Assistant Professor - Potato Genetics & Trait Engineering

Cornell University; Town of Ithaca (NY); On-site; USD 90,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

Cornell University’s School of Integrative Plant Science in Ithaca, NY invites applications for a full-time, nine-month tenure-track Assistant Professor position in Genetic Optimization and Trait Engineering for Potato Improvement.

The successful candidate will lead an innovative breeding and genetics program, integrate new methods including AI-driven data analysis, and develop a robust extension program serving growers across New York.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in plant breeding, plant genetics/genomics or related discipline.
• Ability to work effectively with stakeholder groups and other researchers across disciplines, attract extramural support, and lead an innovative research/breeding program.
• Postdoctoral and/or other relevant experience is desirable, with experience preferred in relevant extension/education, student advising, and research.

Responsibilities

• Research (60%) – To solve these and other challenges, it is expected that the successful candidate will utilize advanced research approaches, such as the design and implementation of sophisticated computational pipelines, including use of AI, to synthesize large volumes of genotypic and phenotypic data and inform crossing and selection decisions.
• The candidate may partner with plant transformation facilities and experts on campus for genome editing.
• They may contribute to the nascent global effort to re-domesticate potato as a diploid crop, a multi-decade project that, if successful, will considerably simplify future genetic improvement.
• Extension (40%) – It is expected that the candidate will develop a robust extension program focused on potato cultivar development and evaluation, including responsibility for running on-farm trials of candidate varieties developed at Cornell and elsewhere.

Education

Ph.D. in plant breeding/genetics/genomics

Job description

Cornell University’s School of Integrative Plant Science in Ithaca, NY invites applications for a full-time, nine-month tenure-track Assistant Professor position in Genetic Optimization and Trait Engineering for Potato Improvement.

The successful candidate will lead an innovative breeding and genetics program, integrate new methods including AI-driven data analysis, and develop a robust extension program serving growers across New York.