Careers at Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) invites applications for a 9-month, tenure-track Assistant Professor of Applied Forage Agronomy with a 50% Research and 50% Extension appointment, based at the Southern Piedmont Agricultural Research and Extension Center (AREC) in Blackstone, Virginia.

The Virginia Tech ARECs, with faculty from a broad range of disciplines, are at the forefront of cross-disciplinary applied research related to agronomic and horticultural crops, forages, livestock, and seafood. The successful candidate will have tenure affiliation with the School of Animal Sciences and work collaboratively with faculty at ARECs across Virginia and on the main campus to provide relevant, timely, research-based information to stakeholders involved in forage and forage-based livestock production in the Commonwealth.

The successful candidate will work closely with livestock Specialists to develop a regionally and nationally recognized research and Extension program in applied forage agronomy that improves the production capacity, profitability, resilience, and sustainability of forage-based livestock systems, particularly in the Southern Piedmont and Southside regions of Virginia and the transition zone between the temperate northern and subtropical southern United States. The program will build on the existing strengths of Southern Piedmont AREC, including approximately 120 acres of fenced grazing land and 40 acres of replicated silvopasture research plots, with additional opportunities to collaborate with other Virginia Tech ARECs and campus farms with small and large ruminant herds. The candidate is expected to establish and maintain close working relationships with Virginia Tech faculty, Virginia Cooperative Extension agents, producers, industry, commodity groups, state agencies, and other organizations and institutions. The successful individual is expected to secure extramural funds, including state and federal competitive funding, to support an integrated Extension and research program. The successful candidate is also expected to recruit and mentor graduate students. International engagement and recognition are encouraged and expected as the candidate’s career advances.

A Ph.D. in forage agronomy, agronomy, animal science, plant science, or a closely related field is required by the appointment start date. The successful candidate will demonstrate strong knowledge of forage crop production and pasture-based livestock systems, and has evidence of research productivity, including the ability to publish original research in peer-reviewed and internationally recognized journals. The position also requires strong written and oral communication skills that ensure effective communication with producers, Extension agents, industry stakeholders, and scientific audiences. The candidate must show clear potential to develop a strong, integrated research/Extension program that addresses stakeholder-driven needs in applied forage systems and must be willing and able to travel and work in field and farm environments under a range of weather conditions.

The candidate should have a demonstrated ability to apply research results and provide practical, science-based recommendations and guidelines for forage and livestock producers and Extension agents. The candidate should also have experience in extension programming, including developing and delivering information and tools via modern media technologies to diverse audiences, as well as evidence of success in obtaining extramural funding and working effectively within interdisciplinary, multi-state, or multi-institutional teams. Additional desirable qualifications include experience mentoring or supervising students and the ability to engage with and support a diverse population of industry partners, grower organizations, Extension agents, faculty, and staff.

Exempt: Not eligible for overtime

Regular

$85,0000 - $90,000; commensurate with experience

40 hours a week

January 5, 2026

In addition to completing the required state application, please be sure to include:
Cover letter
CV
Research Statement (1-page)
Extension Statement (1-page)

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges, a school of medicine, a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School, and Honors College. The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including Blacksburg, the greater Washington, D.C. area, the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke, sites in Newport News and Richmond, and numerous Extension offices and research institutes. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $650 million in research annually.

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