Tenure-Track: Assistant Professor in Acarology

The Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M University invites applications for an Assistant Professor of Entomology in Acarology.  This is a nine-month, full-time, tenure-track appointment specialization in Acarology, located on the Texas A&M campus in College Station, TX. This position has duties in Research, Teaching, and Service with approximately a 60%, 30%, and 10% distribution of effort, respectively. However, the appointment may change in accordance with Departmental needs. The anticipated start date is August 1, 2025.

The incumbent faculty member will have primary responsibility for developing an internationally recognized and extramurally funded research program in livestock acarology that elucidates new discoveries and methodologies that have significant positive impacts on the scientific discipline with the ultimate goal of providing novel control methods for ticks and the pathogens they transmit. Secondarily, the successful candidate may develop research programs in support of topics related to medical and wildlife acarology and field crop mite pest management. The incumbent will be expected to develop strong ties with other faculty at Texas A&M, particularly with colleagues in the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, at other institutions of higher education in Texas, USDA laboratories working on ticks and tick-borne diseases, and various state agencies and commissions who are tasked with monitoring ticks and tick-borne diseases.

The individual selected is expected to work closely with faculty colleagues in AgriLife Extension who have statewide responsibilities regarding livestock insects and other arthropods. This close affiliation with AgriLife Extension and AgriLife Research faculty in Entomology and with faculty in allied departments in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (Animal Science, Rangeland, Wildlife and Fisheries, Ecology and Conservation Biology), the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, and with the Health Science Center in the case of tick-borne human pathogens is envisioned to expand the research opportunities for the successful candidate. The candidate is expected to engage in development, testing, demonstration, and implementation of new technologies supporting integrated approaches to tick management. There are additional state agencies and federal labs that will need to be engaged with the research program of the candidate for tick species that are highly regulated and for the adoption of new methods to use in support of the state-federal cattle fever tick eradication program.

With regard to classroom teaching, there is currently a graduate course, Acarology, ENTO 617, 4cr, offered on an alternate year basis that we expect the incumbent to teach. Additionally, teaching an annual undergraduate course in Medical and/or Veterinary Entomology is expected. A typical teaching appointment in the Department of Entomology is teaching at least one 3-credit undergraduate course each year and one graduate level course offered on an alternate year basis. Assignment of courses is done by the Department Head in consultation with the Associate Department Head for Academic Programs. The Department offers two baccalaureate degrees, one in Entomology (ENTO) and one in Forensic and Investigative Sciences (FIVS). Graduate degrees include M.S. and Ph.D. programs in Entomology and individual faculty may be affiliated with university-wide interdisciplinary degree programs in genetics, neurobiology, biotechnology, and ecology & evolutionary biology, etc. Teaching also involves mentoring of undergraduate researchers, M.S. and Ph.D. students, and post-docs, as appropriate, and is expected of all faculty.

The candidate must have a Ph.D. or equivalent degree in Entomology or related field and the degree must be completed prior to the date of the faculty appointment.  Desired qualifications include a strong record of scholarly achievement including peer-reviewed journal publications, demonstrated success in securing grants or a strong potential to secure extramural funding. Additional desired qualifications include training and experience in tick biology and management, pathogen transmission, and disease prevention and experience in both field biology and molecular techniques. Candidates should have experience teaching at the undergraduate or graduate level and experience in mentoring students. The successful candidate will demonstrate an ability to collaborate in multidisciplinary teams and have excellent written and oral communication skills.

Applications will only be accepted through Interfolio at apply.interfolio.com/156016. Applicants must submit: (1) a cover letter of interest, (2) Curriculum Vitae, (3) a personal statement to include philosophy and plans for research, teaching, and service (up to six pages total), and (4) contact information for three professional references (to be contacted at a later stage). Please provide a complete mailing address, email and phone number, and a brief statement of how each referee knows the candidate. Packages should be submitted by November 20, 2024. Review of applications will begin after this date and continue until the position is filled. For questions regarding this position, email inquiries to the attention of Dr. Anjel Helms, Search Committee Chair, Department of Entomology via Teresa Gold (teresa.gold@ag.tamu.edu).