Assistant/Associate/Full Professor

University of Arkansas System • Fayetteville, NC

1d • Onsite

About The Position

As part of a cluster hire in multi-omics integration and data analytics applied to plant breeding, the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture invites applications for a 12-month, tenure-track Assistant or Associate Professor position (80% research, 20% teaching) in Rice Genomics and Breeding Systems. This position holds the Anheuser-Busch and Arkansas Wholesalers Professorship in Plant Molecular Genetics, offering enhanced visibility, support, and leadership expectations in molecular genetics and genomics research. The successful candidate will develop a nationally recognized research program focused on genomic discovery, trait characterization, molecular breeding methodologies, and the innovation of advanced breeding systems in rice. The position will work closely with the University’s two public rice breeding programs to accelerate trait discovery, deployment, and cultivar development.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Plant Molecular Biology, Plant Breeding, Genetics, Genomics, or a closely related discipline.
• Evidence of research productivity in genomics, molecular biology, gene discovery, or trait characterization.
• Strong communication skills and ability to collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and applied breeding programs.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in rice or closely related cereal crops.
• Experience with gene editing, RNA-seq, genomic selection, or multi-omics integration.
• Demonstrated ability to secure competitive extramural funding.
• Experience mentoring graduate students and contributing to academic program development.

Responsibilities

• Conduct research in areas such as RNA-seq, genomic mapping, functional genomics, molecular marker development, high-throughput gene discovery, and genomic characterization of traits important to rice growers, processors, and end users.
• Utilize and advance tools including gene editing (CRISPR and related), pangenomics, genome assembly, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and multi-omics integration.
• Collaborate closely with the University’s two rice breeding programs to enable molecular selection, rapid trait deployment, genomic prediction, and marker-enabled variety development.
• Engage interdisciplinary collaborations with plant pathologists, agronomists, food scientists, entomologists, weed scientists, and engineers to expand genomic application across production and quality traits.
• Secure extramural funding from federal agencies (USDA-NIFA, NSF, DOE, USAID), commodity boards, industry partnerships, and multi-institutional initiatives.
• Publish research in peer-reviewed journals and communicate impact to scientists, breeders, stakeholders, and industry partners.
• Teach one undergraduate and one graduate course annually in molecular breeding, genomics, plant molecular biology, or a related specialty.
• Mentor M.S. and Ph.D. graduate students and engage undergraduate students.
• Contribute to curriculum modernization in molecular genetics, omics technologies, and breeding system innovation.

Benefits

• Endowed Professorship in Plant Molecular Genetics
• Access to molecular laboratories, growth chambers, greenhouse resources
• Access to AAES’s statewide network of research and extension stations
• Access to the Arkansas High-Performance Computing Cluster (AHPCC)
• Synergies with cluster hires in omics integration, phenomics, AI/data analytics, and soybean, wheat, fruit, and vegetable breeding programs.
• Proximity to regional and national rice industry partners, milling and quality evaluation programs, and downstream value-chain collaborators.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree