Assistant Professor in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems

University of Maryland Eastern Shore • Trigg Hall, MD

4d • $80,000 - $90,000 • Onsite

About The Position

The University of Maryland Eastern Shore’s (UMES) Department of Agriculture, Food, and Resource Sciences seeks applications and nominations for the position of Assistant Professor in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems. This position is a nine-month, tenure-track appointment. The anticipated starting date for this position is Fall 2026. The successful candidate will contribute to UMES’ mission to address global agricultural challenges, including food security, food systems, sustainable agriculture, and rural development. The department offers B.S. degrees in General Agriculture with several concentrations, an Agribusiness Management, an M.S., and a Ph.D. in Food and Agricultural Sciences. The department is actively engaged in teaching, research, and extension and has many faculty and staff with split appointments between UMES Extension and the UMES Agriculture Experiment Station. This position emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration and will have teaching, research, and service responsibilities. The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) is an 1890 Land-Grant University in Maryland, located in a rural setting on the Delmarva Peninsula between the Atlantic Ocean and Chesapeake Bay. The major metropolitan areas of Washington, D.C., Baltimore, MD, and Philadelphia, PA, are within easy travel distance.

Requirements

• Ph. D. in Agronomy, International Agriculture, Rural Development, or a related field strongly emphasizing agricultural emerging issues, global food security, and food systems.
• Evidence of scholarly publications and grantsmanship.
• Ability to interact productively with others in a diverse setting, including excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated excellence in and commitment to teaching, advising, and mentoring students with diverse backgrounds.
• Demonstrated ability to develop nationally and internationally recognized programs to serve the agricultural sector of the state, region, nation, and the world, as well as to participate in interdisciplinary research.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working in international or cross-cultural agricultural systems.
• Record of or strong potential for securing extramural funding (e.g., USDA, USAID, NSF).
• Experience in interdisciplinary and systems-based research.
• Engagement with global development, policy, or land-grant systems.

Responsibilities

• Conduct research, teach, and provide service to the department, university, and the community.
• Work as part of a collaborative interdisciplinary team within the food security and food systems disciplines and is expected to develop a nationally and internationally recognized research program.
• Teach undergraduate and graduate international agriculture courses such as International Agricultural Development, Global Food Systems, and Sustainable Agriculture.
• Actively seek research and teaching grants and contracts.
• Advise undergraduate students; advise and direct graduate students in the global food security and food systems disciplines.
• Develop new graduate courses in international agriculture and global food systems to support Agriculture, Food, and Resource Sciences programs.
• Help in the recruitment of students.
• Develop interdisciplinary relationships with faculty in other departments.
• Engage with stakeholders, including farmers, industry, government agencies, and international organizations.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Health insurance, including multiple medical plan options for employees and dependents offered through the State of Maryland Employee Benefits Division.
• Prescription drug, dental, and flexible spending accounts, and vision coverage.
• Retirement plans: mandatory enrollment in a state pension system or an Optional Retirement Plan with Fidelity or TIAA, Supplemental Retirement Accounts (TIAA, Fidelity, or MSRP-Nationwide) with $600 annual state match, Life Insurance (state sponsored MetLife, USM sponsored MetLife Plan, life insurance and long-term disability insurance).
• Tuition remission benefits for eligible employees and, subject to USM policies, spouses and dependents at University System of Maryland institutions.
• Leave benefits include paid sick leave (15 days), collegial (3 days per year), and paid holidays.
• Employee wellness and support resources and access to the State of Maryland wellness programs.

What This Job Offers

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