Assistant/Associate Professor - Genome and Phenome Engineering for Small Grains Improvement

School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University

Tenure-track

Location: Ithaca, NY. The academic home for this position is the School of Integrative Plant Science (SIPS) in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, housed on the Ithaca campus of Cornell University.

The School of Integrative Plant Science (SIPS) in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) at Cornell University welcomes applications for a full-time tenure-track position in Genome and Phenome Engineering for Small Grains Improvement at the assistant/associate professor level.

The CALS Roadmap to 2050 spearheads the "solutions century" by collaborating across the university, our network of partners, and diverse communities to coalesce around the world’s leading challenges. We connect across all of New York state and the world to enliven our innovation ecosystem, connecting local to global programs in the form of new collaborations and basic discoveries.

The successful candidate will lead an internationally recognized breeding and genetics program to bridge fundamental and applied plant science with a focus on small grains variety development. The successful candidate will be expected to integrate genomic engineering and new data-driven and artificial intelligence models, methods and/or tools for high throughput phenotyping into plant breeding pipelines. Concentration on small grains including wheat, oats, barley and related species is critical for New York’s farming and craft brewing industries and would leverage Cornell’s world class small grains breeding program and germplasm resources. The individual will be expected to develop an externally funded research program, release improved cultivars, and contribute to graduate and undergraduate teaching and research training.

Responsibilities: This position has an effort split of 60% research and 40% teaching.

Research (60%) – The successful candidate may engage in transdisciplinary research integrating molecular, ecophysiological, and crop-level sciences to drive innovation. Abundant opportunities exist to collaborate with Cornell's Initiative for Digital Agriculture (https://www.digitalagriculture.cornell.edu/) and partner with colleagues having expertise in genomics, robotics, high throughput phenotyping, genomic selection strategies, metagenomics, animal nutrition, and microbiome research. Resources are available for high performance computing and genome-scale analyses through the Biotechnology Resource Center core facilities, and plant genome editing services are available on campus.

Teaching (40%) – Expectations for teaching at the 40% level typically include teaching 6-8 credits annually. The successful candidate will be expected to deliver an existing course, PLSCI 4080/6080 Methods of Plant Breeding Laboratory, create another course on advanced plant breeding methods and contribute to the development of a team taught undergraduate introductory course related to plant breeding and grains in the food system. Dedicated and thoughtful mentorship and academic advising of graduate and undergraduate students is highly valued and a core expectation for this position.

Department Affiliation: The successful candidate will be a tenure-line faculty member of the Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and will be based in the School of Integrative Plant Science with the option to join any of the five sections (Plant Biology, Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology, Plant Breeding and Genetics, Soil and Crop Sciences, or Horticulture). A mentoring program will support the personal and professional development of the new faculty member, providing advocacy, guidance, and assistance.

Qualifications: A Ph.D. is required in plant breeding, plant genetics/genomics or related discipline. The successful candidate must demonstrate the ability to work effectively with stakeholder groups, other researchers in interdisciplinary inquiry, attract extramural support and lead an innovative research/breeding program. Postdoctoral and/or other relevant experience is desirable, with experience preferred in relevant teaching, student advising, and research. Successful candidates will demonstrate a commitment to advancing equity and inclusion.

Applications and Starting Date: The anticipated starting date is January 1, 2026, or as negotiated. Qualified applicants should submit (1) a cover letter briefly summarizing background, qualifications, and interest in the position, (2) a Curriculum Vitae, (3) a research statement outlining experience, interests, and goals, (4) a teaching statement outlining experience, interests, and goals, (5) copies of four relevant publications, (6) names and contact information for three references, and (7) unofficial transcripts. Materials should be submitted online to: https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/29858. Applications received by September 15, 2025, will be given full consideration. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

In compliance with New York's Pay Transparency Law, the annual base salary range for this assistant professor position is $90,000 - $135,000 and associate professor position is $110,000 - $170,000. This pay range represents base pay (for 9 months). Cornell University considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, as well as market and organizational considerations when extending an offer.