Controlled Environment Agriculture Engineer at the Assistant Professor level Details

Controlled Environment Agriculture Engineer at the Assistant Professor level

Texas A&M AgriLife - Dallas, TX

Employment Type : Full-Time

Agency

Department

Proposed Minimum Salary

Job Location

Job Type

Job Description

Texas A&M AgriLife Research & Extension Center, Dallas ( http://dallas.tamu.edu ) is seeking a highly motivated and visionary Controlled Environment Agriculture Engineer at the Assistant Professor level. Appointment is 100% effort with AgriLife Research and is 12-month, base-funded position. The successful candidate will establish and lead a national and international research program that addresses the engineering needs of the Urban Agriculture industry to provide economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable food production solutions, particularly addressing the needs of underserved communities. This position will be a critical part of a research team that is charged with providing the scientific and engineering knowledge and techniques to enhance the industry in Texas and beyond. The incumbent will be expected to attract extramural funding and establish a strong research publication record. Mentoring of undergraduate and graduate students is encouraged, particularly for students from under-represented groups. Participation in professional development efforts at an appropriate level of service to the center, agency, institution, and/or profession is expected.

The candidate is expected to develop novel urban production systems that provide year-round high quality plant products at a cost effective price, to offer best engineering solutions to challenges facing controlled environmental agriculture and be part of a multidisciplinary team comprised of scientists with complementary expertise in horticulture, agronomy, pathology, entomology, water science, breeding and genomics. The candidate will be encouraged to collaborate with other AgriLife research scientists and extension specialists at centers around the State, and to interact with academic departments on the various Texas A&M University System campuses.

Minimum Qualifications

• Education – PhD or equivalent doctoral terminal degree in biological and agricultural engineering or a related engineering field.
• Experience – Extensive knowledge of engineering applications for controlled environment agriculture (CEA).
• Evidence of peer?reviewed publication history.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• The candidate will be expected to either hold a professional engineering license or be capable of pursuing one in the State of Texas.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience – Extensive experience of engineering applications for CEA .
• Expertise in automation, sensing technology, system integration, and/or artificial intelligence.
• Demonstrated success in grant writing for support of their research.
• Participation in professional societies.

The Dallas AgriLife Research and Extension Center is committed to improve and promote healthy food systems and the quality of life in urban communities and to provide solutions to current and emerging problems in Urban Ag through basic and applied research. The main objectives in the Urban Agriculture program are to: develop climate resilient and resource-use-efficient crops for the growing urban population; increase production efficiency of CEA; accelerate crop genetic improvement through automated high-throughput phenotyping and genomics-assisted breeding; and strengthen the Urban Ag economy and the social well-being, by addressing food deserts and food insecurity. The center is committed to diversity and inclusion and expect the successful candidate to contribute to that vision and commitment. The successful candidate would become a member of the Biological and Agricultural Engineering department located in College Station and expected to train graduate students in the discipline as a member of the Graduate Faculty.

Texas A&M AgriLife Research ( http://agriliferesearch.tamu.edu ) is the state’s premier research agency in agriculture, natural resources, and life sciences. A member of the Texas A&M University System, AgriLife Research collaborates with the Texas A&M University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, and many others to help fulfill the A&M System’s land-grant mission of teaching, research, extension, and service.

Interested candidates should submit 1. cover letter, 2. curriculum vitae, 3. a statement of research, experiences and interests detailing initial research projects (maximum 3 pages), 4. a statement detailing how the planned research, service, and/or other activities will contribute to the centers vision and commitment to diversity and inclusion, and 5. names and contact information of four references. Review of applications will begin January 2, 2021 and will continue until the position is filled. Only applications submitted online will be considered.

Salary. Salary will be commensurate with the incumbent’s qualifications and experience. A generous benefits package accompanies all faculty positions with respect to access to health care, sick leave, vacation leave, and retirement benefits. A generous start-up package will be provided.

Administrative Relationship . The candidate will be a member of the Biological and Agricultural Engineering (BAEN) department in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences of Texas A&M University. Candidates will be supervised by the Director of the Research and Extension Center at Dallas while promotion in rank will be through BAEN. All faculty statewide located at a Research and Extension Center are affiliated with their disciplinary department, but they are administratively located with AgriLife Research which has a statewide presence and operates 13 regional Research and Extension Centers. It is expected that each faculty member shall exhibit collegiality to all faculty, staff, students, clientele groups, and local administrators. Faculty are expected to cooperate and collaborate with faculty as appropriate for the successful execution of their general duties and responsibilities in support of the vision, mission, and goals of AgriLife Research.

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 committed to diversity.