"Tenure-Track Positions in AI/ML for Agriculture and Forestry Systems Assistant, Associate, or Full"

Job Details

The Min H. Kao Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) is seeking candidates for two tenure-track faculty positions at the assistant, associate, or full professor level in artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) with applications to agriculture and forestry systems. These positions are part of strategic cluster hires in the Resilient Agriculture and Forestry Systems (RAFS) and Plant Ecosystem Resilience in a Changing Environment (PERCE) clusters, which aim to address critical challenges in food security and environmental sustainability through data-driven solutions.

We seek exceptional candidates with expertise in AI/ML who can develop innovative computational solutions to address challenges in agricultural and forestry systems. Areas of particular interest include, but are not limited to: precision agriculture technologies, remote sensing and geospatial imaging, multi-sensor data fusion, IoT and sensor networks for environmental monitoring, autonomous agricultural systems, disaster risk assessment and mitigation, predictive modeling, and data analytics for agricultural decision support systems.

Candidates will be expected to (1) establish and maintain an internationally recognized, externally funded research program; (2) actively participate in interdisciplinary collaborations within the RAFS/PERCE clusters and across the university; (3) publish high-impact scholarly research; (4) teach undergraduate and graduate courses in computer science, computer engineering, or electrical engineering; (5) mentor graduate and undergraduate students; and (6) contribute to departmental, college, and university service.

Research Context and Opportunities

The RAFS and PERCE clusters represent a major institutional investment in sustainable and resilient agriculture and forestry systems. Faculty hired through this search will have access to:

• Ten UT AgResearch and Education Centers across Tennessee, providing real-world testbeds for agricultural technology deployment
• State-of-the-art computing resources, including high-performance computing clusters and GPU resources for AI/ML research
• Strong partnerships with Oak Ridge National Laboratory, including access to supercomputing facilities and collaborative research opportunities
• The AI Tennessee Initiative, providing interdisciplinary connections and resources for AI research and education
• Collaborative opportunities with faculty across EECS, Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science (BESS), Entomology and Plant Pathology (EPP), Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries (FWF), and other departments
• Access to extensive agricultural and forestry datasets from statewide research stations and industry partners

Information about the University, College, Department, and Knoxville...

UTK is the state’s flagship campus and leading research institution with a strong partnership with the nearby Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), where many UTK faculty have ongoing joint positions and/or joint research projects. As a strategic investment, UTK is leading the AI Tennessee, a research and education initiative by the State and the University to engage with academic, industry and community partners across Tennessee to leverage the benefits of AI across all disciplines and economic sections.

The Tickle College of Engineering (TCE) is in the midst of an unprecedented period of growth and success, including adding over 30 new faculty to the college as part of ambitious hiring campaigns led by Chancellor Donde Plowman and Dean Matthew Mench. The college has set records in research expenditures, enrollment, incoming student GPA, diversity, intellectual property development, and USNWR rank in the past three years. New facilities include the state-of-the art Zeanah Engineering Complex, the University of Tennessee Manufacturing and Design Enterprise (TN-MADE) facility, and the Innovation South building now under construction that will house UTK’s Fibers and Composites Manufacturing Facility (FCMF).

TCE currently has 203 tenure/tenure track and 79 non-tenure track faculty in its nine academic departments and offers 11 undergraduate, 16 MS, and 15 PhD/DE degree programs. Affiliated with TCE and located in Tullahoma, Tennessee, the UT Space Institute is a hub of aerospace and defense research. The college is also home to eight research centers and three interdisciplinary institutes. With approximately 4,300 undergraduate and 1,500 graduate students, the college sits 29th among public universities in the most recent U.S. News and World Report graduate rankings. Faculty in the college have won 29 early career awards (NSF, DOE, DARPA, AFOSR, and ARO) since 2016. In FY24, the college had annual research expenditures of $113.6M.

EECS at UTK has 49 full-time T/TT faculty members, three members of the National Academy of Engineering, 15 IEEE Fellows, 13 NSF/DOE CAREER awardees, and 15 ranked in World’s Top 2% Scientists as compiled by Stanford. The department has a growing enrollment of more than 1000 undergraduate and 450 graduate students across the three majors of Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, and Computer Science. In addition, the department offers undergraduate minors in computer science, cybersecurity, datacenter technology and management, and machine learning. Successful faculty candidates will be expected to contribute to the continued growth and excellence of EECS.

UTK is in Knoxville, Tennessee. The city of Knoxville is a hidden gem with an elegant and walkable downtown, rich and varied nightlife, vibrant neighborhoods, eclectic restaurants, and amazing access to outdoor activities of all kinds as well as exciting cultural events throughout the year. Knoxville is within an easy driving distance to Nashville, Atlanta, Asheville, and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. From Knoxville’s TYS Airport, Knoxville has nonstop flights to 24 major US airports, including DC, NYC, Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Las Vegas, Miami, Nashville, Orlando, Philadelphia, and Phoenix.

In addition, Knoxville and the surrounding areas boast great K-12 schools and one of the most highly educated populations in the entire US. With one of the lowest costs of living in the country, Knoxville was recently recognized in U.S. News and World Report as the 29th best place to live in the U.S. In fact, in 2024, US News ranked the State of Tennessee as #5 in fiscal stability, #12 in economy, and #21 in infrastructure.

Qualifications

Applicants must hold a Ph.D. in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Data Science, Electrical Engineering, or a closely related field at the time of appointment. Candidates should demonstrate expertise in artificial intelligence, machine learning, or data science, with a strong publication record commensurate with the rank of appointment.

For an Appointment at the Assistant Professor rank, the candidate is expected to demonstrate potential for securing funding for research programs and for participating in interdisciplinary teams. The candidate is also expected to demonstrate potential for effective, high-quality teaching skills and the ability to effectively mentor undergraduate and graduate students.

For an Appointment at the Associate Professor rank, the candidate is expected to have conducted nationally/internationally recognized research and demonstrate strong leadership potential. The candidate is also expected to demonstrate effective and high-quality teaching skills, as well as the ability to effectively mentor undergraduate and graduate students.

For an Appointment at the Full Professor rank, the candidate is expected to demonstrate established leadership in their field with a strong track record of funded research, high-impact publications, and successful mentorship of junior faculty and students. The candidate should possess the vision and capability to lead major interdisciplinary initiatives that bridge AI/ML with agricultural and forestry applications.

Preferred qualifications include demonstrated experience applying AI/ML to agricultural, forestry, or environmental systems; track record of interdisciplinary collaboration; experience with grant funding from agencies such as NSF, USDA, DOE, or similar; industry partnerships or technology transfer experience; and familiarity with agricultural production systems, forest ecosystems, or related fields.

Application Instructions

The application deadline is November 14, 2025. Applications received after the deadline may be considered until the positions are filled. Please submit the following items online via Interfolio to complete your application:

• Cover Letter addressing your interest in the position and fit with the RAFS/PERCE clusters,
• Curriculum Vitae,
• Research Statement describing your research vision and how it aligns with AI/ML for agriculture and forestry systems,
• Teaching Statement including teaching philosophy and potential course contributions,
• Names and contact information of three references.

For questions about the position, please contact the Search Committee Chair, Dr. Charles Cao at cao@utk.edu, or Co-Chair, Dr. Hector Santos-Villalobos at hsantosv@utk.edu.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment and admission without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, and parental status, or any other characteristic protected by federal or state law. In accordance with the requirements of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the University of Tennessee affirmatively states that it does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, or disability in its education programs and activities, and this policy extends to employment by the university.

Requests for accommodation of a disability should be directed to the ADA Coordinator at Equal Opportunity and Accessibility, 1840 Melrose Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37996-3560, by email to eoa@utk.edu, or by phone at 865-974-2498. Inquiries and charges of violation of Title VI (race, color, and national origin), Title IX (sex), Section 504 (disability), the ADA (disability), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (age), sexual orientation, or veteran status should be directed to the Office of Investigation and Resolution, 216 Business Incubator Building, E J. Chapman Drive, Knoxville, TN 37996-3560, by email to investigations@utk.edu, or by phone at 865-974-0717.