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Assistant Professor of Controlled Environment Engineering

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Position description

The Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at the University of California, Davis is recruiting an Assistant Professor of Controlled Environment Engineering. This is an academic year (9-month), tenure track position with teaching, research, and service responsibilities and includes the expectation that the appointee will conduct mission-oriented research and outreach/engagement of relevance to the California Agricultural Experiment Station (https://caes.ucdavis.edu/research/aes).

Responsibilities:

The Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering is seeking applicants that focus on design and management of controlled environment production systems. The appointee will be expected to establish a competitively funded research program in intensive production of food and other biological products in controlled environments incorporating smart technologies to address critical or emerging issues associated with labor and resource constraints and increasing consumer and societal demands for product quality and sustainability. The goal of this position is to help create novel engineered approaches to plant and animal production including precision control and automation, efficient design and operation, modeling and simulation, and systems optimization for greenhouses, vertical farming and other growth systems, animal housing, and related opportunities in aquaculture, smart buildings, space applications, and other areas. The appointee will be responsible for teaching new or revised undergraduate and graduate courses in controlled environment engineering and technology in addition to other courses in the Biological Systems Engineering (EBS) major, the Applied Biological Systems Technology (ABT) program, and a newly proposed undergraduate major in Agricultural and Environmental Technology (AET). Specific teaching assignments will depend on the academic background of the appointee, and would typically include two to three courses per year among EBS 1 (Foundations of Biological Systems Engineering), EBS 125 (Heat Transfer in Biological Systems), EBS 127 (Mass Transfer and Kinetics in Biological Systems), EBS 130 (Modeling of Dynamic Processes in Biological Systems), EBS 170 (Biological Systems Engineering Design), EBS 270 (Modeling and Analysis of Biological Systems), and a revised ABT/AET 121 (Controlled Environments), as well as new courses at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Participation in and development of public outreach and/or community engagement programs, and performance of departmental, university and professional service are expected. This position is expected to work with Cooperative Extension specialists and advisors, partners in allied industries or other appropriate public and private stakeholders. We are particularly seeking faculty who have demonstrably shown evidence of a strong commitment towards expanding opportunities for women and underrepresented groups to increase the diversity of the campus community. Safety and safe practice are of primary importance to the University of California and this position involves teaching courses in which safety is a major consideration. The successful candidate will ensure University safety policies are met and instill safety and help build a culture of safety throughout the academic program.

We are interested in candidates who are committed to the highest standards of scholarship and professional activities, and to the development of a campus climate that supports equality, inclusion and diversity. The University of California is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer with a strong institutional commitment to the achievement of diversity among its faculty and staff. We welcome all qualified applicants to apply, including women, minorities, veterans, and individuals with disabilities. UC Davis is a smoke- and tobacco-free campus.

Qualifications:

Ph.D. degree or equivalent in Engineering related to biological and agricultural engineering. Post-doctoral experience is preferred. Evidence of research excellence is expected. The candidate should have the ability to develop and instruct undergraduate and graduate courses in Biological Systems Engineering and Agricultural and Biological Technology programs, and the ability to develop and conduct extramurally funded research in controlled environment engineering.

Salary:
Commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Applications:
Application materials must be submitted via the following website: https://recruit.ucdavis.edu. The position will remain open until filled. To ensure consideration, applications should be received by 2 December 2019.

Required application materials include: 1) a curriculum vitae (CV) including publication list, 2) cover letter, 3) abstract of dissertation, 4) transcripts if the applicant is within five years of Ph.D. degree, 5) up to three publications, 6) Statement of Contributions to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, 7) statement of teaching accomplishments, teaching interests in the curriculum and teaching philosophy, 8) statement of research accomplishments, future research vision and plans relevant to controlled environment engineering, and 9) names and contact information, including email addresses, of four professional references.

Inquiries regarding the application process should be directed to Shaunte Hill, Biological and Agricultural Engineering Department, University of California, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, email syhill@ucdavis.edu. For questions concerning the position, contact the recruitment advisory committee chair, Prof. Ruihong Zhang, at rhzhang@ucdavis.edu (530-754-9530). For additional information about the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering and the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, please see: https://bae.ucdavis.edu/ and https://caes.ucdavis.edu/.

Application Requirements

Document requirements
  • Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V. that includes publications list

  • Cover Letter

  • Statement of Research Accomplishments - Include research accomplishments, future research vision and plans relevant to controlled environment engineering

  • Statement of Teaching (in Controlled Environment Engineering) - Not to exceed four pages. Include teaching accomplishments, teaching interests in the curriculum, and teaching philosophy

  • Statement of Contributions to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion - Contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion documented in the application file will be used to evaluate applicants. Visit https://academicaffairs.ucdavis.edu/faculty-equity-and-inclusion for guidelines about writing a statement and why one is requested.

  • Evidence of Professional Achievement - Electronic Publications and/or creative activities
    (Optional)

  • Evidence of Curricular Innovation (Optional)

  • Evidence of Postdoctoral Experience (Optional)

  • Evidence of Leadership and Organizational Skills - Supporting documentation that shows development of successful research, teaching and outreach programs in the field of controlled environment engineering
    (Optional)

  • Evidence of scholarship during graduate and post-graduate activities (Optional)

  • Evidence of Advising and Mentoring - Supporting documentation of experience and/or interest in advising and mentoring undergraduate and graduate students and fostering an inclusive and stimulating learning environment
    (Optional)

  • Publication #1

  • Publication #2 (Optional)

  • Publication #3 (Optional)

  • Transcripts - If within five years of Ph.D. degree
    (Optional)

  • Abstract of Dissertation

Reference requirements
  • 4-6 required (contact information only)
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Job location

Davis, CA