Assistant Professor – Autonomous & Robotics in Agricultural Systems

The Department of Agricultural Science and Engineering at Tennessee State University invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor specializing in autonomous, robotic, and cyber-physical systems for precision agriculture. This position is part of a coordinated cluster hire designed to build national leadership in intelligent and automated agricultural systems.

The successful candidate will focus on the design, deployment, and evaluation of autonomous and robotic technologies that improve efficiency, sustainability, and labor resilience in agronomic and horticultural production systems.

Key Responsibilities

Research (Primary Emphasis)

• Establish a nationally competitive research program in autonomous and robotic agricultural systems, including:
  • Field robotics and autonomous ground or aerial platforms
  • Sensor-integrated cyber-physical systems
  • Automation for crop monitoring, input application, and field operations
  • Human-technology interaction and system reliability in agricultural environments
• Secure external funding from federal, state and industry sources aligned with automation, robotics, and climate-smart agriculture.
• Disseminate findings through peer-reviewed publications and professional outlets.
• Work with Extension personnel and producers to test, adapt, and deploy autonomous technologies in real-world production settings.
• Support technology transfer and workforce training related to agricultural automation and robotics.
• Engage producers in technology evaluation and adoption.

Teaching & Workforce Development

• Teach undergraduate and graduate courses in precision agriculture, automation, robotics, sensing systems, or related engineering applications and related areas as assigned by the chair.
• Mentor undergraduate and graduate students and supervise M.S. and Ph.D. research.
• Contribute to interdisciplinary curricula that prepare students for careers in advanced agricultural systems.

Collaboration & Service

• Collaborate closely with other Precision Agriculture faculty to integrate artificial intelligence and automation.
• Engage with faculty across plant science, engineering, soil science, crop improvement.
• Participate in departmental, college, university, and professional service.