Description

Assistant/Associate Professor in Plant Phenomics and Image Analysis

Texas Tech University

Department of Pant & Soil Science

Institute of Genomics for Crop Abiotic Tolerance (IGCAST)

Position Description:

The Institute of Genomics for Crop Abiotic Stress Tolerance, Department of Plant and Soil Sciences in the Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources at Texas Tech University invites applications for a 9-month tenure-track Assistant Professor/Associate Professor in Plant Phenomics and Image Analysis beginning from September 2024.

About the University:

Established in 1923, Texas Tech University is a Carnegie R1 (high research activity) Doctoral/Research-Extensive, Hispanic-serving, and state-assisted institution. Located on a beautiful 1,850-acre campus in Lubbock, a city in West Texas with a growing metropolitan area population of over 300,000, the university enrolls over 40,000 students, with 33,000 undergraduate and 7,000 graduate students. As the primary research institution in the western two-thirds of the state, Texas Tech University is home to 10 colleges, the Schools of Law and Veterinary Medicine, and the Graduate School. The flagship of the Texas Tech University System, Texas Tech is dedicated to student success by preparing learners to be ethical leaders for a diverse and globally competitive workforce. It is committed to enhancing the cultural and economic development of the state, nation, and world.

About the College:

Davis College includes the departments of Agricultural and Applied Economics, Agricultural Education and Communications, Animal and Food Sciences, Landscape Architecture, Natural Resources Management, Plant and Soil Science (PSS), and Veterinary Sciences along with multiple research centers and institutes. The college has over 100 tenure-track faculty, 2,747 undergraduate and 519 graduate students, and numerous other staff employees. It has generated approximately $16 million in extramural research funding.

About the Department:

The PSS Department is a comprehensive academic unit conducting research and offering coursework and programs in several areas of plant and soil sciences. There are 36 full-time faculty members and a student body of approximately 180 undergraduate and 140 graduate students. B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees are offered in Plant and Soil Science. Additionally, distance education courses and four certificate programs are offered. The department is research-intensive while fostering strong teaching expectations and commitments. Students in the department are educated to meet the challenge of using soil, water, and plant resources for sustainable production and environmental quality.

About the Institute:

The Institute of Genomics for Crop Abiotic Stress Tolerance (IGCAST, ) was established in 2020 at Texas Tech University (TTU) with the mission to conduct top-ranked research and graduate education on the use of functional and population genomics to understand the molecular mechanisms that determine the resilience of crops and related wild species to adverse environmental stresses in the era of climate change. IGCAST aims to integrate an interdisciplinary team of scientists to conduct internationally competitive, multidisciplinary research to study physiological, biochemical, and molecular mechanisms and plant architecture underlying resistance to environmental stresses, contributing to the development of sustainable agriculture. Faculty members within the IGCAST will have an academic appointment in the Department of Plant and Soil Science, Davis College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources.

About Lubbock:

Referred to as the "Hub City" because it serves as the educational, cultural, economic, and healthcare hub of the South Plains region, Lubbock boasts a diverse population and a strong connection to community, history, and land. With a mild climate, highly rated public schools, and a low cost of living, Lubbock is a family-friendly community ranked as one of the best places to live in Texas. Lubbock has a celebrated and ever-evolving music scene and a vibrant arts community. It is within driving distance of Dallas, Austin, Santa Fe, and other major metropolitan cities. Lubbock's Convention & Visitors Bureau provides a comprehensive overview of the community and its resources, programs, events, and histories.

Major/Essential Functions:

In line with TTU's strategic priorities to engage and empower a diverse student body, enable innovative research and creative activities, and transform lives and communities through outreach and engaged scholarship, applicants should have experience working with diverse student populations at the undergraduate and/or graduate levels within individual or across the areas of teaching, research/creative activity, and service.

As part of the TTU's strategic priorities, IGCAST is seeking to recruit a 9-month tenure-track faculty member in Plant Phenomics and Image Analysis at the Assistant or Associate Professor level, depending on the candidate's qualification and experience. Qualified candidates should have a strong background in large-scale phenotyping, and analysis of images generated with different systems and wavelengths. Applicants with experience operating high-throughput greenhouse, field-phenotyping imaging systems using PhenoAIxpert, Field Scanalyzer, and/or satellite-based drone systems are encouraged to apply. The successful candidate should employ systems biology-based approaches to study environmental stress responses from genome to phenome. Additional knowledge in plant physiology, plant development and photosynthesis is a plus. Appointees are expected to develop an internationally recognized program in plant phenotyping research linked to the use of genomic diversity, combining fundamental research and education with applications to improvement of environmental stress tolerance of crops, mainly but not limited to, cotton, sorghum, or other crops relevant to West Texas agriculture.

Faculty at IGCAST will have access to the state-of-the-art plant growth facilities that integrate three fully automatized greenhouses and walk-in growth chambers and access to the state-of-the-art genomic, imaging, and metabolomic services available at the TTU. The position will focus on research with an anticipated teaching responsibility of one to two graduate courses per year, plus the training of graduate students and post-doctoral associates. Service duties include program-building, as well as a commitment to extra-curricular activities. Service to the department, college, and university is expected. Successful candidates are expected to publish in the top 10% of journals in their area of expertise.

Required Qualifications:

1. Ph.D. in plant biology, genomics, and/or bioinformatics.
2. At least two years of postdoctoral experience in high-throughput plant phenomics and image analysis.
3. Good communication and analytical skills.
4. Ability to identify and aggressively pursue competitive funding from national and international sources.
5. At least three publications exploring the methodologies in plant phenomics and/or image analysis.

Preferred Qualifications:

1. Previous experiences with the PhenoAIxpert HT system, Field Scanalyzer, and/or satellite-based drone systems.
2. Teaching experience at the undergraduate and/or graduate level.
3. Experience in writing grants for federal government agencies.
4. The ability and motivation to network with stakeholders, such as experts in the field, large companies, and start-ups, to establish public-private collaborations is a plus.

Safety Information:

Adherence to robust safety practices and compliance with all applicable health and safety regulations are responsibilities of all TTU employees.

Equal Opportunity Statement:

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information or status as a protected veteran.

Special Instructions to Applicants:

Please include the following documents in your application:

1. Curriculum Vitae
2. A cover letter including reason to join IGCAST/TTU, and research, teaching and outreach philosophy statements.
3. A summary of the research program to be established if hired by TTU.
4. PDFs of four selected publications
5. List of at least four references

Questions about this position should be directed to Dr. /Prof. Luis Herrera Estrella, Search Committee Chair at luis.herrera- If you need assistance with the application process, contact Human Resources, Talent Acquisition at or

Application Process

The deadline to submit applications is on April 15

To ensure full consideration, please complete an online application at: Requisition # 36580BR