Job Title

Assistant Professor

Agency

Texas A&M Agrilife Research

Department

Lubbock

Proposed Minimum Salary

Commensurate

Job Location

Lubbock, Texas

Job Type

Faculty

Job Description

General Description: Texas A&M AgriLife Research is seeking applications from candidates to lead and manage an ongoing cotton breeding and germplasm evaluation research program. This appointment will be 12 month, non-tenured, 100% Research, administratively located with Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Lubbock, Texas. The academic appointment will be with the Soil and Crop Sciences Department in College Station, Texas. The incumbent is expected to lead a nationally prominent research program focused on regional needs related to cotton genetic resources in the largest cotton production area in the U. S. with diverse soil types, rain-fed and varying irrigation capabilities, and challenging environmental conditions.

Position Responsibilities: This position is expected to develop an independent cotton breeding and genetics research program while working collaboratively with faculty at the Lubbock Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center and other Centers across the state and on College Station campus. Position responsibilities include the following:

• Develop improved cotton germplasm with attention to agronomic and fiber quality characteristics utilizing techniques and methods to breed for stress resistance (e.g., diseases, insect pests, salt, drought, and heat).

• Identify opportunities to integrate novel molecular and phenotyping technologies into the breeding program.

• Conduct germplasm screening to identify desirable traits and new sources of resistance from global accessions.

• Maintain a critical and extensive cotton cultivar and strains testing program through cooperation with producers, Extension personnel, industry, and the USDA-ARS National Cotton Variety Testing Program.

• Design, establish, and conduct field trials related to cotton breeding and genetics.

• Analyze, interpret, and disseminate research findings in scientific peer-reviewed journal articles.

• Compete aggressively for federal, state, commodity, and other competitive funding in research areas related to cotton breeding and genetics.

• Train and develop graduate students in research areas related to cotton improvement.

• Participate in interdisciplinary teams with faculty in Lubbock, College Station, and other parts of the Texas A&M University System, other Great Plains universities, and federal agencies such as USDA-ARS, as appropriate for planned programs.

• Foster working relationships with agricultural industry and commodity organizations and participate in industry and professional associations.

• Serve on unit, department, agency, university, and other professional committees as appropriate.

• Participate in meetings and conduct research programs at local, state, and national levels.

Administrative Relationships: The position will be supervised directly by the Director of Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Lubbock, with evaluation and program reporting to the Soil and Crop Sciences Department Head.

Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in plant breeding or related disciplines.

• Experience in designing, conducting, and analyzing data from field-based, applied research.

• Experience in securing external funding and producing high quality scholarly publications.

• Commitment to interdisciplinary team-based research.

• Interpersonal skills to establish effective working relationships with staff, faculty, administration, and external stakeholders.

• Knowledge of experimental designs used in cultivar and strains testing.

Preferred Experience:

• Experience and knowledge of traditional and novel methods used in breeding cotton.

• Knowledge and ability to breed cotton for Texas Southern High Plains.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Excellent English oral, written, and electronic communication skills.

• Ability to work both independently and as a member of multidisciplinary teams.

• Ability to communicate effectively with faculty, staff, and stakeholders.

• Ability to multi-task and effectively manage support staff.

Facilities and Equipment Assigned to This Project Include: Greenhouse facility with 12 houses and 6 cold storage units, two-station ginning lab, offices, vehicles, farm machinery and implements, lab equipment, and storage space.

Location:

Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center, Lubbock

Lubbock Center: The Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Lubbock is in a semi-arid agricultural region with more than 6 million acres of dryland and irrigated crops. The Lubbock center has 356 acres, which includes office, lab, and greenhouse facilities. Additional farmland is located at Halfway, Lamesa, and Pecos for a total of 1800 acres.

Additional information about Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in Lubbock and the Texas A&M University Department of Soil and Crop Sciences can be found at:

Texas A&M AgriLife Research: https://agriliferesearch.tamu.edu/

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service: https://agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/about/who-we-are/

Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Lubbock: https://lubbock.tamu.edu

Texas A&M University Department of Soil and Crop Sciences: https://soilcrop.tamu.edu/

Closing date for applications: Applications will be reviewed beginning ­­May 1, 2024 and continue until the position is filled. Date position is available: September 1, 2024.

• Submit cover letter

• CV

• academic transcripts (unofficial)

• statement of research interest

• names and contact information for three references

For more information, please contact: Dr. Wenwei Xu, email wxu@ag.tamu.edu.

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Veterans/Disability Employer.

As the largest comprehensive agriculture and life sciences program nationally, Texas A&M AgriLife brings together a college and four state agencies within the Texas A&M University System With over 5,000 employees, and a presence in every county across the state, Texas A&M AgriLife is uniquely positioned to improve lives, the environment, and the economy of Texas and the nation through education, research, extension and service.If your goal is the pursuit of excellence and your vision is to make a difference in this world, we invite you to explore our opportunities to discover what a career at Texas A&M AgriLife has to offer you.

Texas A&M AgriLife is comprised of the following Texas A&M University System members:

• Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service (https://agrilife.tamu.edu/agency/extension-home/)

• Texas A&M AgriLife Research

• College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M University (https://agrilife.tamu.edu/agency/college-home/)

• Texas A&M Forest Service

• Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (https://agrilife.tamu.edu/agency/tvmdl-home/)

  Texas A&M AgriLife collaborates with Prairie View A&M University, Tarleton State University, Texas A&M University-Commerce, Texas A&M University-Kingsville and West Texas A&M University as well as with other public and private partners.

• Prospective employee benefits

• Retirement programs

• Commitment to inclusive excellence (https://agrilife.tamu.edu/about/diversity-inclusion/)

• Strategic plan