Assistant Professor and Extension Soils Specialist

The Department of Plants, Soils, and Climate (PSC) in the S.J. & Jessie E. Quinney College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (QANR) at Utah State University (USU) invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor and Extension Soil Specialist with expertise in soil fertility, nutrient management, and soil health. The successful candidate will develop a nationally recognized Extension and applied research program that addresses priority soil and nutrient-management needs of Utah agriculture.

The position will provide statewide leadership in developing, evaluating, and communicating science-based recommendations that improve nutrient use efficiency, soil productivity, farm profitability, and environmental stewardship. Priority areas may include soil testing and interpretation; fertilizer and nutrient recommendations; nutrient use efficiency; soil health assessment and management; soil amendments; manure and organic nutrient sources; nutrient cycling; salinity and sodicity; soil organic matter; soil–water–crop interactions; and emerging tools or technologies that improve soil and nutrient management.

The Extension Soil Specialist will work closely with producers, crop advisers, county and regional Extension faculty, conservation districts, commodity and agricultural organizations, state and federal agencies, private industry, university colleagues, and the USU analytical laboratory. The successful candidate will combine stakeholder-driven Extension education with field, laboratory, and on-farm research and will translate results into practical recommendations and decision-support tools for Utah and the western United States.

Review of applications will begin April 15, 2027 and continue until the position is filled. The anticipated start date will be January 1, 2028. Applicants must submit all application materials electronically through the Utah State University Human Resources website at jobs.usu.edu. Salary is commensurate with qualifications and experience, with excellent university benefits. For additional information, contact earl.creech@usu.edu, Search Committee Chair.

• Develop and lead a comprehensive statewide Extension program in soil fertility, nutrient management, and soil health that responds to producer and stakeholder needs.
• Serve as a primary university resource for soil testing, soil-test interpretation, fertilizer recommendations, nutrient stewardship, soil health assessment, soil amendments, and related soil-management questions.
• Develop, evaluate, and update science-based soil fertility and soil health recommendations for important Utah cropping systems.
• Create practical Extension publications, decision-support tools, digital resources, trainings, workshops, webinars, field days, and on-farm demonstrations for producers and agricultural professionals.
• Provide training and technical support to county and regional Extension faculty, crop advisers, conservation professionals, agencies, and industry partners.
• Build sustained relationships with producers and agricultural organizations to identify emerging needs and co-develop relevant Extension and applied research priorities.
• Pursue extramural support for Extension programming and evaluate program reach, adoption, and agronomic, economic, and environmental outcomes.
• Collaborate with and advise operations and outreach of the Utah State University analytical lab (USUAL).

• Develop an externally funded applied research program that supports and informs the statewide Extension program.
• Conduct field, laboratory, and on-farm research on topics such as soil-test calibration, fertilizer management, nutrient use efficiency, soil health indicators, amendments, nutrient cycling, salinity and sodicity, and soil–water–crop interactions.
• Use appropriate statistical, geospatial, sensing, modeling, laboratory, or other quantitative approaches to improve the rigor and utility of soil and nutrient recommendations.
• Publish and present findings in peer-reviewed journals, Extension outlets, professional meetings, and producer-focused venues.
• Mentor graduate and undergraduate students and participate in interdisciplinary, regional, and national research and Extension collaborations.

• Participate in department, college, university, Extension, and professional service activities.
• Contribute to professional societies and committees related to soil science, agronomy, nutrient management, soil health, and Extension.
• Support student recruitment, advising, mentoring, and other departmental activities.

• Earned Ph.D. in soil science, agronomy, plant science, crop science, environmental soil science, or a closely related discipline by the time of appointment.
• Demonstrated expertise in soil fertility, nutrient management, soil health, or closely related areas.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct applied, field-based research relevant to agricultural production systems.
• Ability to communicate scientific information effectively to both technical and nontechnical audiences.
• Demonstrated ability or strong potential to build productive relationships with producers, Extension professionals, agencies, industry, and other stakeholders.
• Ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams and to travel within Utah for Extension and research activities.

• Experience developing or delivering Extension, outreach, or other stakeholder-focused education programs.
• Experience conducting on-farm research or working directly with agricultural producers.
• Expertise in soil testing, soil-test interpretation, fertilizer recommendations, soil health assessment, and nutrient management.
• Knowledge of irrigated and/or dryland agricultural systems of Utah and the western United States.
• Evidence of scholarly productivity and potential to secure extramural funding.
• Experience integrating field experimentation with laboratory, statistical, geospatial, sensing, modeling, economic, or other quantitative approaches.
• Ability to develop practical decision-support tools and translate research results into actionable management recommendations.
• Ability to collaborate across university disciplines and with agencies, commodity organizations, conservation groups, crop advisers, and private industry.

Along with the online application, please attach:

**Document size may not exceed 10 MB.**

Employees typically work indoors and are protected from weather and/or contaminants, but not, necessarily, occasional temperature changes.  

As Utah’s student-centered, land-grant research university, Utah State University expands opportunity and strengthens communities across the state through learning, discovery, extension, and engagement. Founded in 1888, USU now holds two Carnegie distinctions: R1 status for very high research activity and the Carnegie Community Engagement Classification. Its innovative research and scholarship is grounded in reciprocal partnerships with local, regional, and global communities, advancing knowledge and serving the public good across Utah, the nation, and the world. With over 50 world-class research facilities and the nation’s second-oldest undergraduate research program, USU prepares students to become active, civically engaged leaders who can address critical societal challenges.

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*updated 10/26

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*updated 08/2026