Colleagues,
I wouldn't normally post a plant breeder announcement to our lists, but Texas A&M AgriLife Research at Beaumont has a position open that seeks a breeder with experience in crop modeling. Details are given below.
PLEASE REPLY TO THE CONTACT LISTED and not to the list or to me.
Best regards,
Jeff

Jeffrey W. White
Plant Physiologist
ALARC USDA ARS
21881 N Cardon Lane
Maricopa AZ 85138
Tel +1-520-316-6368

Research Professor in Advanced Hybrid Rice Breeding
Position: Research Assistant/Associate/Full Professor in advanced hybrid rice breeding with
Texas A&M AgriLife Research at Beaumont
Appointment: 100% research. Salary will be highly competitive and commensurate with
experience.
Minimum Qualifications: A Ph.D. in plant breeding with a strong quantitative research focus is
required. Preference will be given to applicants who have experience in two- and/or three-line
hybrid breeding and who have used crop simulation models in their graduate and/or postgraduate
plant breeding research. The incumbent must have published research in
nationally/internationally competitive refereed journals, communicate effectively in English,
demonstrate an ability to work effectively as part of a team, be able to work outdoors often under
hot and humid conditions, and be licensed to drive a motor vehicle in the United States. The
incumbent must document he/she is legally allowed to be employed in the United States.
Duties and Responsibilities: The incumbent will develop a highly efficient hybrid rice-breeding
program using integrated model- and marker-assisted selection, with the major goal being a
reduction in the time required to produce hybrids with improved yield, grain quality, and cold
tolerance. The incumbent will rely heavily on using crop modeling in identifying combinations
of primary phenotypic traits that maximize the speed with which improved hybrids are
developed. DNA markers will be used to ensure the presence of desirable traits in promising
lines and released cultivars. The incumbent will conduct research to quantify the combining
ability of parental lines for major primary phenotypic traits that impact yield and grain quality.
The incumbent will work with a molecular biologist who will be funded to develop markers for
desirable traits. The incumbent will produce superior performing hybrids, high-quality refereed
papers, and highly competitive national/international grant proposals to insure the success and
expand the capacity of the hybrid-breeding program.
The incumbent will be encouraged to pursue opportunities to work with the Center's crop
modeling team and with the inbred plant breeder to efficiently transfer desirable traits between
the hybrid and inbred rice cultivar development programs. Opportunities will exist to work with
the Center's plant physiologist, plant nutrition/soil scientist, entomologist, and plant pathologist,
as well as with rice researchers across the U.S. and elsewhere.
Supervision and Funding: The Beaumont Center Director will supervise the incumbent.
Funding is guaranteed for 5-years, conditional upon acceptable progress in addressing each facet
of the position's duties and responsibilities. Progress will be assessed during annual performance
evaluations. Two and possibly three 5-year renewals are anticipated, conditional upon the
incumbent maintaining acceptable progress.
Conditional Employment: If the incumbent lacks sufficient experience with using process
based crop models to assist in defining trait selection or with the experimental procedure for
estimating parental line combining expression for key primary phenotypic traits, but in all other
respects has exceptional credentials, a temporary Research Scientist position may be offered for
a period of up to six months during which the incumbent will undergo intensive and
comprehensive training. If the incumbent is successful in addressing identified weaknesses by
completion of the training period, a Research Professor position will be offered at a rank and
salary commensurate with experience.
Facilities: The Texas A&M AgriLife Research Center at Beaumont and Eagle Lake houses over
40 Texas A&M scientists, research staff, administrative support staff, and students. Facilities
include about 940 acres of land at Beaumont and 113 acres of land at Eagle Lake. The incumbent
will be provided office, laboratory, and greenhouse space, access to land, and funds to support a
research technician, purchase major equipment for field research and computers, and to work
with a molecular biologist to develop markers.
Closing Date: February 1, 2014 or until a suitable applicant is found
Application Packet: All applications should include the following:
* A two- to three-page letter summarizing the candidate's training and relevant expertise, a
brief description as to why the candidate is uniquely qualified for the position, and a
statement summarizing the candidate's long-term career goals.
* A resume should include the following:
o A summary of the applicant's employment history
o A summary of the applicant's graduate and post-graduate research
o A list of released germplasm, cultivars, and/or patents and a description of the
role the applicant played in each
o A list of publications (authors, year, title, journal, volume, pages) separated by
peer-reviewed journal papers, book chapters, and non-refereed papers, and a
description of the role the applicant played in producing each
o A list of grants, including authors, the year each grant was funded, title, dollar
amount, granting agency, and a description of the role the applicant played in
developing each grant proposal
* PDF copies of up to five publications produced by the applicant that demonstrate
strengths that are relevant for the advertised position
* A list of up to 5 external references who can assess the candidate's qualifications.
Provide title, affiliation, physical address, phone number, and email address for each.
* The incumbent must document he/she is legally allowed to be employed in the United
States.
Contact Person: Application packets should be sent to Dr. L. T. Wilson using the email address
provided below. All communications relating to applications should also be sent via email.
Dr. Lloyd T. (Ted) Wilson
Professor and Center Director
Jack B. Wendt Endowed Chair in Rice Research
Texas A&M AgriLife Research Center
Beaumont, Texas
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