Associate/Full Professor of Tree Breeding and Genetics

University of California, Davis; Davis (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

The Department of Plant Sciences at the University of California, Davis invites applications for an Associate/Full Professor of Tree Breeding and Genetics with emphasis on almond. This tenured, 9-month appointment includes 80% AES and 20% instruction/research, and requires leadership in a genetic breeding program addressing climate resilience, nut quality, pest resistance, and resource-use efficiency.

Teaching and mentoring are expected. Applicants should have a Ph.D.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. or equivalent in plant science, breeding, genetics, genomics, or a related field.
• At least 5 years as an assistant professor, or equivalent, in plant breeding at the time of appointment.

Responsibilities

• Establish a competitive, funded breeding program focused on almond and other Prunus species.
• Teach undergraduate or graduate courses in biotechnology, plant breeding, genetics, statistics, or agronomy.
• Collaborate with Cooperative Extension specialists, advisors, and industry partners; mentor graduate students; perform departmental and university service.

Skills

Tree breeding

Genetics

Genomics

Education

Ph.D. in plant science or related field

Job description

The Department of Plant Sciences in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at the University of California, Davis is recruiting an Associate / Full Professor of Tree Breeding and Genetics with a preferred emphasis in almond. This is an academic year (9-month), tenured position that includes an appointment in the California Agricultural Experiment Station (AES). This position will be 20% Instruction and Research and 80% AES. Faculty members who hold an AES appointment have a responsibility to conduct research and develop new knowledge and technologies that address specific problems of importance for the people of California. Participation in outreach programs and performance of university service are also expected. For more information on the UC Davis Agricultural Experiment Station, please visit: https://caes.ucdavis.edu/research/aes.

The appointee is expected to establish a competitively funded research and breeding program focused primarily on the genetic improvement of almond and other Prunus species to address critical and emerging issues in tree crop production in California and elsewhere, such as climate resilience, self-fruitfulness, pest/pathogen resistance, water and nutrient-use efficiency, nut quality, and non-infectious bud failure. The appointee is expected to make innovative use of genomic data, phenomic platforms, and biotechnological tools to create improved varieties. Applicants are encouraged to present a long-term vision for a program with funding from commodity board, state, and federal sources that addresses emerging market opportunities and regulatory changes. Further opportunities for the appointee could include breeding activities in other tree crops. The appointee will be responsible for teaching an undergraduate or graduate class in biotechnology, plant breeding, genetics, statistics, or agronomy (e.g.: PLS 170: Fruit & Nut Cropping Systems; PLS 114: Biological Applications in Fruit Production), as assigned by the department chair and depending on the interests of the candidate and the needs of the department. The appointee will also contribute to graduate student mentoring and teaching. The appointee is expected to participate in and develop public outreach and/or community engagement programs, to collaborate with Cooperative Extension specialists and advisors and partners in allied industries or other appropriate stakeholders, and to perform departmental, university, and non-university service.

UC Davis supports Family-friendly recruitments. UC Davis covers travel expenses for a second person to accompany an invited faculty recruitment candidate who is a mother (or single parent of either gender) of a breast or bottle-feeding child less than two years of age.
http://academicaffairs.ucdavis.edu/programs/work-life/index.html

UC Davis recognizes the necessity of supporting faculty with efforts to integrate work, family and other work-life considerations. To recruit and retain the best faculty, the campus sponsors a Work Life Program that provides programs and services that support faculty as they strive to honor their commitments to work, home and community. http://academicaffairs.ucdavis.edu/programs/worklife/index.html

The UC Davis Partner Opportunities Program (POP) and Capital Resource Network (CRN) are services designed to support departments and Deans' offices in the recruitment and retention of outstanding faculty. For information about POP, please visit https://academicaffairs.ucdavis.edu/partner-opportunities-program-pop . For information about the CRN, please visit https://academicaffairs.ucdavis.edu/capital-resource-network . Please note eligibility for these programs may be based on policy and funding availability.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state for federal law.
The University of California, Davis (UC Davis) is committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for all employees and students. Our excellence in research, teaching, and service are embodied by members of our academic community who share our commitment to these values. A variety of resources and programs are available to academics, staff, and students that reflect the core values reflected in our strategic plan: "To Boldly Go," our Principles of Community, the Office of Academic Affairs' Mission Statement, and the UC Board of Regents Policy 4400.

The university is consistently ranked among the top institutions in the world for campus sustainability practices by the UI Green Metric World University Rankings. UC Davis is focused on achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions and repeatedly shown its https://www.ucdavis.edu/climate

A. Ph.D. or equivalent in plant science, breeding, genetics, genomics, or a related field, with at least 5 years as an assistant professor, or equivalent, in plant breeding at the time of appointment is required.