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Closing Date:
Type of Position:
Research
No
Job Type:
Regular
Yes
Institution Name:
Division of Agriculture of the University of Arkansas
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture is a state wide campus, with faculty based on University campuses, at Research and Extension Centers and in every Arkansas county. It consists of the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station (AES) and the Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service (CES), and is home to more than 1400 employees. The Division was established in 1959 and is headed by the Vice-President for Agriculture. The Division headquarters is located in Little Rock with the rest of the University of Arkansas System Administration. As an employer, the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers a vibrant work environment and a workplace culture that promotes a healthy work-life balance.
Below you will find the details for the position including any supplementary documentation and questions you should review before applying for the opening. To apply for the position, please click the Apply link/button.
If you have a disability and need assistance with the hiring process and require reasonable accommodations, please contact the Division's Office of Program & Employment Compliance at compliance@uada.edu.
For general application assistance or if you have questions about a job posting, please contact Human Resources at 501-671-2219 or 479-502-9820.
Department:
CSES | Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences
https://crop-soil-environmental-sciences.uark.edu/
Summary of Job Duties:
As part of a cluster hire in multi-omics integration and data analytics applied to plant breeding, the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture invites applications for a 12-month, tenure-track Assistant or Associate Professor position (80% research, 20% teaching) in Rice Genomics and Breeding Systems. This position holds the Anheuser-Busch and Arkansas Wholesalers Professorship in Plant Molecular Genetics, offering enhanced visibility, support, and leadership expectations in molecular genetics and genomics research. The successful candidate will develop a nationally recognized research program focused on genomic discovery, trait characterization, molecular breeding methodologies, and the innovation of advanced breeding systems in rice. The position will work closely with the University’s two public rice breeding programs to accelerate trait discovery, deployment, and cultivar development.
Responsibilities
Research (80%)
The successful candidate will be expected to:
• Conduct research in areas such as RNA-seq, genomic mapping, functional genomics, molecular marker development, high-throughput gene discovery, and genomic characterization of traits important to rice growers, processors, and end users.
• Utilize and advance tools including gene editing (CRISPR and related), pangenomics, genome assembly, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and multi-omics integration.
• Collaborate closely with the University’s two rice breeding programs to enable molecular selection, rapid trait deployment, genomic prediction, and marker-enabled variety development.
• Engage interdisciplinary collaborations with plant pathologists, agronomists, food scientists, entomologists, weed scientists, and engineers to expand genomic application across production and quality traits.
• Secure extramural funding from federal agencies (USDA-NIFA, NSF, DOE, USAID), commodity boards, industry partnerships, and multi-institutional initiatives.
• Publish research in peer-reviewed journals and communicate impact to scientists, breeders, stakeholders, and industry partners.
Teaching (20%)
The successful candidate will be expected to:
• Teach one undergraduate and one graduate course annually in molecular breeding, genomics, plant molecular biology, or a related specialty.
• Mentor M.S. and Ph.D. graduate students and engage undergraduate students.
• Contribute to curriculum modernization in molecular genetics, omics technologies, and breeding system innovation.
Program Resources and Collaborative Advantages
The successful candidate will benefit from:
• An endowed Professorship in Plant Molecular Genetics, providing program visibility and support.
• Strong collaboration pathways with the two public rice breeding programs at the University of Arkansas.
• Molecular laboratories, growth chambers, greenhouse resources, as well as access to AAES’s statewide network of research and extension stations, including five Research & Extension Centers and several Research Stations located across Arkansas (https://aaes.uada.edu/research-locations).
• Access to the Arkansas High-Performance Computing Cluster (AHPCC) for genome-scale data processing and multi-omics integration (https://hpc.uark.edu).
• Synergies with cluster hires in omics integration, phenomics, AI/data analytics, and soybean, wheat, fruit, and vegetable breeding programs.
• Proximity to regional and national rice industry partners, milling and quality evaluation programs, and downstream value-chain collaborators.
Location:
This position is based at the University of Arkansas campus in Fayetteville, consistently ranked among the best places to live in the United States.
Department:
The Department of Crop, Soil, and Environmental Sciences is one of eight academic departments in Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences and the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, along with the School of Human Environmental Sciences. Resident instruction is provided by 16 faculty members at the Fayetteville campus with approximately 140 undergraduate majors and 60 graduate students. An additional 12 Research and Extension faculty serve clientele at various Research and Extension Centers strategically located around the state. The Department offers Bachelor’s degrees in Crop Science and Environmental, Soil, and Water Sciences, along with Master’s and Doctoral degrees. The department is in the process of hiring several new faculty members and the incumbent will join an energetic and collaborative cohort of assistant professors. More information regarding the Department of Crop, Soil, and Environmental Sciences, and the University of Arkansas can be obtained by visiting the website: https://cses.uark.edu
Application:
To be considered, applicants must submit the following materials: 1) Letter of application including a summary of relevant experiences and accomplishments; 2) A vision statement regarding your goals in research for this position; 3) A detailed vitae including a list of publications, funding, and a summary of research and mentoring or teaching activities; 4) Official academic transcripts; and 5) List of three references with mailing and e-mail addresses and phone numbers.
Questions regarding applications or the position should be directed to Dr. Paul DeLaune (pdelaun@uark.edu), Department Head
Deadline:
Screening of applicants will begin Dec 4, 2026 and will continue until a qualified candidate is identified.
Qualifications:
Required
- Ph.D. in Plant Molecular Biology, Plant Breeding, Genetics, Genomics, or a closely related discipline. Degree must be conferred prior to the hire date.
- Evidence of research productivity in genomics, molecular biology, gene discovery, or trait characterization.
- Strong communication skills and ability to collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and applied breeding programs.
Preferred
- Experience in rice or closely related cereal crops.
- Experience with gene editing, RNA-seq, genomic selection, or multi-omics integration.
- Demonstrated ability to secure competitive extramural funding.
- Experience mentoring graduate students and contributing to academic program development.
Qualification Equivalencies:
Additional Information:
Commensurate with education and experience
Required Documents to Apply:
Cover Letter/Letter of Application, Curriculum Vitae, Listing of Publications, List of three Professional References (name, email, business title), Other (see special instructions for details), Statement of Research Philosophy, Unofficial/Official Transcript(s)
Special Instructions to Applicants:
Applicants should submit the following: 1) Letter of application including a summary of relevant experiences and accomplishments; 2) A vision statement regarding your goals in research for this position; 3) A detailed vitae including a list of publications, funding, and a summary of research and mentoring or teaching activities; 4) Official academic transcripts; and 5) List of three references with mailing and e-mail addresses and phone numbers.
Questions regarding applications or the position should be directed to Dr. Paul DeLaune (pdelaun@uark.edu), Department Head
Recruitment Contact Information:
Dr. Paul DeLaune (pdelaun@uark.edu), Department Head
All application materials must be uploaded to the University of Arkansas System Career Site https://uasys.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/UASYS
Please do not send to listed recruitment contact.
Pre-employment Screening Requirements:
Motor Vehicle Reports Check
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture may conduct pre-employment background checks on certain positions for applicants being considered for employment. The background checks may include a criminal background check and a sex offender registry check. Required checks are identified in the position listing. A criminal background check or arrest pending adjudication information alone shall not disqualify an applicant in the absences of a relationship to the requirements of the position. Background check information will be used in a consistent, non-discriminatory manner consistent with the state and federal law.
The University of Arkansas is an equal opportunity institution. The University does not discriminate in its education programs or activities (including in admission and employment) on the basis of any category or status protected by law, including age, race, color, national origin, disability, religion, protected veteran status, military service, genetic information, sex, sexual preference, or pregnancy. Questions or concerns about the application of Title IX, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, may be sent to the University’s Title IX Coordinator and to the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights.
Persons must have proof of legal authority to work in the United States on the first day of employment.
All application information is subject to public disclosure under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act.
Constant Physical Activity:
Manipulate items with fingers, including keyboarding, Repetitive Motion, Sitting, Standing, Talking
Frequent Physical Activity:
Grasping, Hearing, Kneeling, Lifting
Occasional Physical Activity:
Balancing, Driving, Walking
Benefits Eligible:
Yes
