Plant Breeding Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Description
The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M University is seeking applications for one full-time, tenured faculty position with a 9-month academic appointment. The anticipated start date for this opportunity is October 1, 2026. Applicants will be considered for the faculty title of Professor and Head of the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences. This faculty position includes a 25% research appointment and comes with an administrative stipend equivalent to two months of summer salary. The role offers competitive university benefits, and additional support in the form of a postdoctoral scientist is available upon establishing a Hatch project. The administrative stipend and postdoctoral support will remain in effect for the individual's tenure as Department Head.
The Professor and Head will serve as the department's chief administrative officer, acting as an advocate for Soil and Crop Sciences and the scientific disciplines it represents (Agronomy, Plant Breeding, Soil Science, and Turfgrass). Reporting to the Vice Chancellor and Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M University, College Station, the Head will provide departmental mentorship, as well as leadership and support for various faculty initiatives. This role also includes overseeing Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service programs within the department. Key responsibilities include enhancing and expanding undergraduate and graduate education; expanding the department's impact through research supported by grants, philanthropic partnerships, and federally appropriated programs; fostering collegiality, a positive departmental culture, and interdisciplinary collaboration; advancing extension and outreach programs; providing mentorship to members for career advancement; strengthening relationships with stakeholders; and promoting the communication of science-based findings to inform public policy and private sector decision-making.
The ideal candidate will have experience leading a dynamic and highly productive research program that is nationally and internationally recognized, along with demonstrated success in academic administration. The successful candidate should exhibit visionary leadership characterized by transparency, strategic thinking, and innovation, and demonstrate a strong commitment to the teaching, research, and extension components of the Land Grant Mission. The Department Head must excel in communication and collaboration with faculty, staff, and students and effectively advocate for their best interests to university administrators, state and federal agencies, industry partners, stakeholders, and the public.
The Department of Soil and Crop Sciences is one of 15 academic departments within the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Nationally and internationally recognized research programs are conducted by Soil and Crop Sciences faculty in such disciplines as plant breeding and genetics, biotechnology, crop physiology, agronomy, forage and turfgrass management, cereal chemistry, soil science, weed science, and environmental soil, water and crop science. It is home to 92 faculty members, including 29 tenure-track, 42 research, 20 Extension, and 1 professional-track with teaching, research, and/or extension appointments. The department boasts a distinguished faculty, including 2 Regents Professors, 3 Endowed Chairs, 1 Endowed Professor, and 7 Regents Fellows. The department offers a comprehensive range of programs including 3 doctoral programs, 3 master's degree programs, and 2 bachelor's degree programs. The department's faculty have a statewide presence with representation in all 13 Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Centers. The department's Extension program is the largest in the country, supporting all 254 counties across the 12 Extension districts in Texas.
Texas A&M University, a land, sea, and space grant institution, was designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) in 2022. With over 79,000 students and a multibillion-dollar endowment, it ranks second in the U.S. for agricultural research and development expenditures. The College Station/Bryan area, home to 281,445 residents, is frequently ranked among the best places to live in the U.S. Texas A&M University is part of The Texas A&M University System, which includes 12 universities, a health science center, and eight state agencies, including AgriLife Research and AgriLife Extension Service agencies, educating over 157,000 students and conducting $1 billion in annual research and development, significantly contributing to the economy of Texas.
Texas A&M University is aware that attracting and retaining exceptional faculty often depends on meeting the needs of two careers and having policies that contribute to work-life balance. For more information, visit here.
Qualifications
Candidates must have a doctorate in Agronomy, Soil Science, Plant Breeding, Turfgrass, or a related field and a record of research, teaching, and service commensurate with tenure at a tier 1 research institution. Demonstrated experience in academic administration and experience in a land grant institution are preferred.
Application Instructions
Applicants should submit the following documents: 1) a cover letter; 2) a detailed Curriculum Vita; 3) a Department Head Vision Statement (three-page department head vision statement summarizing his/her personal vision and goals for the Department of Soil and Crop Science's education and research); 4) Personal statement to include philosophy and plans for research, traching, and service; and 5) contact information for five references. Review of applications begins on February 1, 2026, and will continue until the position is filled. Applications are to be submitted through apply.interfolio.com/177207. The position is available to begin on October 1, 2026, or as negotiated. For questions, email inquiries to Advisory Search Committee Chair, Dr. Won Bo Shim (wonbo.shim@ag.tamu.edu).