Assistant Professor - AI for Agriculture and Natural Resources

UM01 University of Maryland College Park (UMCP); College Park (MD); On-site; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Maryland College Park (UMCP) is looking for a tenured faculty member (Assistant Professor) in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. The position emphasizes the application of AI and machine learning in agriculture and natural resources, involving collaboration with various interdisciplinary programs.

Qualified candidates will develop and teach courses, maintain a funded research program, and engage in mentoring students. A Ph.D. in related fields and experience with AI/ML are required.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in relevant fields such as Animal Science, Environmental Science, or Data Science.
• Demonstrated experience with AI/ML applications.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Evidence of scholarly publications.

Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain an externally funded research program.
• Develop and teach courses in AI and data science.
• Publish findings in peer-reviewed journals.
• Mentor graduate and undergraduate students.
• Collaborate with faculty across departments.

Skills

AI/ML application

Data analytics

Communication skills

Research presentation

Programming languages (Python, R)

Education

Ph.D. in relevant field

Tools

TensorFlow

PyTorch

GIS and remote sensing platforms

Job description

Position Summary

The College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Maryland seeks candidates for tenured faculty positions (Assistant Professor) in one of the following departments: Animal and Avian Sciences, Environmental Science and Technology, Veterinary Medicine, Nutrition and Food Science, or Plant Science and Landscape Architecture. The role focuses on using artificial intelligence and machine learning to improve decision‑making in agriculture, agroecology, and natural resources. Successful candidates will join an interdisciplinary research community at UMD, collaborating with the AI Interdisciplinary Institute @ Maryland, Maryland Agricultural Experiment Station, and regional stakeholders.

Research Focus

• Accelerate discovery of strategies improving health outcomes for humans, plants, animals, and the environment.
• Develop AI‑enabled surveillance or remote‑sensing systems for monitoring and risk assessment in plant, animal, human, or natural ecosystems.
• Promote human health by increasing nutritional value of foods and improving food safety.
• Apply AI in precision agriculture to reduce production inputs.
• Accelerate gene discovery, programmed gene expression, and de novo protein design for enhanced resistance to abiotic stressors and pathogens.
• Support communication, policy analysis, sustainable design, and governance across environmental systems using AI.

Position Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain an externally funded research program in one or more of the areas listed above.
• Develop and teach new courses in AI and data science applications at undergraduate and graduate levels.
• Publish research findings in peer‑reviewed journals and present at national and international conferences.
• Recruit and mentor graduate and undergraduate students.
• Provide academic advising for undergraduate majors and contribute to graduate education.
• Collaborate with faculty across departments, colleges, and external organizations to promote interdisciplinary research and outreach.
• Participate in departmental, college, and university service activities and governance.

Required Application Materials

• Cover letter outlining interest, proposed departmental home, and brief statements.
• Curriculum Vitae.
• Brief Research Statement highlighting past accomplishments and future goals.
• Brief Teaching and Mentoring Statement detailing teaching interests and experience.
• Published scholarly works demonstrating prior research using AI/ML in the relevant discipline.
• List of three professional references.

Minimum Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Animal Science, Agricultural Science, Environmental Science, Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Nutrition and Food Science, Veterinary Science, Data Science, Computer Science, Plant Science or Biology, Genetics, Horticulture, Agronomy, Plant Pathology, or related areas.
• Demonstrated experience developing and applying AI, ML, or data analytics to the research areas mentioned.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Evidence of scholarly publications in peer‑reviewed journals.
• Potential to develop and sustain a funded, high‑impact research program.
• Experience presenting research results at national or international meetings.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience applying innovative, data‑driven approaches integrating AI, geospatial analysis, remote sensing, etc., in agriculture, environmental science, veterinary medicine, plant science, biology, or nutrition and food science.
• Proficiency with programming languages (e.g., Python, R), AI/ML tools (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch), GIS, and remote sensing platforms.
• Teaching experience at the college or university level.
• Experience working collaboratively in interdisciplinary teams and engaging with agricultural and environmental stakeholders.

EEO Statement

The University of Maryland, College Park is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment. Please read the University’s Equal Employment Opportunity Statement of Policy.