Three open rank faculty positions Crop Design/Synthetic Biology
Successful candidates will be expected to develop a vibrant, externally funded research program, mentor graduate students, and contribute to teaching at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The University of Georgia is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive academic community and strongly encourages applications from women, underrepresented minorities, and individuals with disabilities.
Athens, Georgia, is a vibrant college town located about 70 miles northeast of Atlanta. It offers a low cost of living, excellent public schools, and a rich cultural and recreational environment. The University of Georgia is the state’s flagship institution and a top-tier research university with a strong commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration.
Applications must include: (1) a cover letter; (2) a curriculum vitae; (3) a research statement (up to 3 pages); (4) a teaching statement (up to 2 pages); and (5) contact information for three references. Review of applications will begin October 15, 2024, and continue until the positions are filled. For full consideration, submit your application by October 15, 2024.
About the role
The University of Georgia invites applications for three open-rank tenure-track faculty positions in Crop Design as part of a strategic cluster hire to build world-leading capacity in rational crop redesign for climate resilience, yield, sustainability, and profit. Successful candidates will be part of a nascent Institute of Crop Design, with departmental homes determined by research foci, including Crop and Soils Science, Plant Pathology, and Horticulture.
Responsibilities
- Develop a vibrant, externally funded research program in one of the following broad areas:
- Cutting-edge AI, machine learning, and computational modeling for predictive crop design, including AI-guided genome-editing prediction, synthetic genetic circuit design, digital-twin crop models, and high-throughput trait engineering frameworks.
- Advanced genome engineering for crops, including synthetic promoters, biosensors, orthogonal systems, genome-editing technologies (e.g., base/prime editing, multiplex CRISPR), protein engineering, metabolic pathway refactoring, and high-throughput genetic engineering pipelines.
- Integrative crop design and translational synthetic biology, with a focus on large-scale genome design, synthetic chromosome engineering, systems-level trait stacking, and translation of discoveries into applied crop varieties or technologies.
- Mentor graduate students and postdoctoral researchers.
- Contribute to teaching at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
- Foster interdisciplinary collaboration within the Institute of Crop Design and across the University of Georgia.
Requirements
- Doctorate in a relevant field (e.g., Plant Biology, Computational Biology, Synthetic Biology, Genetics, Genomics, Systems Biology, or related disciplines).
- Demonstrated research excellence and potential for securing external funding.
- Commitment to mentoring graduate students and contributing to teaching.
- Strong publication record in peer-reviewed journals.
- Experience or interest in interdisciplinary collaboration.
Benefits
- Competitive salary and startup packages.
- Access to state-of-the-art research facilities and core resources at the University of Georgia.
- Opportunities for collaboration with leading researchers in crop science, synthetic biology, and AI.
- Support for professional development and grant writing.
- Tenure-track positions with a clear path to promotion and tenure.
Location
Athens, Georgia, is a vibrant college town located about 70 miles northeast of Atlanta. It offers a low cost of living, excellent public schools, and a rich cultural and recreational environment. The University of Georgia is the state’s flagship institution and a top-tier research university with a strong commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration.