Assistant Professor - Sweetpotato Breeding and Genetics

Essential Job Duties

NC State University is seeking an Assistant Professor to lead a nationally recognized sweet potato breeding and genetics program with a long history of scientific innovation, variety development, and industry impact. In this role you will provide leadership for applied and fundamental plant breeding research, advancing genomic‑assisted breeding, high‑throughput phenomics including UAV and optical imaging, and the application of data analytics, machine learning, artificial intelligence, and other emerging technologies to accelerate germplasm improvement and the development of the next generation of sweet potato cultivars.

Working alongside faculty, students, growers, and industry partners you will translate discovery into practice, helping address agricultural challenges while supporting food production, environmental stewardship, and economic development in North Carolina and beyond.

This position provides opportunities to contribute across the five key areas of responsibility outlined below.

• Lead research programs in breeding, genetics, and emerging technologies, including genomic‑assisted breeding, genome editing, data analytics, machine learning, artificial intelligence, and other innovative approaches that accelerate variety and germplasm development.
• Develop, register, patent, and promote commercially successful table stock, industrial, and ornamental sweet potato cultivars with commercial potential, including enhanced adaptability, disease/pest resistance, sustainability, lower input requirements, and end‑use quality, using both conventional and advanced breeding technologies.
• Oversee germplasm collection, evaluation and screening, genomic and phenomic characterization, and management/maintenance of germplasm resources to advance and support breeding objectives.
• Collaborate with local, national, and international scientists in plant and sweet potato breeding and crop improvement.

• Secure extramural funding through grants, industry partnerships, and public‑private collaborations.
• Lead a multidisciplinary team of scientific collaborators, staff, graduate students, and interns.
• Manage budgets, facilities, and resources to ensure efficient and effective program operations.

• Provide graduate and undergraduate training in plant breeding, genetics, and horticultural science, including teaching.
• Mentor and advise graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and interns to develop future leaders in plant breeding and genetics.

• Collaborate with industry stakeholders to translate research into commercial products and practices.
• Engage with growers and allied industries with educational programs to facilitate adoption of improved crops and technologies.
• Present research and contribute to professional meetings.

• Contribute to the programs and governance of the department, college, and university.
• Provide service and support for professional societies and other organizations outside the University as appropriate.

Ph.D. in Horticultural Science, Plant Breeding, Genetics, or a closely related field.

• Experience with specialty crop improvement and new product development, particularly with asexually propagated polyploid crops.
• Evidence of scholarly engagement in plant breeding and genetics, such as peer‑reviewed publications, submitted manuscripts, dissertations, conference presentations, or other recognized research outputs.
• Demonstrated effectiveness in communicating research through peer‑reviewed publications, presentations, teaching, extension activities, or stakeholder engagement.
• Proven ability to apply data analytics, machine learning, artificial intelligence, and other emerging technologies to maximize and accelerate variety and germplasm development.

• Contribution to cultivar development and improvement, including participation in variety release, commercialization, patenting, or licensing activities.
• Knowledge of advanced plant breeding and…