Research Associate

irrespective of whether they prefer training in the basic sciences or are preparing for a career in extension. Our education and research programs provide graduate and undergraduate students with unique hands-on learning opportunities using the latest technologies. Entomology and Plant Pathology houses the Plant Disease and Insect Clinic, the Larry Grand Mycological Herbarium, Micropropagation and Repository Unit, Structural Pest Management Training Facility, an Insect Museum with 1.9 million vouchered insects, and the Center for Integrated Fungal Research. The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences houses 12 Academic departments with 294 faculty, 2,891 undergraduate students and 899 graduate students. The College is home to 18 research stations strategically located across the state that enhances our interactions with our farmers, stakeholders, and industry partners.

Wolfpack Perks and Benefits

As a Pack member, you belong here, and can enjoy exclusive perks designed to enhance your personal and professional well-being. As you consider this opportunity, we encourage you to review our Employee Value Proposition and learn more about what makes NC State the best place to learn and work for everyone.

What we offer:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision
• Flexible Spending Account
• Retirement Programs
• Disability Plans
• Life Insurance
• Accident Plan
• Paid Time Off and Other Leave Programs
• 12 Holidays Each Year
• Tuition and Academic Assistance
• And so much more!

Attain Work-life balance with our Childcare benefits, Wellness & Recreation Membership, and Wellness Programs that aim to build a thriving wolfpack community.

Essential Job Duties:

The Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology seeks a highly motivated Research Associate to support multidisciplinary research programs focused on plant pathology, substrate microbiology, pathogen biology, molecular diagnostics, microbial ecology, and genomics in horticultural production systems. The successful candidate will contribute to integrated research projects investigating how wood-based substrates influence soilborne disease suppression, microbial community dynamics, and biological control efficacy in greenhouse and protected production systems. The candidate may also contribute to applied plant pathology research and collaborative activities with specialty crop breeding programs as project needs dictate.

This position provides an opportunity to work within collaborative research teams across horticulture, plant pathology, and molecular biology, while contributing to innovative approaches to sustainable disease management in specialty crop production systems.

Primary Responsibilities

• Independently supports, develops, designs, or executes moderately complex research activities to evaluate how wood processing methods, substrate manufacturing approaches, and preconditioning treatments influence disease development and pathogen suppression.
• Investigate interactions among substrate composition, physicochemical properties, soilborne pathogens, microbial communities, and biological control organisms to identify mechanisms influencing disease suppression, crop health, and biological control performance.
• Conduct pathogen inoculations, disease assessments, microbial isolation, and experimental evaluations of disease progression under greenhouse conditions.
• Characterize microbial community dynamics associated with substrate composition and disease suppressiveness using molecular and sequencing-based approaches.
• Participate in the development and refinement of research methodologies, experimental protocols, and approaches to improve research quality and efficiency.
• Conduct plant disease assessments; isolate and characterize plant pathogens; and support host resistance evaluations and collaborations involving specialty crop breeding programs.

Other Responsibilities:

• Analyze experimental data using appropriate statistical, bioinformatic, and computational approaches.
• Maintain detailed experimental records, databases, and project documentation.
• Contributes to publications, reports, and draft manuscripts; presents research findings at scientific conferences, stakeholder meetings, workshops, and professional events.
• Collaborate effectively with faculty members, graduate students, technicians, extension personnel, and external collaborators.
• Support ongoing grant activities and contribute to the development of future research proposals and funding initiatives.
• Assist with mentoring undergraduate and graduate students involved in research activities.
• May serve as co-investigator on a funded research project or may participate in writing grant proposals or the facilitation of the grant writing process.

Minimum Education and Experience:

• Master’s degree in Horticultural Science, Plant Pathology, Molecular Biology, Microbial Ecology, Plant-Microbe Interactions, Plant Breeding, or closely related discipline, or a Bachelor’s degree with at least 3 years of relevant professional experience.
• The ideal candidate would have experience in investigating interactions between microbes in soil or plant systems.
• The ideal candidate will also have experience using bioinformatics tools in high-performance computing environments.

Other Required Qualifications:

• General knowledge of soil and environmental science
• Ability to clearly and concisely present scientific data both orally and in writing
• Ability to design experiments, conduct independent research, and lead the preparation of manuscripts
• Ability to work independently while contributing effectively within collaborative teams
• Strong organizational and project management skills
• Capacity to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines
• Ability to communicate complex scientific findings to audiences, including researchers, growers, and stakeholders

Preferred Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in Horticultural Science, Plant Pathology, Molecular Biology, Microbial Ecology, Plant-Microbe Interactions, Plant Breeding, or closely related discipline
• Experience working with plant pathogens, biological control organisms, or disease management systems
• Familiarity with statistical software, bioinformatics pipelines, and computational analyses used in microbial ecology studies
• Soilborne pathogen ecology and disease management
• Agricultural microbiome research
• Metagenomics, or multi-omics approaches
• Soil health assessments and biological indicators
• Experimental design and advanced statistical analyses
• Specialty crop production systems and sustainable agriculture
• Publication record demonstrating research productivity in relevant disciplines
• Evidence of scientific productivity through peer-reviewed publications
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Required License(s) or Certification(s):

• NC Driver’s License

Valid NC Driver's License required: Yes

Commercial Driver's License required: No

Job Open Date: 07/17/2026

Anticipated Close Date: Open until filled

Special Instructions to Applicants:

Application Materials: Applicants should submit:

• Cover letter describing research interests and qualifications
• Curriculum vitae
• Statement of research experience and future goals
• Contact information for three professional references

Position Number: 00112196

Position Type: EPS/SAAO

Full Time Equivalent (FTE) (1.0 = 40 hours/week): 1.0

Appointment: 12 Month Recurring