University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Department of Crop Sciences
Assistant/Associate/Full Professor of Genomics of Perennial Biofuel Feedstocks

A faculty position in genomics with an emphasis on the improvement of
perennial grasses as ligno-cellulosic(LC) feedstocks for the emerging
biofuels industry. This is a 9-month tenured or tenure track position
with opportunity for summer appointment. Responsibilities will be
allocated as 75% research and 25% teaching in the Department of Crop
Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Candidate will
also be an integral part of the Urbana branch of the Energy
Biosciences Institute (EBI), a joint institute funded by the energy
company BP between the University of Illinois, University of
California, Berkeley and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
(www.energybiosciencesinstitute.org).

The successful applicant is expected to develop an
internationally-recognized, externally-funded research program that
will utilize and develop emerging structural and functional genomics
approaches for the improvement of perennial LC fuel feedstock
crops. Candidate will initially be expected to conduct at least 50%
of their research on LC crops within the EBI housed within the
Institute for Genomic Biology, funding for this research effort will
be provided by the EBI. The candidate is expected to specialize in
perennial crops, for example grasses (such as switchgrass, Miscanthus
or sugarcane) or tree species (such as Populus). The successful
candidate will utilize functional and/or structural genomic tools to
advance perennial crop biology employing knowledge from current model
and agronomic plant systems. Approaches may include genetic and
physical mapping, quantitative and association genetics, and the
analysis of polymorphisms or pathways on a genome scale toward
improvement of LC perennial crops as biofuel feedstocks. The
successful candidate will be expected to participate in the
development of curricula for student education in bioenergy training.

Candidates must have a Ph.D. and experience beyond the Ph.D. is
preferable. The candidate must have research experience in molecular
biology, genomics, crop science, or related disciplines. Prior
experience preferred with structural and functional genomic analyses,
ideally with perennials. The candidate must demonstrate outstanding
potential to conduct and publish high-impact research, both
independently and as part of the EBI team, attract extramural
research funding, and develop an excellent teaching program. For
appointment at the Associate or Full Professor rank, the candidate
must exhibit a very strong record of independent scholarship that
includes credentials meeting the standards required to attain that
level at the University of Illinois. Such credentials include
national and/or international recognition and impact in research and
teaching in a related area, with clear evidence of obtaining
competitive funding, initiating, completing, and publishing the
results of successful projects.

Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience with a
comprehensive benefits package for eligible employees. The position
is available as soon as possible thereafter that the candidate is available.

To assure full consideration, a cover letter including a detailed
statement of research and teaching goals, curriculum vitae, a valid
e-mail address, certified undergraduate and graduate transcripts, and
three letters of reference must be submitted by March 15, 2008 to the
address below. Please cite announcement number 01/08A-11653 when
applying. The packet should be sent to: Professor Robert Hoeft,
Head, Department of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign, 1102 South Goodwin Avenue, Urbana,
Illinois 61801. Telephone (217) 333-9480.

For additional information please contact: Dr. Lila Vodkin, Search
Committee Chair, Department of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois
at Urbana-Champaign. Telephone: (217) 244-6147; FAX (217)
244-333-4582, email: .

Additional information about the Department of Crop Sciences, is
available at http://www.cropsci.uiuc.edu/http://www.cropsci.uiuc.edu

THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS IS AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
EMPLOYER.


Matthew Hudson
Assistant Professor
Department of Crop Sciences
334 NSRC, 1101 W. Peabody
Urbana, IL 61801, United States.
Phone 217 244 8096, email