"Assistant Professor of Forage Agronomy and State Forage Extension Specialist"

Position Summary

The Department of Crop and Soil Sciences at The University of Georgia is seeking applicants for a tenure-track position as Assistant Professor and State Extension Specialist in Forage Agronomy, to be located at the Athens Campus. The successful candidate will develop an applied research and Extension program focusing on forage production and management, emphasizing practices that introduce novel, sustainable approaches that integrate technology.

The incumbent will be a member of a large faculty group in the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, within the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and will be actively engaged in scholarly activities of research and extension outreach, including working closely with County Extension Agents across the state.

Special Instructions to Applicants

Apply by September 29, 2025 for full consideration.

Posting Details

Posting Number: F2462P

Working Title: Assistant Professor of Forage Agronomy and State Forage Extension Specialist

Department: CAES-Crop & Soil Sciences

About the University of Georgia: Since our founding in 1785, the University of Georgia has operated as Georgia’s oldest, most comprehensive, and most diversified institution of higher education (https://www.uga.edu/). The proof is in our more than 235 years of academic and professional achievements and our continual commitment to higher education. UGA is currently ranked among the top 20 public universities in U.S. News & World Report. The University’s main campus is located in Athens, approximately 65 miles northeast of Atlanta, with extended campuses in Atlanta, Griffin, Gwinnett, and Tifton. UGA employs approximately 3,100 faculty and more than 7,700 full-time staff. The University’s enrollment exceeds 41,000 students including over 31,000 undergraduates and over 10,000 graduate and professional students. Academic programs reside in 19 schools and colleges, including our newly formed School of Medicine.

About the College/Unit/Department: The Department of Crop and Soil Sciences resides in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, which has teaching, research, and outreach programs at three campuses across the state: Athens, Griffin and Tifton. The department has teaching, research, and extension faculty at all three locations which conduct basic and applied research that is important to clientele in the state of Georgia and that adds to the body of knowledge basic to agricultural production and environmental management. The Department has faculty with expertise that can be grouped into three general areas: Cultivar Development, Genetics, and Biotechnology; Crop Management, Physiology, and Weed Management; and Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management.

College/Unit/Department website: https://cropsoil.uga.edu/

Posting Type: External

Retirement Plan: TRS or ORP

Employment Type: Employee

Benefits Eligibility: Benefits Eligible

Advertised Salary: Commensurate with Experience

Anticipated Start Date: 12/01/2025

Position Information

Classification Title: Assistant Professor

Faculty Rank: Assistant Professor

Contract Type: Academic (9 mo.)

Tenture Status: Tenure Track

Minimum Qualifications: Ph.D. in Agronomy, Crop Science, or related field.

Additional Requirements: The successful candidate should have a record of conducting research on forage production practices, involving novel approaches that support and enhance grassland and pasture management systems. The candidate must also demonstrate evidence of innovative thinking, have excellent interpersonal and communication skills and demonstrate the ability to work cooperatively with faculty, students and industry stakeholders to develop a collaborative research and Extension program. Potential for establishing a strong record of extramural funding, publication in refereed journals, and outreach is required.

Relevant/Preferred Education, Experience, Licensure, and/or Certification: Desired qualifications include extensive practical knowledge and one year of experience in forages and animal agriculture production systems as well as one year of experience with Extension programming or working with farmers.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and/or Competencies: Demonstrated oral and written communication skills are essential.

Physical Demands: Sitting at a desk for extended periods. Working in an outdoor environment in both hot and cold temperatures on farm and field settings.

Duties/Responsibilities: Duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to: Develop a robust Extension program that considers the needs of Georgia forage producers and delivers programming, with measurable outcomes, to meet those needs. This includes working closely with County Extension Agents on troubleshooting, trainings, and county-based meetings across the state. Dissemination of applied research results and educational materials through extension publications and other types of written, audio, and/or visual means are an essential part of this role. Develop a research program focused on contemporary forage production systems and evaluation of relevant technologies. Write grants and collaborate with other faculty members to secure extramural funding to support an innovative and sustainable extension and research program in forage agronomy. Participate in graduate student mentoring and education. Provide dissemination of results through Cooperative Extension and publish in appropriate outlets for Extension and research audiences, including peer reviewed journals. Assist in other tasks as assigned by the department.