"Alerted.org

Job Title

Assistant Professor

Agency

Texas A&M Agrilife Research

Department

Amarillo

Proposed Minimum Salary

Commensurate

Job Location

Amarillo, Texas

Job Type

Faculty

Job Description

About Texas A&M AgriLife

Texas A&M AgriLife is comprised of the following Texas A&M University System members:

+ Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service (https://agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/)

+ Texas A&M AgriLife Research

+ College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M University (https://aglifesciences.tamu.edu/)

+ Texas A&M Forest Service

+ Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (https://tvmdl.tamu.edu/)

As the nation’s largest most comprehensive agriculture program, Texas A&M AgriLife brings together a college and four state agencies focused on agriculture and life sciences within The Texas A&M University System. With over 5,000 employees and a presence in every county across the state, Texas A&M AgriLife is uniquely positioned to improve lives, environments and the Texas economy through education, research, extension and service.

Click here (https://agrilife.tamu.edu/) to learn more about how you can be a part of AgriLife and make a difference in the world!

Position Information

The Assistant Professor - Water-Limited Forage Systems will support research and extension education in water-limited cropping systems. The Assistant Professor - Water-Limited Forage Systems will join a dynamic team initially focused on advancing the science and extension education of forage production under water-limited conditions, with open-ended flexibility to study both annual and perennial forage species. This position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research that addresses critical regional challenges in groundwater conservation, sustainable agriculture, ruminant livestock production, and forage management in semi-arid and arid regions centered on the southern High Plains.

The successful candidate will be expected to establish and lead a nationally recognized, externally funded research program, contribute to team-based collaborative efforts, and engage with stakeholders across agriculture, industry, and government to promote the development and adoption of drought-tolerant and water-efficient forage systems supporting the production of beef, dairy, and small ruminants. This position requires a strong background in agronomy, plant physiology, and soil-plant-water interactions, with a focus on improving the productivity, resilience, and sustainability of forages in the region as well as the livestock-production systems that depend on them. Primary collaborators will include but are not limited to plant breeders, plant physiologists, irrigation and environmental engineers, soil scientists, and agronomists. This position reports administratively to the Center Director of the Texas A&M AgriLife High Plains Research and Extension Center, with supplementary oversight from (a) the Director, Texas Water Resources Institute, and (b) the Associate Department Head for Extension, Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Texas A&M University.

Responsibilities: Research (75%)

+ Establish and maintain a federal Hatch project pertaining to forage-production systems in semi-arid climatic zones.

+ Conduct forage-centered research that furthers the mission of Texas A&M AgriLife Research as it relates to (a) sustainable, livestock-grounded agricultural production systems and (b) the long-term availability, quality, and beneficial use of groundwater and recycled/alternative water resources in the Texas High Plains.

+ Develop a nationally and internationally recognized, externally funded research program focused on forages, including both annual and perennial species, that may be profitably grown in water-limited conditions.

+ Elucidate the genetic, physiological, and environmental factors that affect forage productivity, end-use quality, and persistence under drought, high temperatures, irrigation scarcity, and their interactions with biotic stresses.

+ Conduct research to optimize forage-management strategies (irrigation, fertilization, pest management, rotation) in water-limited environments.

+ As collaborative opportunities arise, coordinate research with closely aligned faculty at the Lubbock Center with respect to limited irrigation and use of alternative water resources in forage production.

+ Collaborate with transdisciplinary teams of researchers in ruminant nutrition and health, soil science, plant biology, water management, and agricultural engineering to advance knowledge and application of water-efficient forage systems.

+ Contribute to transdisciplinary research to describe and optimize the life-cycle ecological footprints of livestock-production systems that consume locally produced forages.

+ Explore opportunities to broaden the position’s research focus as regional needs evolve in light of emerging trends in natural resources, climate, demographics, value-added processing, and economics.

+ Publish research findings in peer-reviewed journals, present findings at national and international conferences, and disseminate results to stakeholders, including agricultural producers, industry, and policy makers.

+ Serve on thesis or dissertation committees of graduate students, serving as Chair or Co-Chair as appropriate to the research subject.

+ Mentor postdoctoral researchers, fostering a collaborative research environment.

Extension (25%)

+ The candidate will support the County Extension Agent network in the High Plains. Contribute to the region’s scientific community of practice in sustainable agricultural systems through service on standing and ad hoc committees and working groups.

+ Provide Extension education programming to area commodity groups.

+ Through active collaboration with allied Extension specialists, support the development and delivery of Extension programs and outreach activities that promote the adoption of innovative forage management practices in the southern High Plains and other water-limited regions.

Required Qualifications:

+ Ph.D. in Agronomy, Plant Science, Soil Science, or a closely related field.

+ Strong record of research expertise in the areas of forage agronomy, water-limited crop systems, and soil-plant-water interactions, including both annual and perennial forages.

+ Demonstrated ability to secure extramural funding and manage competitive research grants.

+ Experience in and demonstrated commitment to transdisciplinary collaboration with researchers from various scientific fields.

+ Excellent communication skills, including the ability to present complex scientific concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.

+ Demonstrated ability to mentor graduate students and postdoctoral researchers.

+ Teamwork Orientation: The ideal candidate will be collaborative, able to work effectively within multi-disciplinary teams, and engage actively with a broad range of stakeholders including farmers, industry, and government agencies.

+ Thought Leadership: The successful candidate will have the ability to apply novel approaches to solving critical challenges in forage production under water-limited conditions.

+ Adaptability: The successful candidate will be a keen observer of global, national, state, and regional trends that impinge on the position’s relevance to production agriculture characteristic of the southern High Plains and will be capable of adjusting the research focus to accommodate and exploit those trends.

+ Commitment to Excellence: The successful candidate will exhibit a strong commitment to producing high-quality, academically rigorous research with good potential for practical, producer-level or regional impact.

Preferred Qualifications:

+ Postdoctoral experience in forage research, particularly in water-limited or drought-prone environments.

+ Experience with the development and application of precision agriculture technologies or advanced agronomic practices for forage production.

+ Strong record of publications in high-impact, peer-reviewed journals.

+ Experience working with agricultural producers, industry stakeholders, and extension personnel to translate research into practical applications.

+ Leadership experience in research teams and academic settings.

Location and Facilities:

+ Texas A&M AgriLife Research is part of the Texas A&M University System and is a leader in innovative research that addresses key challenges facing agriculture, natural resources, and food systems.

+ The Texas A&M AgriLife High Plains Research and Extension Center is under construction on the campus of West Texas A&M University in Canyon, TX, and features over 8,000 square feet of new, modern laboratories to support research and diagnostic services in ruminant nutrition, wheat breeding and genetics, entomology, plant pathology, environmental quality, and soil health. The new Center, one of thirteen outlying research centers across the state, is slated to open in Dec 2025.

+ The Canyon-Bushland locations provide access to unique semi-arid environments where research on water-limited forages will have significant regional implications.

+ Texas A&M AgriLife Research offers a collaborative and supportive environment for faculty, with access to both internal and federally supported funding programs for field equipment, scientific instrumentation, graduate students, and post-doctoral scientists.

What You Need to Know

Salary: Compensation for this position is commensurate based on the selected candidate’s qualifications.

Why Work at Texas A&M AgriLife?

When you choose to work for Texas A&M AgriLife, you become part of an organization that is an established leader in agriculture and life sciences with a wide range of capabilities to meet the needs of our statewide, national, and international constituents.

In addition, Texas A&M AgriLife offers a comprehensive benefit package including the following:

+ Health, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance (https://www.tamus.edu/benefits/) with Texas A&M AgriLife contributing to employee health and basic life premiums

+ 12-15 days of annual paid holidays

+ Up to eight hours of paid sick leave and at least eight hours of paid vacation each month

+ Automatic enrollment in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas

+ Employee Wellness Initiative for Texas A&M AgriLife

Applicant Instructions

Interested candidates should submit the following documents:

1. A cover letter describing the applicant's research vision, affinity for Extension education, qualifications, and fit for the position as described herein.

2. A comprehensive curriculum vitae (CV).

3. A statement of research interests (maximum 2 pages).

4. Contact information for three references.

5. Questions: Address inquiries to Search Committee Chair: Dr. Carolina Brandani, Texas A&M AgriLife High Plains Research and Extension Center, Amarillo, TX, [email protected], phone 254-774-6017.

6. To be given full consideration, please submit applications by September 30, 2025. The position will remain open until a suitable candidate is identified. The anticipated start date is January 1, 2026 (or sooner if possible).

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/Veterans/Disability Employer.