Research Assistant Professor/Research Associate Professor (Horticulture/Pomologist)

Location: Prairie View, Texas, United States

Company

Prairie View A&M University is a land-grant university conducting agricultural research, teaching, and extension activities through its Cooperative Agricultural Research Center.

What you will do

• Establish and lead a research program on niche fruit and nut tree species suited to Texas climate and soils, including pecans, figs, persimmons, satsumas, mulberries, and pomegranates.
• Develop orchard production research addressing cultivar selection, propagation, pest and disease management, fruit quality, post-harvest physiology, and climate resilience.
• Establish and manage an orchard as a training site for students, communities, and home gardeners.
• Acquire external grants and collaborate with internal and external research partners.
• Teach pomology courses with laboratory and field exercises, train students, and mentor postdoctoral researchers.
• Publish research, present at conferences, strengthen plant science infrastructure, and support extension outreach and fact-sheet development.

Requirements

• Doctorate in Horticulture with a focus in Pomology or a closely related discipline.
• Six years of related experience in fruit and nut crop production.
• Research expertise in fruit production and experience managing fruit tree farms.
• Evidence of scholarly productivity, including peer-reviewed publications, extension bulletins, fact sheets, and workshops.
• Ability to obtain external research grants, develop research programs, conduct collaborative research, and publish in peer-reviewed journals.
• Experience in extension, outreach, stakeholder engagement, and clear verbal and written communication.

Culture & Benefits

• Full-time staff position with compensation determined by education, experience, and the university’s assigned salary range.
• Collaboration with PVAMU Extension, academic departments, students, communities, and external partners.
• Participation in college-wide activities and committees.
• Employment may be affected by current H-1B sponsorship restrictions and Texas immigration-related requirements; Texas A&M University will not pay the stated $100,000 H-1B filing fee.
• Employment is contingent on credential verification and completion of a criminal history investigation.

Hiring process

• Submit a resume or curriculum vitae and cover letter through the PVAMU career site.
• The position is open until filled.