Plant Science Excellence | Office of Research and Innovation

True to its land-grant roots that revolutionized higher education, MSU is committed to training the next generation of plant science leaders, with many research opportunities for both undergraduate and graduate students, and post-doctoral researchers. As home to one of the largest communities of plant science faculty in the world, with research spanning from the molecular level to global ecosystems, MSU has the scientific expertise to lead large-scale collaborative research necessary to address the complex and pressing needs of today and into the future.

Faculty Hiring Initiative

Join our community of over 200 plant science faculty, embracing collaborative and interdisciplinary approaches to foundational and applied research. MSU intends to extend its plant science leadership through a five-year recruiting initiative, bringing together new talent and current MSU experts around key research priorities. This broad hiring initiative includes 20-25 new positions across MSU departments, centers, and institutes that span colleges and impact many aspects of plant science and agricultural scholarship. Become a part of a renowned legacy, spanning decades of pioneering contributions to plant science research.

Hiring Areas

Discover unparalleled research opportunities, rooted in excellence.

Featured Position

W.K. Kellogg Biological Station (KBS)
Director
Application review begins: January 21, 2025

Michigan State University seeks a resident Director for the W. K. Kellogg Biological Station (KBS) to provide leadership and promote a creative environment that fosters innovation and excellence in the Station's research, education, and outreach programs in ecology, evolution, agriculture, and conservation biology. The Director provides visionary leadership for KBS research, education, and outreach programs and is expected to maintain and enhance a creative and productive environment for faculty, students, and both academic and non-academic staff. The Director serves as the principal representative of KBS with authority and responsibility for administrative decisions. The Director reports directly to the Deans of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and the College of Natural Science at MSU. This is an administrative leadership position with opportunities and support to continue a research or outreach program and/or engage in teaching.

The position is expected to be filled beginning August 2025. For more information, see posting #1006582 on careers.msu.edu.

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Plant Science News

Diagram of growing arabidopsis mutants under high light conditions

Decoding Plants’ Language of Light

Researchers have revealed a previously unknown way plants shape their growth in response to light — a breakthrough that could better equip crops to handle environmental stress. In a first-of-its-kind finding, the team discovered how a compound that’s involved in plant metabolism can directly "reprogram” an unrelated light-sensing protein.

Basso Lab Featured in New York Times

At Sandborn Farms in Portland, Michigan, a drone recently swept low over cornfields, delivering fertilizer only where data showed it was needed most. This careful approach not only saves money and boosts yields but also helps protect air, water, and soil by avoiding unnecessary fertilizer use.

M-AAA Backs Research on High Oleic Soybeans, Driving ‘Once-in-a-Generation’ Gains for Michigan Dairy Farmers

MSU-led research shows how feeding dairy cows high oleic soybeans can cut feed cost, boost milk quality and spark economic growth — allowing one southwest Michigan dairy farm to add more than $1 per cow per day in income over feed cost.

MSU Team Develops Scalable Climate Solutions for Agricultural Carbon Markets

New research from MSU, led by agricultural systems scientist Bruno Basso, tackles a key flaw in agricultural carbon markets: inaccurate “baselines” used to measure climate benefits, which can distort carbon credit calculations and undermine market trust.

Rainout Shelter at MSU's Kellog's Biological Station

Some Studies Might Not Paint Full Picture of How Plants Respond to Climate Change

Scientists may be underestimating how plants will respond to rising global temperatures when they study hot summers but not warming winters, Michigan State University ecologists found.

MSU-Led Research Team Receives $500K Grant to Combat Herbicide-Resistant Weeds in Soybeans

A national research team led by Michigan State University has received a $500,000 grant from the United Soybean Board to develop new diagnostic tools for herbicide-resistant weeds in soybeans. The award currently covers one year but can be extended for up to three years.

Federal Government Shutdown Updates