Description
The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M University is seeking applications for a full-time, tenured Professor and Head of the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences. The expected start date is September 1, 2027, but is negotiable. This 9-month tenured position includes a majority administrative appointment with a 25% research appointment. The position comes with an administrative stipend equivalent to two months of summer salary, thus making this an 11-month appointment while the individual serves as Department Head. The research appointment is negotiable and can be fulfilled through a collaborative effort within the department, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, or other institutional researchers. If desired, a teaching appointment is also negotiable. The role offers competitive university benefits, and additional support of a postdoctoral scientist available upon establishing a Hatch project. The administrative stipend will remain in effect for the individual's tenure as Department Head.
The Professor and Head will serve as the department's chief administrative officer, acting as an advocate for the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences and the scientific disciplines it represents (Agronomy, Plant Breeding, Soil Science, and Turfgrass Science). Reporting to the Vice Chancellor and Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M University, College Station, the Head will provide departmental mentorship, as well as leadership and support for various faculty initiatives. This role also includes overseeing Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service programs within the department. Key responsibilities include maintaining, enhancing and expanding undergraduate and graduate education; expanding the department's impact through research supported by grants, philanthropic partnerships, and federally appropriated programs; fostering collegiality, a positive departmental culture, and interdisciplinary collaboration; advancing extension and outreach programs; providing mentorship to faculty, staff, and students for career advancement; strengthening relationships with stakeholders; and promoting the communication of science-based findings to inform public policy and private sector decision-making.
The Department of Soil and Crop Sciences is one of 15 academic departments within the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Nationally and internationally recognized research programs are conducted by Soil and Crop Sciences faculty in such disciplines as plant breeding and genetics, biotechnology, crop physiology, agronomy, forage and turfgrass management, cereal chemistry, soil and water science, and weed science. It is home to 92 faculty members, including 29 tenure-track, 42 research, 20 Extension, and 1 professional-track with teaching, research, and/or extension appointments. The department boasts a distinguished faculty, including 2 Regents Professors, 3 Endowed Chairs, 1 Endowed Professor, and 7 Regents Fellows. The department offers a comprehensive range of degree programs including 3 doctoral programs, 3 master's degree programs, and 2 bachelor's degree programs. The department's faculty have a statewide presence with representation in all 13 Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Centers. The department's Extension program is the largest in the country, supporting all 254 counties across the 12 Extension districts in Texas.
The ideal candidate will have experience leading a dynamic and highly productive research program that is nationally and internationally recognized, along with demonstrated success in academic administration.
The successful candidate should exhibit visionary leadership characterized by transparency, strategic thinking, and innovation, and demonstrate a strong commitment to the teaching, research, and extension components of the Land Grant Mission. The Department Head must excel in communication and collaboration with faculty, staff, and students and effectively advocate for their best interests to university administrators, state and federal agencies, industry partners, stakeholders, and the public.
Qualifications
Candidates for the Professor and Department Head position must have a doctorate in Agronomy, Soil Science, Plant Breeding, Turfgrass, or a related field and a record of distinction in research, teaching, and service that would qualify them for tenure at a tier 1 research institution. Demonstrated experience in academic administration and experience in a land grant institution are preferred.
Application Instructions
Applicants must submit their application through Interfolio, which will serve as the employment application. In addition, (1) a cover letter with a statement of the applicant's interest and suitability for the position; (2) a comprehensive curriculum vitae; (3) a three-page personal statement that includes administrative philosophy and vision for departmental research, teaching, and Extension programs; and 4) contact information for five references. Review of applications begins on November 1, 2026, and will continue until the position is filled. Applications are to be submitted through Interfolio (apply.interfolio.com/190405). The position is available to begin on September 1, 2027, or as negotiated. Email inquiries to Advisory Search Committee Chair, Dr. Won Bo Shim ([redacted]) for further Q&A.
