Assistant/Associate Professor (Rice Breeding and Genetics)

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Job Posting Title:

Assistant/Associate Professor (Rice Breeding and Genetics)

   

Position Type:

Faculty

   

Department:

LSUAG PL3 - Southwest - Rice Research Station (Adam Nicholas Famoso (00008687))

   

Work Location:

0101 Rice Office Building

   

Pay Grade:

Academic

   

Job Description:

Work Location: H. Rouse Caffey Rice Research Station, Rayne, Louisiana

Position Description: Tenure-track position focused on Medium Grain rice breeding and variety development of commercial rice varieties for the Louisiana and Southern US rice industry and managing a molecular marker lab and molecular breeding activities. This position will have a 100% research appointment and will focus its research efforts on applied breeding and research activities related to improving breeding efficiency. Breeding program activities will include all aspects of the breeding program, including parent selection and population development, line development, trait prioritization, testing and characterization, selection and advancement, and seed purification and increase.

The position will also manage all molecular breeding activities in support of Long, Medium, and specialty grain breeding efforts, as well as genotyping for seed purity and discovery projects. The molecular breeding activities will include managing an established, high-throughput genotyping lab (utilizing KASP/PACE assays) and coordinating all genotyping and sampling jobs for internal and outsourced genotyping activities. Managing the molecular breeding activities will include the upkeep of equipment, developing processes, procedures, and lab protocols, managing staff, evaluating and interpreting genotyping jobs, selections based on breeding priorities, and management of genotyping data and databases.

The incumbent will be expected to develop and continuously optimize the breeding pipeline to balance resources and allocations to maximize breeding efficiency in line with the needs and priorities of the Louisiana rice industry and key stakeholders. These will include the utilization of genomic selection and marker-assisted selection, appropriate experimental designs and analysis, and resource allocations in line with breeding strategies. This position will involve extensive field activities and hands-on contributions to field, greenhouse, and lab operations. The program will utilize an established winter nursery in Puerto Rico.

He/she must effectively communicate across stakeholder groups. The incumbent is expected to have a commitment to mentoring graduate students and serving on department and university committees, as well as participating in field days, hosting visitors, and interacting with stakeholders. The successful faculty member is expected to collaborate with other rice researchers at the Rice Research Station, within the University, and with collaborators at other Universities and from private industry. To be successful, the faculty member must publish research results in peer-reviewed journals and solicit extramural funding from federal and state agencies, commodity research boards, and industry partners. This position will have a 20% appointment in the School of Plant, Environmental, and Soil Science (SPESS) at the LSU campus in Baton Rouge, LA.

The LSU AgCenter H. Rouse Caffey Rice Research Station (HRCRRS) is located near Crowley, LA, 20 miles west of the city of Lafayette, LA. The primary focus of the HRCRRS is on supporting and helping sustain the Louisiana and US rice industry through research and extension. The HRCRRS is fully equipped and resourced for all aspects of field, greenhouse, and laboratory research.

Qualification Requirements: An earned Ph.D. in Plant Breeding or related discipline and ~five years of professional experience post-graduation. A demonstrated ability to lead an applied variety development program and manage a large-scale genotyping lab. The candidate should have experience in applied rice breeding and be familiar with US rice germplasm and US rice production practices and challenges. A strong background in applied breeding theory, experience with logistical components of a large-scale breeding program, and an understanding of quantitative genetic principles and their applications in plant breeding. Experience in operating, maintaining, and troubleshooting problems in a high-throughput genotyping lab is required as well as a strong level