Assistant or Associate Professor of Regional and Global Vegetable Improvement

 Assistant or Associate Professor of Regional and Global Vegetable Improvement
School of Integrative Plant Science
Plant Breeding and Genetics Section
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Cornell University

Start Date:  July 1, 2023, or as negotiated

Location: School of Integrative Plant Science, Plant Breeding and Genetics Section, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York

Description: The School of Integrative Plant Science at Cornell University ( https://sips.cals.cornell.edu ) invites applications for a tenure track position at the Assistant or Associate Professor level in Regional and Global Vegetable Improvement.  Our food system urgently needs vegetable crops that yield reliably and with greater nutrient density, in the context of increasing environmental stresses.  The new faculty member will establish an internationally recognized breeding program that develops new cultivars of two or more vegetable crops relevant to New York State and beyond.  Examples of suitable crops include, but are not limited to: tomatoes, beets, carrots, chicories, eggplant, lettuce, onions, spinach, melons, sweet corn, and niche crops. The incumbent will supervise graduate students, secure grant funding to drive a complementary research program, collaborate with growers and other stakeholders along the value chain, and serve as a faculty member of the Vegetable Breeding Institute to ensure successful cultivar development and subsequent adoption.  Examples of possible research foci include, but are not limited to: climate resilience, post-harvest nutrient physiology, controlled environment agricultural production, and the identification of genetic mechanisms conveying resistance to new biotic and abiotic stressors.  Extension work will drive collaborative partnerships with stakeholders throughout supply chains to ensure that cultivars will address the needs of a variety of target constituents. Extension responsibilities include leadership and participating in vegetable breeding extension efforts, including but not limited to development of curricula for training extension educators, growers and seed industry personnel, delivering extension educational programs, and directing vegetable variety trials. Opportunity exists to extend beyond traditional extension programming into collaborations with nutritionists, social scientists and market researchers as they relate to variety development. The ideal candidate will thrive in Cornell’s vibrant, diverse network of scholars, professionals and students, which boasts successful, established partnerships with many organizations, including the Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research, Breeding Insight , Cornell Cooperative Extension, the Vegetable Breeding Institute and the USDA Agricultural Research Service.

Qualifications: Ph.D. in Plant Breeding, Plant Genetics, Plant Biology or related disciplines. Well-qualified applicants are expected to have a demonstrated record of publication excellence. Preferred qualifications include postdoctoral experience, communication and collaboration across a variety of audiences, and the ability to contribute to a culture of inclusive excellence through leadership and delivery of inclusive research and extension programs.

Salary and Benefits: A highly competitive salary, generous benefits package, and support for start-up research costs are provided, commensurate with experience.

Application Procedure: Submit as a single PDF file to Academic Jobs Online  https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/23902  a cover letter summarizing your background, qualifications and interest in this position; a research statement describing research accomplishments and interests (3 pages maximum); an extension statement describing extension experience, philosophy, and/or interests (2 pages maximum); a Contribution to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion statement describing past contributions and future aspirations to promoting equity, inclusion, and diversity at Cornell and with stakeholders (2 pages maximum); a detailed curriculum vitae; and the names and contact information of three references (letters will be requested for finalists after the applications are reviewed). Initial screening of applications will begin on March 4, 2023. Inquiries may be sent to Dr. Walter De Jong, Search Chair ([email protected] ), or Amy Collins, Assistant to the Section Chair ([email protected] ).

Who We Are: The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences is a pioneer of purpose-driven science and home to Cornell University’s second largest population of students, faculty, and staff. We work across disciplines to tackle the challenges of our time through world-renowned research, education, and outreach. The questions we probe and the answers we seek focus on three overlapping concerns: natural and human systems; food, energy, and environmental resources; and social, physical, and economic well-being.

The School of Integrative Plant Science includes faculty with abundant collaborations and active teaching, research, and extension programs, and provides a unifying framework for specialists in Horticulture, Plant Biology, Plant Breeding & Genetics, Plant Pathology & Plant-Microbe Biology, and Soil & Crop Sciences.  We are increasingly connected by urgent challenges and revolutionary tools relevant to all plant scientists. In SIPS we take pride in the ways in which our Land-grant mission calls us to address the needs of diverse stakeholders as well as our long tradition of international engagement. 

Cornell University embraces diversity in all its forms. Diversity and Inclusion are a part of Cornell University's heritage. We're an employer and educator recognized for valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans, and Individuals with Disabilities. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations.

Cornell University is an innovative Ivy League and Land-grant university and a great place to work. Our inclusive community of scholars, students and staff imparts an uncommon sense of larger purpose and contributes creative ideas to further the university’s mission of teaching, discovery, and engagement. Cornell's regional and global presence includes state-wide Cornell Cooperative Extension programs and offices in all counties and boroughs, global partnerships with institutions and communities engaged in life-changing research and education, the medical college's campuses on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and Doha, Qatar, and the Cornell Tech campus on Roosevelt Island in the heart of New York City. Cornell actively seeks to meet the needs of dual-career couples with its Dual Career program and membership in the Higher Education Recruitment Consortium , that assists with dual career searches. Cornell and Geneva are family-friendly communities: Cornell offers a rich array of services, programs, and benefits to help employees advance in their career and enhance the quality of personal life, including employee wellness, workshops, childcare and adoption assistance, parental leave, and flexible work options. For more details, see: Family Life Resources for Faculty .