Working/Functional Title

Assistant Professor -- Smart Ag Production Systems

Position Summary

The Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering (BAE) at Michigan State University (MSU) invites qualified applicants for a full-time academic year, tenure-system Assistant Professor position with 60% research, 30% teaching, and 10% service assignment.  The position start date is anticipated to be August 2025.

The successful candidate is expected to build a nationally recognized, extramurally funded research program, and to collaborate effectively with the biosystems and agricultural engineering faculty, and extensively with colleagues within the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, the College of Engineering, and other departments on campus, as well as with outside stakeholder groups.  The program should take a systems approach to addressing agricultural sustainability in response to the impact of climate change and labor shortages in agriculture to improve productivity and resiliency of production agriculture.  The successful candidate will develop a collaborative program with faculty with expertise in such areas as sensors/sensing, machine vision, artificial intelligence, big data and data analytics, and internet of things (IoT), with emphasis on automation and mechanization in crop and animal production systems and management.

Successful candidates also must be able to demonstrate training/experience sufficient to teach core undergraduate biosystems engineering courses including a course in Precision Agriculture in the recently launched minor in Smart Agricultural Systems, as well as graduate-level courses in their area of expertise. In addition to sustaining an active research program, the faculty will be responsible for teaching and mentoring graduate/undergraduate students, serving on departmental, college, and university committees, and engaging in service through professional networks and organizations.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.

Required Degree

Doctorate

Minimum Requirements

An earned Ph.D. in Biosystems/Biological/Agricultural or Systems Engineering or closely related field relevant to the priority areas above and a demonstrated record of research and teaching experience. Candidates should be able to demonstrate the ability and commitment to work cooperatively with colleagues across disciplines and develop a collaborative scholarly program at the intersections of engineering and agricultural sciences.  

Desired Qualifications

The successful candidate should demonstrate:

• Capability to develop a scholarly program at the interface of engineering and agricultural sciences.
• Evidence of commitment and dedication to teaching and mentoring a diverse student population preparing for careers in academia, industry, or government.
• A record of research funding or demonstrated potential to secure competitive funding from agencies such as the USDA NIFA, NSF, foundations, private industry, etc.
• Evidence of peer-reviewed publications and the ability to establish stakeholder partnerships.
• Interest in engaging external stakeholders in program development and implementation.

Required Application Materials

Upload the following required documents: a) letter of interest that includes qualifications for the position; b) statement of research and teaching philosophy highlighting how your experiences align with the position (2-page maximum); c) current curriculum vitae; d) a description of how you will contribute to CANR's positive culture, fair access to resources, and creating a sense of belonging; and e) contact i