconsin.  Madison is a picturesque city with a strong economy and a vibrant cultural environment and is consistently ranked among the top small U.S. cities in which to live. 

In addition to extensive corn, soybean, and forage crop production, Wisconsin is one of the top three states in the U.S. for production of potatoes, snap beans, cranberries, green peas, carrots, and sweet corn, as well as harboring extensive natural lands in forest, prairie, and savanna ecosystems.  Plant-associated bacteria play a major role in all of these systems, as one of the 5 major plant pathogen groups (along with fungi, oomycetes, viruses, and nematodes), and as mutualists of plants and drivers of crucial ecosystem functions.  Research in phytobacteriology enables discovery of fundamental processes in plant-bacterial interactions with implications for plant protection, future epidemics under changing climates, and promotion of healthy and productive soils, to name a few. 

How to Apply:
Applicants should upload the following information as a single PDF document:

Cover letter explaining the candidate’s interest and suitability for the role of Distinguished Chair of Phytobacteriology
Curriculum vitae
Statement of research interests and future research plans (two pages in length)
Statement of instructional philosophy, approach, and experiences (two pages in length)
Contact information for three references
Applications received by January 20, 2026 will be assured full consideration; review of applications will continue until a suitable candidate is identified.

Employment will require an institutional reference check regarding any misconduct.  To be considered, applicants must upload a signed ‘Authorization to Release Information’ form as part of the application.  The authorization form and a definition of ‘misconduct’ can be found here:  https://hr.wisc.edu/institutional-reference-check/

Contact Information:
Amanda Gevens

gevens@wisc.edu/608-575-3029

Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1 See RELAY_SERVICE for further information.