Norman Uphoff joined the Cornell University faculty in 1970 after completing his PhD in political science and development administration at the University of California, Berkeley; previously he completed an MPA degree at Princeton University (1966), and a BA at the University of Minnesota (1963). In addition to teaching in the Department of Government, he chaired the multidisciplinary Cornell Rural Development Committee based in Cornell's Center for International Studies from 1971 until 1990.

In 1990, Uphoff was appointed first director of the Cornell International Institute for Food, Agriculture and Development, established to promote sustainable agricultural and rural development. His appointment was moved from the College of Arts and Sciences to the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) for the next 15 years. During this time, he became increasingly involved with agroecological innovation, especially with the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) developed in Madagascar and extended to other countries and crops.

In 2005, after stepping down as director of CIIFAD, Uphoff joined the core faculty of the Cornell Institute for Public Affairs (CIPA), continuing to teach development administration and serving as CIPA Director of Graduate Studies for four years and then Director for four years. He continues to teach, advise and do research as a CIPA core faculty member. In 2015 his work with SRI was awarded the first international Olam Prize for Innovation in Food Security.