Genetic Optimization and Trait Engineering for Potato Improvement

Position Description

Faculty Position Available

Focus:
Genetic Optimization and Trait Engineering
for Potato Improvement

School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University

Position: Assistant Professor, Tenure-track.

Location: Ithaca, NY. The
academic home for this position is the School of Integrative Plant Science
(SIPS) in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, housed on the Ithaca
campus of Cornell University.

The
School of Integrative Plant Science (SIPS) in the College of Agriculture and
Life Sciences (CALS) at Cornell University welcomes applications for a
full-time, nine-month tenure-track position in Genetic Optimization
and Trait Engineering for Potato Improvement at the Assistant Professor level.

The CALS Roadmap to 2050 spearheads the "solutions century" by collaborating across
the university, our network of partners, and diverse communities to coalesce
around the world’s leading challenges. We connect across all of New York state
and the world to enliven our innovation ecosystem, connecting local to global
programs in the form of new collaborations and basic discoveries.

The
successful candidate will lead an internationally recognized breeding and
genetics program to bridge fundamental and applied plant science with a focus
on potato variety development. The person hired will be expected to integrate
new methods and/or tools to improve the efficiency of plant breeding and
address critical challenges faced by growers/producers in New York State and
the northeastern United States. Current
challenges include the need for varieties resistant to: golden cyst nematode race
Ro2, for which insufficient control options currently exist; necrotic strains
of potato virus Y and potato mop top virus, which have both emerged as serious
pathogens over the past decade; and late blight, the annual threat of which
drives numerous fungicide applications to prevent total crop loss. Potatoes
that mature earlier are increasingly in demand, as they offer increased
flexibility in planting and harvest dates, providing options for avoiding key
pests as well as novel crop rotation schemes. The individual will be expected
to develop an externally funded research program that includes graduate
training, releasing improved cultivars, and building a robust extension program
that serves the needs of stakeholders.

Responsibilities:
This position has an
effort split of 60% research and 40% extension.

Research
(60%) –To solve these
and other challenges, it is expected that the successful candidate will utilize
advanced research approaches, such as the design and implementation of
sophisticated computational pipelines, including use of AI, to synthesize large
volumes of genotypic and phenotypic data and inform crossing and selection
decisions. The candidate may partner with plant transformation facilities and
experts on campus for genome editing. They may contribute to the nascent global
effort to re-domesticate potato as a diploid crop, a multi-decade project that,
if successful, will considerably simplify future genetic improvement. The
individual will be expected to develop an externally funded research program,
work closely with stakeholders to identify needs and guide breeding program
direction, release improved cultivars, and contribute to graduate and
undergraduate training. Over its long history, the Cornell potato breeding
program has developed some of the best chip processing germplasm in the world,
providing ample commercially relevant biological material for further
exploration and development.

Extension
(40%) – It is expected that the candidate will develop a robust extension program
focused on potato cultivar development and evaluation, including responsibility
for running on-farm trials of candidate varieties developed at Cornell and
elsewhere. The unbiased data generated by these trials are essential for New
York seed and production growers as they assess new varieties and
make investment decisions needed to remain
competitive. Consistent and frequent interaction with NY and
national stakeholders (Cornell Cooperative Extension staff, seed producers,
chip and fresh-market potato growers, chefs, chip plant representatives) in
both formal and informal settings is needed to inform breeding
priorities. The person hired will
also be expected to work with the Empire State Potato Growers to develop the
curriculum of NY’s annual Potato School, which provides continuing education
for NY potato growers and allied support industry personnel.

Department
Affiliation: The
successful candidate will be a tenure-line faculty member of the Cornell
University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and will be based in the
School of Integrative Plant Science with the option to join any of the five
sections (Plant Biology, Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology, Plant
Breeding and Genetics, Soil and Crop Sciences, or Horticulture). A mentoring program will support the personal
and professional development of the new faculty member, providing advocacy,
guidance, and assistance.

Qualifications:
A Ph.D. is required
in plant breeding, plant genetics/genomics or related discipline. The
successful candidate must demonstrate the ability to work effectively with
stakeholder groups and other researchers across disciplines, attract extramural
support, and lead an innovative research/breeding program. Postdoctoral and/or
other relevant experience is desirable, with experience preferred in relevant extension/education,
student advising, and research.

Applications
and Starting Date: The
anticipated starting date is August 1, 2027, or as negotiated. Qualified
applicants should submit (1) a cover letter briefly summarizing background,
qualifications, and interest in the position, (2) a Curriculum Vitae, (3) a
research statement outlining experience, interests, and goals, (4) an extension
statement outlining experience, interests, and goals, (5) copies of up to four
relevant publications, (6) names and contact information for four references,
and (7) unofficial graduate transcripts. Materials should be submitted online to: https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/32715. Applications received by December 1, 2026, will be
given full consideration. Applications will be accepted until the position is
filled.

This is an in-person position. The successful
candidate will be expected to relocate within commuting distance of Ithaca, NY.
Relocation assistance may be provided.

Consistent with Cornell’s practice, appointments
to academic positions require candidates to disclose relevant information about
their prior employment including whether they have been found to have violated
institutional or employer policies related to or governing unlawful
discrimination and harassment, academic and research misconduct, or financial
misconduct.

We seek a colleague with an
outstanding record demonstrating success and promise across all these areas,
and who will be supported by and contribute to a vibrant culture of inclusive
excellence at Cornell. Learn how CALS fosters an environment where faculty are supported, valued, and empowered to
make meaningful contributions throughout their careers.

Inquiries may be directed to:
Larry Smart, Search Committee
Chair
School of Integrative Plant
Science, Cornell University
Email: lbs33@cornell.edu

In compliance with New York's Pay
Transparency Law, the annual base salary range for this assistant professor
position is $90,000 - $135,000. This pay range represents base pay (for 9
months). Cornell University considers factors such as (but not limited to)
scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate’s work experience,
education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, as well as market and
organizational considerations when extending an offer.

Cornell University seeks to meet the needs of dual career couples, has a
Dual Career program, and is a member of the Upstate New York Higher Education Recruitment
Consortium to assist
with dual career searches including positions available in higher education in
the upstate New York area.

The new faculty member will join a collaborative, interdisciplinary
community on the main campus in Ithaca, New York. Cornell University is an innovative Ivy
League and Land-grant university and a great place to work. Our inclusive community of
scholars, students, and staff impart an uncommon sense of larger purpose and
contribute creative ideas to further the university's mission of teaching,
discovery, and engagement.

Cornell’s regional and global presence includes state-wide Cornell
Cooperative Extension programs and offices in all counties and boroughs, global
partnerships with institutions and communities engaged in life-changing
research and education, the medical college’s campuses on the Upper East Side
of Manhattan and Doha, Qatar, and the Cornell Tech campus on Roosevelt Island
in the heart of New York City.

With a founding principle of “…any person…any study,” Cornell is
an equal opportunity employer.

Employment Assistance:

For specific questions about the position or application process, please
contact the Recruiter listed in the job posting or for general
questions email mycareer@cornell.edu.

If
you require an accommodation for a disability in order to complete an
employment application or to participate in the recruiting process, you
are encouraged to contact Cornell Office of Civil Rights at voice (607)
255-2242, or email at accommodations@cornell.edu.

Applicants that do not have internet access are encouraged to visit your local library, or local Department of Labor.

Please read the required Notice to Applicants statement by clicking here.
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position at Cornell as well as some of your rights and responsibilities
as an applicant.

EEO Statement:

Cornell welcomes
students, faculty, and staff with diverse backgrounds from across the
globe to pursue world-class education and career opportunities, to
further the founding principle of “... any person ... any study.” No
person shall be denied employment on the basis of any legally protected
status or subjected to prohibited discrimination involving, but not
limited to, such factors as race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship
and immigration status, color, sex, pregnancy or pregnancy-related
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gender expression and/or identity, an individual’s genetic information,
domestic violence victim status, familial status, marital status, or any
other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local
law.

Cornell
University embraces diversity in its workforce and seeks job candidates
who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and
staff of all identities and backgrounds. We hire based on merit, and encourage
people from historically underrepresented and/or marginalized
identities to apply. Consistent with federal law, Cornell engages in
affirmative action in employment for qualified protected veterans as
defined in the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act
(VEVRRA) and qualified individuals with disabilities under Section 503
of the Rehabilitation Act. We also recognize a lawful preference in
employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian
reservations in accordance with applicable law.

Pay Ranges:

The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined considering the following criteria:

• Prior relevant work or industry experience.
• Education level to the extent education is relevant to the position.
• Academic Discipline (faculty pay ranges reflects 9-month annual salary)
• Unique applicable skills.