"Assistant/Associate Professor in Water and Agriculture"

Job Details

Assistant/Associate Professor in Water and Agriculture

Job Posting Number: 2026076TTL

Position Description
Agriculture lies at the center of many of the most pressing global challenges of the 21st century, including water scarcity, declining water quality, increasing drought risk, environmental degradation, and food insecurity. As both a major user of water and a key component of hydrologic systems, agriculture plays a dual role: it contributes to water-resource pressures while also offering pathways toward sustainable and resilient solutions. Addressing these challenges requires integrated, multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches that bridge core agricultural disciplines, including crop and animal sciences, soil science, economics, public policy, engineering, human dimensions, and extension.

The Department of Agricultural Sciences at Texas State University invites applications for a tenured track Assistant/ tenure track or tenured Associate Professor focused on the water-agriculture-environment nexus. We seek candidates whose research and teaching address water issues in agricultural systems using an integrated approach that includes hydrologic processes, water use, and sustainability, with attention to biophysical, economic, social, and policy dimensions. This position builds directly on the department’s existing strengths in crops, animals, soil, economics, policy, and extension, while expanding departmental capacity to advance research and education in ecosystem services and regenerative agriculture.

Research Focus
The successful candidate will develop an externally funded research program centered on water in agricultural systems, broadly defined. While candidates may approach these issues from a variety of disciplinary backgrounds, their work should clearly demonstrate engagement with water-related challenges affecting agricultural productivity, environmental sustainability, and resource resilience.
Relevant research areas may include, but are not limited to:

• Hydrologic variability and climate impacts on agricultural production systems.
• Drought adaptation and water management strategies in crops, livestock, or aquaculture.
• Economic, financial, or policy analysis of agricultural water use (e.g., irrigation), drought, groundwater management, water markets, or water quality regulation.
• Evaluation of water, agricultural, or environmental policy instruments, including incentives, regulations, and market-based mechanisms.
• Systems science and boundaries for water security (e.g., integrated biophysical-economic modeling of water and agricultural systems).
• Interdisciplinary modeling that includes all of the agricultural sciences.
• Multidisciplinary experience in water science research.
• Human dimensions and public policy.
• Regenerative agriculture or conservation-oriented agricultural systems with measurable water outcomes.
• Data-driven research using biophysical, spatial, climate, administrative datasets or remote sensing datasets relevant to water and agriculture.
• Aquaculture systems and their relation to water use or water quality dynamics.

The successful candidate is expected to pursue competitive external funding and contribute to interdisciplinary collaborations within the department, college, and across the university. Candidates may be trained in any agricultural or related fields but should have a history and expertise in water-centered agricultural and environmental challenges.

Teaching Responsibilities
The faculty member will contribute to undergraduate and graduate teaching in Agricultural Sciences. Teaching assignments will align with departmental needs and the candidate’s disciplinary expertise. Current instructional areas include crop and animal sciences, soil science, economics, agricultural policy, and agricultural engineering (irrigation).
The successful candidate will be encouraged to develop new courses in areas such as:

• Water economics and management.
• Water-agriculture systems science.
• Regenerative agriculture with emphasis on the water cycle.
• Agricultural, environmental, or water policy.

The department values applied, interdisciplinary, and data-driven instruction that prepares students for careers in agriculture, resource management, and environmental sustainability.

Interdisciplinary Role and Collaboration
This position complements a concurrent water-focused hire in other units within Texas State University (including Engineering and Biology) and maintains a distinct emphasis on water in agricultural systems. The faculty member will collaborate across campus with scholars in soil science, water science, climate science, economics, modeling, geography, engineering, and environmental studies.

The position will contribute to broader efforts within the department and university to strengthen interdisciplinary research and teaching at the water-agriculture-environment interface, including engagement with centers and initiatives focused on water resources and sustainability.

To ensure full consideration, applications must be submitted by March 25, 2026.

Required Qualifications

At the Assistant Professor level:

• Earned Ph.D. in an agricultural or closely related field by the time of appointment (e.g., crops, animals, soil, economics, policy, agricultural engineering or closely related discipline).
• Demonstrated research agenda addressing water in agricultural and environmental systems. Recent publications will be emphasized, but all publications will be considered.
• Evidence of teaching effectiveness or strong potential for excellence in teaching
• A history of or potential for advising student projects.
• An ability to contribute to the mission of the department, https://ag.txst.edu/.

At the Associate Professor level:

• Earned Ph.D. in an agricultural or closely related field by the time of appointment (e.g., crops, animals, soil, economics, policy, agricultural engineering or closely related discipline).
• Demonstrated research agenda addressing water in agricultural and environmental systems.
• Record of peer-reviewed research publications on water issues in agricultural systems.
• Minimum of five years of relevant university-level teaching and/or research experience.
• Record of external grant funding to support research.
• Evidence of a nationally recognized research program.
• Evidence of teaching effectiveness and excellence.
• Evidence of successful mentoring of undergraduate, graduate students, and/or postdocs.
• An ability to contribute to the mission of the department, https://ag.txst.edu/.

Preferred Qualifications

At the Assistant Professor level:

• Experience with working US Department of Agriculture (USDA), state departments of Agriculture, Soil and Water conservation districts, and local agriculture organizations (livestock producers, producer associations, etc.).
• Research focus and experience in fields complementary to those of other faculty in the Department of Agricultural Sciences, Texas State University.
• Record of working as part of an interdisciplinary team related to water or agriculture.
• Experience teaching or developing courses in agricultural and/or water-related fields.
• Record of grant funding to support research.
• Competency with applied data analysis, modeling, or data science approaches.

At the Associate Professor level:

• Experience with working USDA, state departments of Agriculture, Soil and Water conservation districts, and local agriculture organizations (livestock producers, producer associations etc.).
• Research focus and experience in fields complementary to those of other faculty in the Department of Agricultural Sciences, Texas State University.
• Experience in interdisciplinary or collaborative research environments and Multidisciplinary research experience related to water or agriculture.
• Documented record of experience teaching or developing courses in agricultural and/or water-related fields.
• Competency with applied data analysis, modeling, or data science approaches.
• Record of grant development and external funding.
• Funding, transferable to this position.
• Endowment acquisition.

Full Consideration Date:
Close Date:
Open Until Filled? Yes

Quicklink: https://jobs.hr.txstate.edu/postings/56206

For a detailed description of this position and to apply, visit https://jobs.hr.txstate.edu/postings/56206 or call (512) 245-2557 or visit our office at 601 University Dr., J.C. Kellam Bldg., Suite 340.

About Texas State and San Marcos:
Texas State University is a emerging research institution located in the burgeoning Austin-San Antonio corridor and in the beautiful Texas Hill Country. It is the largest of eight campuses in the Texas State University System and one of the 75 largest universities in the country, with over 38,000 students and approximately 4,000 faculty and staff

Texas State is located in San Marcos, a growing community of over 50,000 people located about half way between Austin and San Antonio. Texas State enjoys a setting that is unique among Texas universities. The beauty of the crystal-clear San Marcos River and the stately cypress and pecan trees on the campus add to the charm of the university's picturesque setting. Our location on the banks of the San Marcos River provides outdoor recreational activities throughout the year.

Why work @ Texas State?
• Amazing health insurance: various coverage options starting your first day of employment for full-time employees with Texas State paying 100% of the employee premium and 50% for your dependents!
• Generous paid time off: vacation, holidays, sick days and many more!
• Excellent work life balance resources: mother and family-friendly resources in addition to a comprehensive FREE wellness program
• Great professional development opportunities: choose from a variety of workshops, training, online learning and even access educational leave opportunities and reimbursement for academic courses
• An inclusive Bobcat community: join our many social networks offered on and off-campus
• Retirement peace of mind: TRS pension, retirement plans and voluntary saving options with generous employer contributions

By joining the Texas State Bobcat team, you’ll be a part of one of the most beautiful, diverse, and growing universities in the nation.