University of Delaware Seeks Assistant Professor of Molecular Plant Breeding & Genetics

The University of Delaware (UD) Department of Plant and Soil Sciences seeks outstanding candidates for a 9-month tenure track Assistant Professor of Molecular Plant Breeding and Genetics. Candidates with research experience or expertise in quantitative genetics and/or genomics are especially encouraged to apply. The university recognizes the importance of plant breeding to address new challenges especially in the areas of food security and sustainability. Research areas of interest include but are not limited to molecular plant breeding, crop improvement, quantitative genetics, genomics and genome editing, towards fundamental and/or applied research goals. This position will continue to strengthen and expand upon the department’s expertise spanning from basic molecular and cellular biology to applied plant science and biotechnology, plant-microbe interactions, crop science and agriculture.

Successful candidates will develop an interdisciplinary research program that combines plant breeding with molecular, genome-scale, and quantitative genetics in a highly collaborative, diverse department. We seek individuals that will incorporate diversity, equity, and inclusion into their research, teaching, and mentoring both at the graduate and undergraduate levels. The successful candidate will be expected to develop an internationally recognized, extramurally funded, collaborative research program (70%), teach 1-2 courses per year in service of our undergraduate and/or graduate programs (30%), and engage in efforts to advance department, college and University initiatives. Candidates must have a Ph.D. degree in plant breeding or a related field, and post-doctoral experience is preferred.

 

This position will be situated at Worrilow Hall, a newly renovated building on UD’s south campus that contains state-of-the-art research and teaching labs, and shared, collaborative spaces (https://www.udel.edu/academics/colleges/canr/about/facilities-labs/worrilow/). The successful candidate will have access to an adjacent complex of greenhouses, growth chambers, seed storage facilities and the Delaware Agriculture Experiment Station’s 344-acre farm. An additional 347-acre farm is located on UD’s Georgetown campus. Our department’s faculty are also supported by the new Ammon Pinizzotto Biopharmaceutical Innovation Center at the University of Delaware’s Science, Technology and Advanced Research Campus (https://www.udel.edu/research-innovation/star/), which is an interdisciplinary center with faculty from plant science, biomedical engineering, chemical engineering, material science, geological sciences, and kinesiology and applied physiology. This institute houses the state-of-the-art Bioimaging center, Bioinformatics Center, and DNA sequencing & Genotyping facility. The College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and Worrilow Hall are located across from this institute.

The Department of Plant and Soil Sciences resides within UD’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Department faculty are world-renowned and include two American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellows, four named professors, and several members who have received high honors from professional societies. Two professors in the department have received the highest honor that UD bestows on faculty, the Alison Professorship. The department is highly collaborative across college and institutional lines and has strong interactions with Cooperative Extension personnel and faculty and staff in other departments and colleges. Current faculty work on crops such as maize, sorghum, soybean, lima bean, watermelon, peas, and a wide range of other vegetable crops.

 

University of Delaware is committed to excellence and consequentiality guided by a Delaware Will Shine blueprint for a preeminent learner-centered research university. The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching classifies UD as a “very high research activity” institution (R1), a designation achieved by only 3% of U.S. academic institutions. UD is located in scenic Newark, DE, an excellent geographic location within two hours of New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C. The University is a Land Grant, Sea Grant, Space Grant, and Carnegie Research university, with externally sponsored activities exceeding $200 million.

The University of Delaware is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages applications from minority group members and women.

Salary: University of Delaware salaries and fringe benefit packages are highly competitive. tenure-track professors receive a third-year sabbatical leave. A start-up package will be available.

 

 

Application review will begin on October 1, 2022. The search committee will continue to accept applications until the position is filled.

 

 

To apply, submit an application package via Talent Link (https://careers.udel.edu/cw/en-us/job/499200/tenure-track-assistant-professor-plant-breeding-and-genetics)

 

This includes a current curriculum vitae, statements of research (2-3 pages) and teaching (1-2 pages), a statement describing your previous efforts and future plans to create a diverse and inclusive learning environment (1 page), and the contact information for at least three professional references. Submitted documents of finalists will be shared with departmental faculty. For further information, contact the committee chair, Dr. Tom Evans (tomevans@udel.edu) or assistant chair, Dr. Erin Sparks (esparks@udel.edu).