Assistant Professor - Crop Resilience to Environmental Stress

Job No: 528605
Work Type:
Faculty Full Time

Location:

UMass Amherst
Department:
Stockbridge School of Agriculture
Union: MSP
Categories:
Faculty, College of Natural Sciences, Tenure Track

The flagship of the Commonwealth, the University of Massachusetts Amherst is a nationally ranked public land‑grant research university that seeks to expand educational access, fuel innovation and creativity, and share and use its knowledge for the common good. Founded in 1863, UMass Amherst sits on nearly 1,450‑acres in scenic Western Massachusetts and boasts state‑of‑the‑art facilities for teaching, research, scholarship, and creative activity.

The institution advances a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community where everyone feels connected and valued—and thrives, and offers a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees across 10 schools and colleges, and 100 undergraduate majors. We believe every member of our university community can contribute to our ongoing success by striving for the highest level of excellence as we seek breakthrough solutions to mounting environmental, social, economic, and technological challenges in our world.

The Stockbridge School of Agriculture (SSA) plays a vital role in advancing the College’s and University’s strategic goals in agriculture, horticulture and soils through three focus areas: soil and environmental health; sustainable farming and landscapes; and plant health. SSA functions as a full University department. We offer excellent 4-year undergraduate degree programs (on‑campus and online), solid graduate education and research, and significant knowledge transfer and translation of our applied research through collaborations with UMass Extension and CAFE.

Uniquely, SSA also offers highly applied 2‑year AS degrees. SSA contributes to UMass’s ranking as a top Agricultural University nationally and globally (US News), and is committed to fostering this globally recognized research success. We also continue to ensure excellent education in our areas of expertise for all students, particularly through highly ranked programs in Sustainable Food & Farming (no.
1) and Turf (no.
6), and a large online program generating over $2 million total revenue.

The Stockbridge School of Agriculture at the University of Massachusetts Amherst invites applications for a tenure‑track Assistant Professor position of Crops Resiliency to Environmental Stresses. This position is a full‑time, 9‑month appointment. The successful candidate will be a full member of the University’s faculty and will provide science‑based solutions through research and teaching to help farmers adapt to environmental pressures, enhancing Stockbridge’s mission to support regional agriculture and horticulture and student success.

We are seeking talented applicants qualified for an assistant professor position. Under exceptional circumstances, highly qualified candidates at other ranks may receive consideration.

We seek a highly motivated individual who will establish a nationally and internationally recognized research and teaching program addressing how crops respond and adapt to multiple environmental stresses such as drought, heat, salinity, pathogens, pollutants and nutrient deficiencies. This research is critical in the context of climate change, global food insecurity, and the need for sustainable agriculture. The successful candidate will integrate molecular biology, plant physiology, and modern molecular breeding techniques (e.g., CRISPR‑Cas genome editing, gene pyramiding, association mapping, marker‑assisted breeding) to understand underlying mechanisms and enhance crop tolerance to environmental stresses with the aim to develop crops that are productive and adaptive to climate variability.

The position is central to Stockbridge’s mission to support regional and global agriculture, improve crop productivity, and promote environmental stewardship through sustainable practices.

Instructional responsibilities will include teaching undergraduate and graduate courses related to plant biotechnology, crop improvements, plant…