Assistant/Associate Professor in Soil Microbiome Analysis

36579BR

Plant and Soil Science

Position Description

Contributes to the university's mission through teaching, research and service, some variation by academic unit. As part of TTU's strategic priorities, IGCAST seeks to recruit a 9-month tenure-track faculty member in Plant and Soil microbiome research at the Assistant or Associate Professor level.

About the University

Established in 1923, Texas Tech University is a Carnegie R1 (very 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 Lubbock:Referred to as the "Hub City" because it serves as the educational, cultural, economic, and health care 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 that is ranked as one of the best places to live in Texas. Lubbock is home to a celebrated and ever-evolving music scene, a vibrant arts community, and 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 Lubbock community and its resources, programs, events, and histories.

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, 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/School/Area

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.
The Institute of Genomics for Crop Abiotic Stress Tolerance (IGCAST, https://www.depts.ttu.edu/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.

Major/Essential Functions

As part of the TTU's strategic priorities, IGCAST seeks to recruit a 9-month tenure-track faculty member in Plant and Soil microbiome research at the Assistant or Associate Professor level, depending on the candidate's qualifications and experience. Candidates should have a strong background in 16s, meta-transcriptomic, and whole genome approaches for microbiome analysis. Experience using machine learning for microbial interaction networks and a strong fundamental knowledge of plant and soil microbiology is highly desirable. Applicants with experience in computational biology applied to microbiome analysis are encouraged to apply. The successful candidate should employ systems' biology-based approaches to study environmental stress responses from genome to phenome. Appointees are expected to develop an internationally recognized program of microbiome research linked to the use of genomic tools, combining fundamental research and education with applications to improve the 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.

Organization

Texas Tech University

Faculty Qualifications

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.

1. Ph.D. in microbiology, plant biology, microbial genomics, or bioinformatics.
2. At least two years of postdoctoral experience in plant/soil microbiome research.
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 in plant or soil microbiome research

Preferred Qualifications

1. Knowledge in physiology and metabolism of soil bacteria and/or plant endophytes.
2. Teaching experience at the undergraduate 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.
5. Experience in developing synthetic communities for improving crop resilience.
6. Use of AI tools to study microbiome interaction networks.

Duty Point

TTU Lubbock, main campus and affiliated facilities

Safety Information

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

Does this position work in a research laboratory?

Yes

Special Instructions to Applicants

Please include the following documents in your application:

1. Curriculum Vitae
2. Cover Letter including reason to join IGCAST/TTU and research, education, 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-estrella@ttu.edu.

Job Type

Full Time

Pay Basis

Monthly

Pay Statement

Compensation is commensurate upon the qualifications of the individual selected and budgetary guidelines of the hiring department, as well as the institutional pay plan. For additional information, please reference the institutional pay plan by visiting www.depts.ttu.edu/hr/payplan.

Travel Required

Up to 25%

Grant Funded?

No

Job Group

Assistant Professor

EEO 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.

Salary Grade

800