Iowa State University

Position Title:

Professor of Practice in Digital and Precision Agriculture (Open Rank)

Appointment Type:

Faculty

Job Description:

Summary of Duties and Responsibilities:

The Department of Agronomy, in partnership with the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, administered by the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Iowa State University, invites applications for a full-time term position of Assistant/Associate/Full Professor of Practice in Digital and Precision Agriculture. This is a 9-month position with the opportunity for summer funding, with job responsibilities in teaching, recruiting and mentoring students, interfacing with relevant industries to provide educational and career opportunities for students, and engaging with other stakeholders to advance digital and precision agriculture in the state of Iowa.

The successful candidate will teach courses and be a leader in the departments’ new Bachelor of Science degree program in Digital and Precision Agriculture (DPA). The degree track prepares students in geospatial and sensor technologies, precision agricultural systems, and data analysis and modeling, to enable data-driven decisions that improve economic and environmental sustainability of agriculture. The successful candidate will have a strong industry background in this space, a track record of successfully training or mentoring early-career specialists, experience leading programs and projects, and an ability to effectively network with potential industry stakeholders

Required Minimum Qualifications:

• A B.S. degree in agronomy, agricultural systems technology, or a closely related discipline
• At least five years of relevant industry experience in digital and precision agriculture
• Associate Professor: For consideration at the associate professor rank, applicants must have at least ten years of relevant industry experience or five years of academic experience beyond requirements for an assistant professor of practice.
• Professor: For consideration at the professor rank, applicants must have at least fifteen years of relevant industry experience or five years of academic experience beyond requirements for an associate professor of practice.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated ability to build programs, partnerships, or initiatives across units or organizations
• Demonstrated expertise in one or more of the following curriculum areas: precision agronomy, applied data management, geospatial applications, precision conservation, and agricultural technology
• Experience in successful teaching, training, and/or mentoring

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. on an on-going basis without sponsorship.

Department/Program & College Description:

The department of Agronomy includes an undergraduate degree in Agronomy that offers a flexible curriculum with high-impact practices, including a learning community, experiential learning, undergraduate teaching fellowships, undergraduate research opportunities, study-abroad courses, and career preparation. The department offers MS and PhD programs in Agricultural Meteorology, Crop Production and Physiology, Plant Breeding, and Soil Science, as well as offering online MS degrees in both Agronomy and Plant Breeding.

The Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering offers accredited BS degree programs in Industrial Technology, Agricultural Systems Technology, Agricultural Engineering, and Biological Systems Engineering, as well as MS and PhD programs in Industrial and Agricultural Technology, and MEng, MS, and PhD programs in Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering. Information about undergraduate programs, including curricula, can be found at https://www.abe.iastate.edu/undergraduate-students/advising-center/.

Proposed Start Date:

August 16, 2025

Proposed End Date or Length of Term:

May 15, 2028

Number of Months Employed Per Year:

09 Month Work Period

Time Type:

Full time

Application Instructions:

To apply for this position, please click on “Apply” and complete the Employment Application. Please be prepared to attach the following in PDF format:

1) Letter of application (including information about desired rank) that explicitly discusses how the candidate meets each of the required and preferred qualifications.

2) Resume or Curriculum Vitae.

3) Contact information for at least three references, including name, title, mailing address, email address, and phone number.

For full consideration, applications should be received by July 20, 2025.

Questions about the position or department may be directed to Bradley Miller, millerba@iastate.edu, search committee chair.

Why Choose ISU?

Iowa State Faculty enjoy comprehensive health and work-life benefits, including medical and dental; as well as:

• Retirement benefits, including defined benefit and defined contribution plans
• Generous leave plans
• Onsite childcare (Ames, Iowa)
• Life insurance and long-term disability
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Various voluntary benefits and discounts
• Employee Assistance Program
• Wellbeing program

Original Posting Date:

June 24, 2025

Posting Close Date:

July 20, 2025

Job Requisition Number:

R17298

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