Assistant Professor of Agribusiness Management

Position Specifics

The Department of Agricultural Economics, Sociology, and Education (AESE) in the College of Agricultural Sciences at The Pennsylvania State University (University Park campus) invites candidates to apply for an Assistant Professor of Agribusiness Management position. This is a full-time, 36-week, tenure-track appointment with a 60% teaching and 40% Extension appointment.

Responsibilities

• Teach five 3-credit courses per year in the Agribusiness Management (AGBM) undergraduate program, most of which will be taught online via Penn State's World Campus program, though some may be taught in person at Penn State's University Park campus.
• Potential course topics include agricultural market and price analysis, agribusiness finance, managing the food system, food product marketing, and economic principles applied to agriculture and the food system.
• Advise and mentor undergraduate students, including professional development for future employment in industry.
• Develop a nationally and internationally recognized Extension program on agribusiness management that enhances the university's engagement with the agricultural industry in Pennsylvania.
• Pertinent Extension topics may include price and income risk management, agricultural products and markets, smart ag technologies, and related areas.
• Secure external funding to support the Extension program.

Qualifications

• Doctorate in agricultural economics, agribusiness, or a related economics or business field.
• Must have completed all degree requirements by the appointment date.
• Experience in agriculture, agribusiness, or the food industry is preferred.
• Applicants should demonstrate excellent communication skills and the ability to work in multi-disciplinary teams.
• The ability to engage professionally with an inclusive population of faculty, staff, students, and Extension audiences is required, and the successful candidate will actively strive to provide an inclusive learning environment for all.

Application Requirements

Review of applications will begin on December 1, 2026, with a start date of July 1, 2027, or as negotiated.

• Candidates should provide a cover letter, curriculum vitae, names and contact information for three references, a writing sample, a statement of teaching/pedagogy related to the position description, and a statement of Extension vision and philosophy related to the position description.
• System limitations allow for a total of 5 documents (5mb per document) as part of your application. Please combine materials to meet the 5-document limit.
• Questions can be directed to the Search Committee chair: Ted Jaenicke (ecj3@psu.edu).

About the Department

AESE is a welcoming community with our scholarship focusing on people, society, and economic systems grounded in theory and methods from the social, economic, and behavioral sciences. Faculty and students develop and employ rigorous approaches to discover fundamental and applied principles that advance science in their core disciplines. AESE strives to improve the health, prosperity, and welfare of people in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and beyond. Our core areas for teaching and research are (1) Agricultural and Food Systems, (2) Community Development and Engagement, (3) Environment and Natural Resources, and (4) Population Processes in Global Perspective. The Department offers three resident and one online graduate programs and oversees four undergraduate majors. For more information visit our site at https://aese.psu.edu/.

Background Checks/Clearances

Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.

Benefits

Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional wellbeing. In addition to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, employees enjoy robust retirement plans. One of the standout benefits is the generous 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children. For more detailed information, please visit our Benefits Page. (Note: For Postdoctoral benefits, please see our Postdoctoral Benefits page.)