Tenure-Track: Assistant Professor in Fungal Biology of Plant-Associated Systems

Texas A&M University’s Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology invites applications for a full-time, nine-month, tenure-track Assistant Professor position with research (60%), teaching (30%), and service (10%) responsibilities. The expected start date is August 15, 2027. The successful candidate will receive a competitive salary, startup package, and laboratory space in the Plant Pathology and Microbiology building, which includes state-of-the-art growth chambers, greenhouses, and access to core facilities for microscopy, genomics, high-performance computing, structural biology, and protein chemistry.

About the Role

The successful candidate will develop and lead an independent, high-impact, extramurally funded research program in fungal biology of plant and plant-associated systems. Research may focus on fungi as pathogens, mutualists, endophytes, saprotrophs, or members of the broader plant and soil mycobiome, provided the work connects to plant health or plant processes. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to:

• Fungal pathogenesis and the molecular basis of fungal-plant interactions
• Plant immune and physiological responses to fungi, including mechanisms governing disease, resistance, or symbiosis
• Structure, function, and assembly of plant, rhizosphere, and soil mycobiomes
• Population, evolutionary, and comparative genomics of fungi and their hosts
• Fundamental fungal biology, including genetics, development, physiology, cell biology, and metabolism
• Fungal biotechnology within fungal–plant interactions, such as natural products, enzymes, synthetic biology, and biological control or biostimulant applications
• Detection, diagnostics, and surveillance of fungi relevant to plant and agricultural systems

Teaching responsibilities include graduate and undergraduate courses in the candidate’s area of expertise, such as mycology, fungal biology, plant pathology, plant-microbe interactions, or microbiology. The candidate will also chair and serve on graduate committees and provide service to the department, university, and scientific community. Opportunities for collaboration with Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension are available and encouraged.

Resources

Texas A&M University is a public, land-grant institution with interdisciplinary research programs spanning agriculture and life sciences. Core facilities include:

• AgriLife Genomics and Bioinformatics Core Facility
• High-throughput Automated Plant Genotyping Greenhouses
• Experimental Genomics Core Facility
• High-Performance Research Computing facility
• Microscopy and Imaging Center
• Integrated Metabolomics Analysis Core

The Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology hosts undergraduate and graduate programs in Bioenvironmental Sciences and Plant Pathology, respectively.

Qualifications

• A Ph.D. or equivalent degree in plant pathology, mycology, microbiology, or a related field (e.g., molecular biology, genetics, genomics, cell biology, ecology, evolutionary biology, or computational biology) by the time of appointment
• Postdoctoral research experience preferred
• Evidence of potential to develop an outstanding, extramurally funded research program
• Strong mentorship and teaching skills
• Prior experience with grantsmanship, teaching, and mentorship is desirable

About the Community

The University is located in College Station, part of the Bryan-College Station metropolitan area with approximately 275,000 residents. The community offers high-quality amenities, a low cost of living, excellent health and education services, and a rich cultural environment typical of a major university, including sports, museums, music, art, and theater. The area is centrally located among Texas’ major metropolitan cities, including Houston, Dallas–Fort Worth, Austin, and San Antonio.