Job Description

Assistant Professor, Field Crops Extension Entomologist (12-month, 75% Extension and 25% Research), Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University.

Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Amarillo, Texas.

Overview: The Field Crops Extension Entomologist will develop and deliver Extension educational programming with a supporting applied research component designed to solve pest management problems of importance to field crops in the Texas Panhandle which primarily includes corn, wheat, cotton, sorghum, and forages.

Extension Specialists serve as subject matter experts and use their expertise to fulfill the mission of the Agency, providing support to the Extension network at the county, district, region, and state levels. Extension Specialists both individually and in team settings plan, coordinate, develop, implement, and evaluate curricula extension education programs, and educational resources. Additionally, they are expected to perform scholarly work including, but not limited to, applied research related to their subject matter area.

Roles and responsibilities of Assistant Professors and Extension Specialists are typically as follows, but can vary depending on the department and expectations of the Associate Department Head, Department Head/Unit Leader and/or Agency leadership:

Responsibilities:

People

• Collect and synthesize information from county, regional, and statewide program development committees, clientele needs assessments, trend data, clientele organizations, and key industry leaders to guide the content, quality, and priority of programming
• Support agents with programming and content related to the subject matter expertise through program planning meetings, individual consultation, site visits with clientele, speaking at educational programs, and in other educational roles
• Coordinate with RPLs and appropriate agents programming efforts, result/demonstrations, and other activities when performed in counties
• Provide professional development opportunities and trainings and mentor and coach agents as requested by Regional Program Leaders (RPLs), District Extension Administrators (DEAs), and Associate Department Heads (ADHs) in subject matter, issues identification, and program planning areas
• Work with Agents and Agency leadership to develop and implement volunteer training activities

Primary Responsibilities:

• Provide technical expertise on field crop arthropod pest management.
• Develop an Extension program related to arthropod pest management in corn, wheat, cotton, sorghum, and other crops of importance produced in the Texas Panhandle.
• Develop a Nationally recognized applied research program of importance to crops produced in the Texas Panhandle.
• Under the auspices of an approved Hatch project, develop an externally funded, indirect-cost-bearing, applied research program related to arthropod pest management in crops produced in the Texas Panhandle.
• Use traditional and innovative Extension outreach techniques to educate producers, agricultural consultants, and agri-industry personnel.
• Provide support and training for Extension County Programs and County Agents.
• Work closely with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and Research personnel in the departments of Soil and Crop Sciences and Plant Pathology and Microbiology to develop cross-disciplinary Extension and research programs.
• Work closely with agricultural commodity groups to help identify regional industry needs.
• Coordinate applied research and Extension programming with closely aligned research and Extension faculty at the AgriLife Center at Amarillo, USDA-ARS Bushland (TX), and other AgriLife Centers across the southern Plains as appropriate.
• Participate actively in the Center’s Crop Science Coordinating Committee, which manages requests for seasonal cropland allocations and advises the Center Director on land-allocation policies and infrastructure needs at the AgriLife experimental farm at Bushland and at the James Bush Farm.
• Secure funding from appropriate sources and publish the results of research and other creative activities including peer-reviewed journals, Extension outlets, and trade magazines.
• Participate in the training of graduate students and provide service to the Department of Entomology, the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Amarillo, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, and professional societies or organizations.
• Other duties as required.

Programs

• Understands the type of programmatic approaches needed to meet the needs and capabilities of different audiences for effective program planning and implementation.
• Develop and participate in disciplinary and interdisciplinary programming efforts as appropriate to adequately address the priority issues facing our stakeholders
• Work to effectively coordinate and integrate programs and, as appropriate, contribute to an Extension Coordinated Program Area
• Develop and implement evaluation strategies to assess outcomes from Extension educational programs and demonstrate evidence of program impacts (i.e., knowledge gain, behavior change, adoption of new technologies and best practices, economic impact) as measured by well-designed program evaluations
• Participate in program planning at the multi-county or regional level and convey insights to their ADH or unit leader as appropriate

Partnerships

• Provide timely and effective coordination, cooperation, and scheduling of activities with colleagues and personnel within Extension and across AgriLife, including but not limited to District Extension Administrators, Regional Program Leaders, Associate Department Heads/Program Leaders, other departmental or unit faculty/staff, County Extension Agents/staff, and AgriLife Research and College personnel.
• Engage with external groups including state and federal government agencies and stakeholder organizations and other entities to better understand issues and potential partner in addressing stakeholder needs.
• Seek grants, contacts, and other revenue sources to advance and sustain programmatic efforts in the subject area
• Member of professional organizations and societies
• Demonstrate collegiality by serving on departmental/unit, Extension and AgriLife committees, and demonstrating a track record of building effective working relationships across departments, agencies, and/or colleges

Scholarly Efforts

• Develop, implement, and evaluate innovative educational programs resources and materials (e.g., fact sheets, instruction manuals, educational videos, online courses, computer software programs, apps, etc.)
• Conduct applied or translational research that is in line with the Extension programming effort
• Publish creative and scholarly work in refereed journals appropriate to the faculty member’s subject matter area, and present research findings at relevant industry meetings, professional meetings, or conferences
• Support academic pursuits in the subject matter area through activities such as guest lectures, undergraduate student mentorship, student club activities, student competitive team activities, graduate student mentorship, and serving on graduate student committees.

Required Education and Experience:

PhD completed by December 31, 2024 in entomology or a closely related discipline.

Required knowledge, skills & abilities:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent managerial skills
• Experience in area of specialization, ability to write grant proposals to secure external funding; development and implementation of extension programming; evidence of publishing in peer-reviewed journals; and participation in professional societies.
• Competence in the use of personal computers; navigating communications, team collaboration, word processing and spreadsheet software; and using appropriate statistical-analysis software is required.

Preferred knowledge, skills and abilities:

• Advanced knowledge and experience in crop arthropod pest management.
• Experience in conducting applied research in corn, wheat, cotton, sorghum, and/or forages suitable for driving effective Extension programming.
• Evidence of scholarship through scientific and/or Extension presentations and publications.
• Ability to communicate and collaborate with various audiences including faculty, stakeholders, and other clientele.
• Published research results in refereed journals.

Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Amarillo: The Amarillo Center is located in the Texas Panhandle and represents one of the state’s largest agricultural production regions. The Amarillo Center is located at 6500 W. Amarillo Blvd., Amarillo, TX 79016. The Amarillo Center houses ~20 Research and Extension faculty, providing excellent opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration. Facilities include laboratories and office space, and an auditorium. Field research can be conducted at the experimental farms near Bushland, TX, which include the James Bush Farm, the Texas A&M AgriLife Research farm, and the nearby USDA-ARS farm; or on grower-cooperator fields.  As of 01 Apr 2024, a new, state-of-the-art Texas A&M AgriLife Center is under construction on the campus of West Texas A&M University (WTAMU) in Canyon, TX, featuring a modern, ~300sf laboratory devoted to Extension entomology.  When completed in August 2025, this facility’s location within the Agriculture Complex at WTAMU will facilitate access to graduate students and student workers and enhance collaborative opportunities with WTAMU faculty.

Administrative Relationships: The incumbent will be a faculty member in the Department of Entomology at Texas A&M University, supervised jointly by the Associate Department Head for Extension Entomology, the Entomology Department Head, and the Center Director of Texas A&M AgriLife Research - Amarillo.  Oversight of the faculty promotion process for this jointly appointed position will be the responsibility of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service through its own Promotion Committee, with dossier review by and input from Texas A&M AgriLife Research’s Promotion Committee. The Extension Entomologist will be a member of the faculty at the Amarillo Research and Extension Center and will work with faculty, staff, and administrative staff at the Center.  

Salary and Benefits: Salary and benefits will be competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience. Benefits available include group medical insurance, dental insurance, group and individual life insurance, long-term disability insurance, workers’ compensation, retirement plan with Texas A&M System contribution, sick leave, annual leave, paid holidays and administrative leave days, and unemployment compensation.

Closing Date for Applications. For full consideration, submit all application materials by September 3, 2024. However, the position will remain open until the position is filled.

Application Instructions: 

A cover letter expressing their interest in and qualifications for the position, including statements of the applicant’s vision for Extension and applied research related to arthropod pest management in crops produced in the Texas Panhandle; A resume or curriculum vitae; and  Contact information for three professional references. Selected candidates will be required to provide official academic transcripts upon request.

For More Detailed Information:

Review the most recent edition of the Professorial Career Ladder System for Extension Specialist Faculty for more detailed information.

Questions:

• Contact Peggy Lundstrom (peggy.lundstrom@ag.tamu.edu) for additional application instructions.
• Contact Dr. David Kerns at david.kerns@ag.tamu.edu more information about the position.
• Visit http://entomology.tamu.edu for additional information about the Department of Entomology at Texas A&M University.
• Visit https://amarillo.tamu.edu/ for additional information about the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Amarillo.
• Visit https://agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/ for additional information about the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service.
• Visit https://agriliferesearch.tamu.edu/ for more information about Texas A&M AgriLife Research.

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Veterans/Disability Employer.