Job Description

The Department of Horticultural Sciences, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M University, invites applications for one full-time, 9-month, tenure-track Assistant Professor faculty position in Precision and Intelligent Horticulture. The anticipated start date for this opportunity is August 1, 2026. The successful candidate will establish a nationally and internationally recognized research and teaching program to advance horticultural science and production systems by developing and applying precision (robotics, mechanization) and intelligent technologies (machine learning, artificial intelligence). Research should directly support the sustainability, profitability, and resilience of Texas’ diverse horticultural industries and ultimately benefit the people of Texas and beyond. Research areas may include, but are not limited to:

• Improve horticultural crop production and management (fruits, vegetables, nuts, ornamentals, wine grapes) in open-field (primarily) and controlled environments by developing and applying precision tools and intelligent technologies.
• Understanding plant stress mechanisms, quality assessment, harvest management, and resource-use efficiency by utilizing sensor technologies, automation, robotics, large datasets, machine learning, and AI-driven decision-support tools.
• Plant breeding, genetics, physiology, and health management through integration of high-throughput digital phenotyping and genotyping.
• Crop management and decision-making in horticulture crop through development of software and precision horticultural systems.
• Advancement of landscape and interior-scape systems that enhance the quality of life in urban and peri-urban Texas communities.

The faculty member will be expected to collaborate across disciplines within Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and industry partners. Opportunities exist to engage with major Texas horticultural industries, including viticulture and enology, citrus, pecans, vegetables, controlled environment horticulture, urban horticulture, ornamental and nursery production as well as applications in landscape horticulture, commercial landscape, and horticultural services. The successful candidate will be committed to advancing innovation and delivering solutions that make a positive difference for the state of Texas and beyond, in alignment with the land-grant mission of Texas A&M University.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

The successful candidate will develop an innovative, externally funded research program that solves key biological questions in horticultural science by application of precision and intelligent technologies. This includes conducting original research that leads to high-impact, peer-reviewed publications and contributes to the advancement of sustainable and profitable horticultural systems. The candidate will focus on biological questions of economic importance in horticultural crops and integrate sensing technologies, data analytics, automation, robotics, and artificial intelligence into high value crop production monitoring, management, and decision-making.

The candidate will also develop and teach new undergraduate and graduate courses in horticultural sciences with emphasis on precision and intelligent systems. The candidate will mentor graduate students, undergraduate researchers, and postdoctoral scholars, while inspiring the next generation of horticultural scientists to serve Texas and beyond.

Service expectations include making contributions to the Department, College, and University, as well as actively participating in professional societies. The individual will also be expected to engage with growers, commodity groups, and technology industries across Texas, supporting the land-grant mission of Texas A&M University to serve the state through teaching, research, and outreach that address real-world challenges.

Effort Distribution: 60% research, 30% teaching, and 10% service.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Ph.D. in horticultural sciences, agronomy, plant sciences, biology, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated ability or potential to secure extramural funding and develop a productive research program.
• Evidence of effective teaching and mentoring.
• Excellent scientific communication skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in studying biological questions and applying precision technologies in horticultural crops.
• Record of publication in high-impact, peer-reviewed horticultural research journals.
• Robust statistical skills and experience analyzing large datasets.
• Engagement in mechanical engineering and robotics.
• Computational skills, including coding, software development, artificial intelligence and machine learning.
• Record of interdisciplinary collaboration and/or stakeholder engagement.
• Familiarity with challenges and opportunities relevant to Texas horticulture.

Application Instructions

Applicants must submit:

• A cover letter (2-page limit)
• Curriculum Vitae
• Personal statement to include philosophy and plans for research, teaching & service (single document; 3-page limit)
• Contact information for three references.

Applications will only be accepted online at apply.interfolio.com/178019

Applications will be reviewed beginning January 15, 2026, and will continue until the position is filled.

Direct inquiries to:

Dr. Shuyang Zhen, Search Committee Chair

Department of Horticulture Sciences

Email: shuyang.zhen@tamu.edu

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.