Assistant Professor - Artificial Intelligence (AI): Applications for Integrated Food-Animal Systems

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North Carolina State University

Location: Raleigh, North Carolina
Category: Faculty-Agriculture-Food Science
Application Deadline:

Job Description

Posting Number

PG193546EP

Internal Recruitment

No

Working Title

Assistant Professor - Artificial Intelligence (AI): Applications for Integrated Food-Animal Systems

Anticipated Hiring Range

Commensurate with Experience

Work Schedule

Monday - Friday / 40 hours/week

Job Location

Raleigh, NC

Department

Animal Science

About the Department

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences fulfills the land-grant mission by preparing students to thrive in a global marketplace, pursue cutting-edge research and put those results to work across North Carolina and beyond. The college is a connected community of 3,600 undergraduate, graduate and Agricultural Institute students, 345 tenure track and professional faculty, 100 postdocs, 898 staff and 598 county operations employees.

Academic programs span 17 undergraduate majors, 21 undergraduate minors, 12 undergraduate certificates and 11 graduate certificates in 12 academic departments. The college offers 19 bachelor’s degrees, 91 master’s degrees and 45 doctoral degrees. The Agricultural Institute is the college’s two- year program offering six associate of applied science degrees.

The college brings together the brightest minds in academia, government and industry to drive the vital research and innovation necessary to tackle agriculture and life sciences challenges. Award-winning researchers in the college are conducting bold, interdisciplinary research at the N.C. Plant Sciences Initiative, Plants for Human Health Institute, Center for Marine Sciences and Technology, the North Carolina Food Innovation Lab, four University Field Labs and over 30 facilities on-campus and off-campus. In partnership with the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Sciences, the college operates 18 agricultural research stations to test research in real-world scenarios under natural conditions. Transforming science into solutions is at the heart of NC State Extension, housed in the college. NC State Extension is present in every county of the state, with 1,100 experts and a network of partnerships to extend the knowledge from our faculty to farmers, families and citizens. It delivers more than 17,000 educational activities statewide via nearly 8,000 programs.

Agriculture and the life sciences are undergoing a technological revolution with the adoption and use of artificial intelligence (AI). The availability of large amounts of data or “big data” surrounding food-animal agricultural production is growing, and this data is increasingly heterogeneous, presenting a challenge to traditional methods to process and estimate meaningful relationships critical to informed decision-making.

Building upon existing strengths in CALS and across the university, this position will provide AI expertise applied specifically to food-animal systems. We are specifically seeking a candidate that can provide a broad expertise in the application of AI, machine learning, computer vision, imaging systems, decision intelligence, and modeling biological system with a focus on digital animal agriculture and specifically livestock and/or poultry production and downstream processing operations.

Essential Job Duties

This position offers a unique opportunity with a 9-month tenure-track opened at the rank Assistant Professor with 80% research and 20% teaching appointment. The successful candidate will engage in cutting-edge research to address critical challenges in the agricultural sector, leveraging AI techniques to optimize processes, improve yield, and enhance sustainability. Additionally, the candidate will collaborate closely with Extension faculty across the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, fostering synergistic relationships between research findings and practical applications in the field. The successful candidate should be able to contribute to research and teaching activities in the areas of integrated animal, food, and/or plant production, climate change, and/or sustainability.

We are specifically interested in candidates with expertise in several of the areas listed below:

Develop AI algorithms and models: Design, develop, and implement advanced AI algorithms and models to optimize various aspects of food production and animal systems in agriculture. This includes predictive modeling, optimization algorithms, and decision support systems.
Data collection and analysis: Collect and analyze large datasets related to animal and food systems, including livestock performance, environmental factors, and market trends. Use statistical methods and machine learning techniques to extract meaningful insights from the data.
Livestock management: Apply AI techniques to improve livestock management practices, such as feed and nutrition optimization, disease detection, and breeding programs. Develop predictive models for livestock health, performance, and nutrient management enabling early intervention and proactive management strategies.
Supply chain optimization: Collaborate with supply chain stakeholders to develop AI-driven solutions for optimizing the food supply chain, from farm to fork. This includes demand forecasting, inventory management, and logistics optimization to reduce waste, enhance efficiency, and contribute to life cycle sustainability.
Integration with emerging technologies: Stay abreast of emerging technologies in AI, IoT, robotics, and blockchain, and explore opportunities to integrate these technologies into agricultural systems for improved performance and sustainability.
Cross-functional collaboration: Work closely with animal scientists, agronomists, engineers, and other stakeholders to translate AI-driven insights into actionable recommendations and solutions. Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to address complex challenges in food and animal systems.

The position will benefit from development of NC State’s Lake Wheeler Field Lab and 21 other research stations and field laboratories into a modern research, education and demonstration farm, purpose designed to be fully instrumented and reconfigurable for demonstrating, testing, and innovating livestock production systems. This will require livestock housing systems of a high industry standard, fully instrumented, and networked to facilitate the development and use of precision animal agriculture technologies. Lake Wheeler Field Lab as a “Forefront Farm” should also form the hub of a network for precision animal infrastructure installed at other major NC State livestock research facilities and at participating industry sites, serving to build a powerful data collection and analysis network.

The search welcomes candidates from diverse disciplines with a background in AI relevant to CALS’ mission. Candidates should hold a Ph.D. in their field and demonstrate potential for developing a nationally recognized program in research, extension, and teaching. The tenure department within CALS will be determined based on the candidate’s credentials, with strong encouragement for affiliations and collaborations across departments.

This position aims to enhance AI expertise within CALS and the broader university, focusing on its application in agriculture and life sciences. We seek a tenure-track Assistant Professor familiar with food animal agriculture with expertise in computational sciences such as AI, machine learning, computer vision, and modeling. The position emphasizes practical applications addressing resilience, climate change, and sustainability challenges in integrated animal and food production systems. The successful candidate will teach interdisciplinary undergraduate and/or graduate courses on AI and decision support systems, engage in multidisciplinary research, and collaborate with initiatives like the Food-Animal Initiative (FAI) and Plant Sciences Initiative (PSI). The candidate will also lead coordination efforts for AI research within CALS and represent the field nationally and internationally.

You Belong Here! At NC State, our goal is for all employees to reach their fullest potential at work. As you consider this opportunity, we encourage you to review our Employee Value Proposition (https://news.hr.ncsu.edu/you-belong-here/) and learn more about what makes NC State the best place to learn and work for everyone.

Minimum Education and Experience

Ph.D. in relevant discipline, with a background in AI.

Other Required Qualifications

Demonstrated potential for developing a nationally recognized program in research, extension, and teaching.
Experience with practical applications addressing resilience, climate change, and sustainability challenges in integrated animal and food production systems.

Preferred Qualifications

Familiar with food animal agriculture with expertise in computational sciences such as AI, machine learning, computer vision, and modeling.

Required License(s) or Certification(s)

NA

Valid NC Driver's License required

No

Commercial Driver's License required

No

Job Open Date

07/19/2024

Anticipated Close Date

Open Until Filled

Special Instructions to Applicants

Applicant required documents: Cover Letter, CV, Research Statement incorporating a vision for your research program, Extension Statement, Teaching Philosophy and Statement of Teaching Expectation, Contact Information for Professional References.

Position Number

00110953

Position Type

Tenured/Tenure-Track Faculty

Full Time Equivalent (FTE) (1.0 = 40 hours/week)

1.0

Appointment

9 Month Recurring

Mandatory Designation - Adverse Weather

Non Mandatory - Adverse Weather

Mandatory Designation - Emergency Events

Mandatory - Medical Emergencies

Department ID

110701 - Animal Science

AA/EEO

NC State University is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, status as an individual with a disability, or status as a protected veteran. Individuals with disabilities requiring disability-related accommodations in the application and interview process are welcome to contact 919-515-3148 to speak with a representative at the Office of Institutional Equity and Diversity.

If you have general questions about the application process, you may contact Human Resources at (919) 515-2135 or workatncstate@ncsu.edu.

Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. Degree(s) must be obtained prior to start date in order to meet qualifications and receive credit.

NC State University participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.

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