Indigenous Horticulturist

Available Title(s):

270-NN_FACULTY - Assistant Professor

Business Title:

Indigenous Horticulturist

Employee Type:

Faculty

Time Type:

Full time

Position Term:

9 Month

Position Details:

Summary of Duties

The incumbent will establish a program of research, teaching, and extension (outreach) with a focus on utilization of native food and ceremonial plants; lost production and harvesting practices; and/or development of new practices that support the sustainability and use of culturally relevant plants within a changing ecosystem. Example focus areas can include, but are not limited to, small berry and vegetable production in tidal estuarine and open meadow ecosystems; renewal of ceremonial management and harvesting traditions for spiritually significant plants possessing food, medical, and ceremonial value; improved use of native pollinators; and/or native plant improvement to address biotic and abiotic stressors or other related areas important to indigenous and other culturally relevant plants. Specific focus area can account for spiritual traditions that are highly coupled with the use of culturally relevant foods and plants used for ceremonial and/or medicinal purposes. As part of outreach efforts, the individual must work with native and other stakeholders' minority populations. Importantly, activities can include a focus on reconnecting youth with elders who possess indigenous knowledge. The department will work with local and native stakeholders to form an advisory committee for the incumbent.

Additionally, the individual will contribute to undergraduate or graduate education by developing and implementing courses or modules related to their research area that transfer knowledge and raise awareness among racial and ethnic minority students with opportunities for teaching across the WSU system. Mentorship of students is a critical component of teaching, and the individual would contribute to excellence in mentorship, in concert with other department faculty, and maintain standards of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the recruitment of students and staff.

Required Qualifications:

• A PhD degree in horticulture, applied plant sciences, or related fields.

• Evidence of the ability to lead and manage a research and outreach program.

• Demonstrated record of scholarly accomplishments in basic and/or applied plant sciences commensurate with career level.

Preferred Qualifications:

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

• Demonstrated ability to conduct original research.

• Ability or capacity to teach/mentor undergraduate and graduate students.

• Demonstrated record of or capacity to acquire and/or manage extramural competitive grant support.

• Knowledge of culturally appropriate and scientifically sound methods of conducting basic and/or applied plant research with racial and ethnic minority communities.

• Experience working with racial and ethnic minority communities.

• Demonstrated understanding of racial and ethnic minority communities' culture and values.

• Ability to work effectively with interdisciplinary teams and indigenous stakeholders.

• Attended some classes in Native American Studies from a tribal college or university with a tribal program.

Additional Inf