"Assistant Professor in Mycology/Plant-Fungal Interactions"

Assistant Professor in Mycology/Plant-Fungal Interactions

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Department of Plant Biology

The Department of Plant Biology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is a leader in exploring the complexities of plant life, from molecular mechanisms to ecosystem dynamics. The department works to advance the understanding of plant biology and plant-microbial interactions to address the global challenges of climate change, food security and biodiversity conservation.

The recruitment for this position is part of a campus-wide cluster hiring initiative aimed at developing an interdisciplinary program in Climate-smart Circular Bioeconomy (CCB) in association with the Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment (iSEE). Candidates should have an interest in developing a strong disciplinary and interdisciplinary research program that advances scholarship on topics with relevance to a circular bioeconomy. The cluster hires will foster innovative ideas and problem-oriented approaches in an interdisciplinary research ecosystem on campus to advance scholarship in the emerging field of CCB that contribute to a vibrant, competitive, and circular bioeconomy nationally and globally.

The cluster of faculty hired will receive support to enhance their interdisciplinary research, education and outreach programs, from iSEE, with the goal of securing both public and private funding to advance this field of study. The departments participating in this cluster hire include the following: Agricultural and Consumer Economics (ACE), Agricultural and Biological Engineering (ABE), Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences (NRES) and Plant Biology. These hires will add to the strong foundation for scholarship, education and outreach in CCB that exists across our campus in areas related to digital agriculture, advanced bioeconomy and bioproducts, regenerative agriculture, agro-ecosystem sustainability and social and behavioral sciences.

The Department of Plant Biology is housed within the School of Integrative Biology in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. We are excited to invite applications for a tenure-track research and teaching role at the level of Assistant Professor. We seek individuals with research excellence in mycology, plant-fungal interactions and/or fungal metabolomics relevant to research on circular economies in food and agricultural systems, post-consumer food and plastic waste, and sustainable agricultural systems. The successful applicant will engage with a highly collaborative departmental community with strengths in photosynthesis research, global change, plant molecular and cellular biology, genomics, and ecology. Exceptional opportunities exist for collaborations through the Institute for Genomic Biology, iSEE, Center for Advanced Biofuel and Bioproduct Innovation (CABBI); Center for Digital Agriculture (CDA); National Center for Supercomputer Applications (NCSA); AI Institute for Future Agricultural Resilience, Management and Sustainability (AIFARMS), I-REGEN (Illinois, Regenerative Agriculture Initiative), Agroecosystem Sustainability Center (ASC), Illinois Fermentation and Agriculture Biomanufacturing (IFAB), the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation funded Realizing Improved Photosynthetic Efficiency (RIPE) project and the Levenick Center for Climate-Smart Circular Bioeconomy.

The successful candidate will be expected to develop an externally funded research program, teach at undergraduate and graduate levels, and collaborate with faculty to develop research and education initiatives in plant biology and mycology. We seek candidates with demonstrated experience engaging with students representing the full breath of identities to impact the holistic educational and learning environment of the students enrolled in the department and the campus at large. Applicants are encouraged to include in their cover letter information about how they will further our commitment to these values. A Ph.D. or equivalent in biology, or another relevant field is required, and postdoctoral experience is highly desirable.

Appointment:

The appointment is for a full-time, nine-month, tenure-track Assistant Professor. Target start date is August 16, 2026. The budgeted salary range for the position is $90,000 to $95,000 at the Assistant Professor level, for a 9-month service basis. The pay offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors including (but not limited to) the experience and qualifications of the selected candidate, including equivalent years in rank, training, and field or discipline; internal equity; and external market pay for comparable jobs. It is not typical for a beginning Assistant Professor to be offered a salary at or near the top of the full range for the position.

Application:

To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by 6:00 pm (CST) on October 31, 2025. Only applications submitted through the University of Illinois Job Board will be considered https://jobs.illinois.edu.

Please create your candidate profile through jobs.illinois.edu. Applicants must submit the following:

• application letter,
• curriculum vitae,
• summary of research and plans,
• teaching philosophy and experience,
• contact information including e-mail addresses for three professional references.

After a review of the candidate's record, the search committee may then contact the applicant about soliciting letters of reference. We ask that all documents be uploaded in a single .pdf file as an upload in the Resume/CV section.

We have an active and successful dual-career partner placement program and a strong commitment to work-life balance and family-friendly programs for faculty and staff (http://provost.illinois.edu/faculty-affairs/work-life-balance/).

To find out more about the resources available at the university and Urbana-Champaign community please visit these sites:

• Dual Career Program
• Benefits
• Living in Champaign-Urbana

Questions about the position may be directed Ellen Lindsey, elindse@illinois.edu. For inquiries about application materials, email: lascollegehiring@illinois.edu. For assistance with the application portal, contact the Illinois Human Resources office at 217-333-2137 or jobs@illinois.edu.