Job description
Vegetable Production Systems
Focus: Vegetable Production
School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University
Position: Assistant Professor, Tenure-track
Location: Cornell AgriTech in Geneva, NY. The academic home for this position is the School of Integrative Plant Science (SIPS) in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University.
The School of Integrative Plant Science (SIPS) in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) at Cornell University invites applications for a 9-month, full-time tenure-track position in Vegetable Production Systems at the Assistant Professor level.
Vegetable production systems in New York and the eastern United States are increasingly challenged by variable weather, rising production costs, changing markets, and the need to use water, nutrients, labor, and other inputs more efficiently. At the same time, advances in sensing, precision agriculture, crop and soil management, and production technologies create new opportunities to increase productivity and profitability while reducing environmental impacts. Research that integrates crop physiology, soil and nutrient management, technology, and production-system approaches will be essential to developing resilient vegetable production systems for the region.
We seek a candidate to develop a nationally and internationally recognized program advancing environmentally and economically sustainable vegetable production in New York and the eastern United States. Research may integrate fundamental and applied approaches in areas such as nutrient and water management, precision agriculture, new crops and production systems, soil health, climate adaptation, and connections between cropping systems, food quality, and human nutrition.
The successful candidate will work closely with vegetable growers, Cornell faculty, Cornell Cooperative Extension educators and regional teams, crop consultants, grower organizations, and industry partners to identify research and extension priorities and translate knowledge into economically and environmentally sustainable production practices.
The CALS Roadmap to 2050 encourages collaborating across the university, our network of partners, and diverse communities to solve the world’s leading challenges. The roadmap identified Transdisciplinary Moonshots – opportunities for the CALS community to collaborate on future-focused, cross-disciplinary scientific breakthroughs and to align research, education, and extension programs for greater impact and stronger connectivity. The Moonshot areas build upon core strengths in CALS, spanning the agricultural, life, environmental and social sciences.
Responsibilities: This position has an effort split of 60% research and 40% extension. Service and advising are expected within these effort allocations.
Research (60%) – Outstanding research scholarship relative to career stage is expected in vegetable production systems. The candidate will develop a nationally and internationally recognized and externally funded research program that advances productive, economically viable, and environmentally sustainable vegetable cropping systems in New York and the eastern United States.
Research should integrate fundamental and applied approaches to address emerging challenges and opportunities in vegetable production. Potential areas of emphasis include, but are not limited to, plant nutrition and soil fertility management; efficient nutrient and water delivery systems; precision agriculture, remote sensing, and sensor-based management; new crops and multi-crop production systems; rhizosphere dynamics and soil health in relation to cover crops and tillage systems; adaptation to variable and changing weather conditions; and interactions among production systems, crop quality, and human nutrition. Excellence in interdisciplinary and team-based research is expected.
Extension (40%) – The candidate will provide statewide leadership in vegetable production systems and develop an innovative, responsive extension program that translates research and firsthand knowledge of New York vegetable production into practical, science-based information and management recommendations for New York vegetable growers and allied industries. The successful candidate will work closely with Cornell Cooperative Extension educators and regional vegetable teams, crop consultants, growers, grower organizations, industry partners, and Cornell faculty to identify and address emerging and priority production needs. Direct engagement with growers and commercial vegetable production will be a principal component of the extension program. This may include on-farm troubleshooting and consultations, grower-driven demonstrations and applied trials, field days and other educational programs, and timely responses to emerging production issues. These interactions will ensure that extension priorities and recommendations are informed by firsthand knowledge of production challenges and opportunities across New York.
Responsibilities will include contributing to and editing the annual Cornell Vegetable Guidelines; developing and updating vegetable soil fertility, production, and decision-support recommendations in response to demonstrated industry needs; and providing leadership to Cornell vegetable extension efforts and the Vegetable Program Work Team. The candidate will work with extension partners and stakeholders to ensure that recommendations and educational resources are practical, accessible, current, and relevant to commercial vegetable production.
The candidate may also serve as a resource for emerging production systems and audiences, including urban and peri-urban agriculture. Research-based information will be communicated through methods appropriate to the needs of growers and industry, including individual consultations, extension publications, presentations, demonstrations, applied trials, digital resources, field-based educational programs, and other approaches that facilitate timely adoption of useful information and management practices.
Qualifications: The successful candidate will have a Ph. D. at the time of appointment in Horticulture, Plant Science, Crop Science, Plant Biology, or a related discipline, with expertise applicable to vegetable production systems. A commitment to research and extension in SIPS and to the development of interdisciplinary, team-based programs in a collegial environment is essential. Well-qualified applicants are expected to have a demonstrated record of publication, grant writing, extension or stakeholder engagement, mentoring, and industry impact relative to career stage. Preferred qualifications include postdoctoral, extension, or industry experience; demonstrated aptitude for collaborative research; and the ability to communicate effectively with growers, industry professionals, extension educators, students, colleagues, and broader audiences.
Affiliation: The successful candidate will be a tenure-track faculty member of the Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and will be based in School of Integrative Plant Science with the option to join one of the two SIPS sections (Horticulture or Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology) on the AgriTech campus in Geneva, New York. A mentoring program will support the personal and professional development of the new faculty member, providing advocacy, guidance, and assistance.
Applications and Starting Date: The anticipated starting date is July 2027, or as negotiated.
This is an in-person position. The successful candidate will be expected to relocate within commuting distance of Geneva, 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:
Search chair: Dr. Lynn Sosnoskie
School of Integrative Plant Science
Cornell University
Geneva, NY 14456
Email: [email protected]
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.
Pay Range:
Refer to Posting Language
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
- Unique applicable skills.
Employment Assistance:
For general questions about the position or the application process, please contact the Recruiter listed in the job posting or email [email protected].
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 [email protected].
Applicants that do not have internet access are encouraged to visit your local library, or local Department of Labor. You may also request an appointment to use a dedicated workstation in the Office of Talent Attraction and Recruitment, at the Ithaca campus, by emailing [email protected].
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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 conditions, age, creed, religion, actual or perceived disability (including persons associated with such a person), arrest and/or conviction record, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, 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.
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About Us
Cornell University is an innovative Ivy League 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. With our main campus located in Ithaca, NY, Cornell’s far-flung global presence includes the medical college’s campuses on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and Doha, Qatar, as well as the Cornell Tech campus located on Roosevelt Island in the heart of New York City.
We offer a rich array of services, programs and benefits to help employees advance in their career and enhance the quality of personal life, including: employee wellness, workshops, childcare and adoption assistance, parental leave, flexible work options.
Cornell University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action educator and employer.
How to apply
Qualified applicants should submit their application as a single PDF file including: 1) a cover letter briefly summarizing background, qualifications, and interest in the position as well as addressing leadership in collaboration, team efforts, and the experience needed to communicate effectively with students, colleagues, and broader audiences (2 page maximum); 2) a curriculum vitae (including contributions to grant writing/external funding); 3) a research statement outlining experience, interests, and goals in vegetable production systems research (4 page maximum); 4) a statement outlining extension, stakeholder engagement, and mentoring experience, interests, and goals (2 page maximum); 5) copies of no more than four relevant publications; 6) names and contact information of four references who can speak to the applicant’s suitability for this position (letters will be requested later after initial review from select applications using Academic Jobs Online); and 7) academic transcripts (unofficial is acceptable). Materials should be submitted online to https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/32782. Applications received by November 25, 2026, will be given full consideration. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.
