The Department of Biosystems Engineering of the College of Agriculture at Auburn University is seeking applications for the position of Assistant Professor of Digital Agriculture. This faculty position will be a nine-month, tenure-track position with 60% research and 40% teaching appointment.  The projected start date is August 1, 2025.

Responsibilities: The successful candidate will be responsible for developing a nationally recognized program in digital agriculture that address critical challenges in agricultural and forestry production, pest/disease management such as precision agriculture and precision forestry, sensing, robotics, machine learning and AI data approaches, and high-throughput phenotyping. The successful candidate will be expected to secure extramural funding to support his/her research programs and to train graduate students. The successful candidate will also be expected to collaborative effectively with departmental faculty, and extensively with colleagues within the Colleges of Agriculture, and Forestry, Environment and Wildlife Sciences, who conduct research and extension work in production agriculture and forest operations. Instructional responsibilities will include teaching existing undergraduate and graduate level precision agriculture courses as well as developing new courses. In addition, the successful candidate will provide academic advising and career counseling for biosystems engineering students; transfer results of the scholarly program through recognized and peer reviewed outlets; and provide leadership to the profession through state and national professional society participation. The successful candidate is expected to be involved in departmental, college, and university committee service.

Qualifications: Minimum qualifications include an earned Ph.D. from an accredited institution in biosystems, biological, agricultural, or closely related engineering disciplines by the expected position start date. Documented evidence of individual and/or collaborative research in digital agriculture for agricultural and forest operations resulting in peer-reviewed publications is required. Candidates should be able to demonstrate the ability to work cooperatively with colleagues across disciplines and develop a collaborative research program. The successful candidate must possess excellent written and interpersonal skills to effectively interact with diverse audiences. The successful candidate must meet eligibility requirements for work in the United States at the time the appointment is scheduled to begin and continue working legally for the term of employment. Desirable qualifications includes: research and teaching experiences in data-driven decision analysis for complex agricultural, forest and biological systems, precision agriculture and forestry, autonomous systems for ag of agricultural and forest operations, smart sensor design, computer vision; postdoctoral and/or industry experience; and professional engineering registration or the ability to pursue licensure as a Professional Engineer.

Application: Applicants must apply for the position by CLICKING APPLY TO THIS POSITION to complete the following:

1) cover letter that addresses the experience pertinent to the responsibilities of the position, 2) current curriculum vita, 3) copies of ALL academic transcripts, 4) statement of research interests and accomplishments, and 5) statement of teaching philosophy. When prompted during the on-line process, please provide names, phone numbers and email addresses of three professional references.  Only complete application materials will be considered. To ensure consideration for the position, applicants are encouraged to apply by end of business on November 30, 2024.  The search may continue until the position is filled.  

The University:  Auburn University is a Carnegie R1 research institution and one of the nation’s premier land, sea and space grant institutions with an enrollment of more than 33,000 graduate and undergraduate students. Auburn University is ranked in the top 50 public universities for its undergraduate programs and its College of Engineering is ranked 31^st among public institutions offering doctoral programs. The University is located in the city of Auburn in east-central Alabama along the rapidly develop I-85 corridor, approximately 100 miles southwest of Atlanta, GA and southeast of Birmingham, AL and is about 60 miles northeast of the state capital (Montgomery). Auburn residents enjoy a thriving community, recognized as one of the “best small towns in American” with moderate climate and easy access to major cities or to beach and mountain recreational facilities. Auburn University is understanding of and sensitive to the family needs of faculty, including dual-career couples. 

The Department: The Department of Biosystems Engineering consists of 22 full-time faculty who solve problems in biological systems through innovative engineering research, teaching and extension activities. The Department offers B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in Biosystems Engineering with 220 undergraduate students and 45 graduate students.  Recent construction projects have resulted in over 50,000 square feet of laboratory, classroom and office spaces in the department.  

Auburn University is an EEO/Vet/Disability Employer