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The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is creating an environment that affirms community across all dimensions. We particularly welcome applicants who can contribute to such an environment through their scholarship, teaching, mentoring, and professional service. If an accommodation due to a disability is needed to apply for this position, please call 352-392-2477 or the Florida Relay System at 800-955-8771 (TDD) or visit Accessibility at UF .

This is a 9-month tenure-accruing position with 60% research (Florida Agricultural Experiment Station) and 40% teaching (College of Agricultural and Life Sciences), available in the Environmental Horticulture Dept., Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, at the University of Florida main campus located in Gainesville, Florida.  This assignment may be adjusted in accordance with the needs of the unit.

Major duties are to develop and implement nationally and internationally robust research and teaching programs in specialty crop production (ornamentals, vegetables, herbs, medicinal plants, and/or fruit) in controlled environments (protected horticulture including high tunnels, climate-controlled greenhouses, and growth rooms). The individual will develop research and teaching collaborations with colleagues in the Environmental Horticulture, Horticultural Sciences, and Agricultural and Biological Engineering Departments and with faculty from closely allied disciplines in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences that support the Florida green industries.

The research focus will be on optimizing crop quality, production efficiency, and sustainability for controlled environment production systems. Areas of interest may integrate plant science with innovative technologies such as artificial intelligence, automation, biotechnology, data analytics, imaging, LED lighting, or sensors, with the goal of resource efficiency in terms of energy, water, nutrients, and/or agrichemicals. Controlled environment agriculture (CEA) is viewed as a significant growth sector within Florida agriculture and opportunities exist to work collaboratively with industry partners across the state.

Teaching responsibilities will include teaching/contribution to both undergraduate and graduate courses related to greenhouse and nursery management.  Specific courses identified to serve the plant science major and allied departments include ALS4210/6932 Controlled Environment Plant Production; ORH4264/ORH4264L Greenhouse and Nursery Crop Culture; and PLS3421C Hydroponic Systems.

Tenure will accrue in the Environmental Horticulture Department.  The faculty member will participate actively in undergraduate and graduate research by chairing and serving on graduate student committees, supervising thesis and dissertation research, advising, and mentoring undergraduate and graduate students, and publishing the results with supervised graduate students.  The faculty member will actively seek contract and grant funding to support their program.

The successful candidate will engage in scholarly activities related to instruction, including teaching graduate and undergraduate courses, participation in curriculum revision and enhancement, seeking funding for the teaching program, publishing teaching-related scholarship, producing learning tools, and engaging in professional development activities related to teaching and advising.  Faculty are encouraged to support and participate in the CALS Honors Program, distance education, and international education.

Because of the IFAS land-grant mission, all faculty are expected to be supportive of and engaged in all three mission areas - Research, Teaching and Extension - regardless of the assignment split specified in the position description. The successful candidate will therefore be expected to interface and collaborate with industry and extension faculty.

Background Information :

The University of Florida is a Land-Grant, Sea-Grant, and Space-Grant institution, encompassing virtually all academic and professional disciplines, with an enrollment of more than 56,000 students.  UF is a member of The Association of American Universities.  The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences includes the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences , the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station , the Florida Cooperative Extension Service , the College of Veterinary Medicine , the Florida Sea Grant program, and encompasses 16 on-campus academic departments and schools, 12 Research and Educational Centers (REC) located throughout the state, 6 Research sites/demonstration units administered by RECs or academic departments, and Florida Cooperative Extension Service offices in all 67 counties (counties operate and maintain). UF is one of the nations first universities to offer its students “AI Across the Curriculum” with courses in artificial intelligence available in all 16 colleges, from arts to agriculture. Comprehensive AI research is supported with HiPerGator, one of the fastest supercomputers in higher education, gifted to UF by the NVIDIA Corp. The School of Natural Resources and Environment is an interdisciplinary unit housed in IFAS and managed by several colleges on campus.  UF/IFAS employs nearly 4,500 people, which includes approximately 990 salaried faculty and 1,400 permanent support personnel located in Gainesville and throughout the state. IFAS, one of the nations largest agricultural and natural resources research and education organizations, is administered by a Vice President and four deans: the Dean of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, the Dean for Extension and Director of the Florida Cooperative Extension Service, the Dean for Research and Director of the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station, and the Dean for the College of Veterinary Medicine.  UF/IFAS also engages in cooperative work with Florida A&M University in Tallahassee.

Commensurate with Education and Experience

A doctorate (foreign equivalent acceptable) in Horticulture, Plant Physiology, Agricultural Engineering, or a closely related discipline is required at the time of hire. Candidates should have demonstrated skills in verbal and written communication, interpersonal relationships, and procurement of extramural funding.  Candidates must be supportive of the mission of the Land-Grant system.  Candidates must also have a commitment to UF core values of excellence, discovery & innovation, inclusion, freedom & civility, community, and stewardship. 

Postdoctoral experience is desirable.

Applications will be reviewed beginning October 5, 2023.  The position will remain open until a viable applicant pool is determined.

Employment Conditions

This position is available January 2024 and will be filled as soon thereafter as an acceptable applicant is available.  Compensation is commensurate with the education, experience, and qualifications of the selected applicant.

Nominations

Nominations are welcome.  Nominations need to include the complete name and address of the nominee. This information should be sent to:

Please refer to Requisition # 528388

Dr. Wagner Vendrame

Chair, Search and Screen Committee

University of Florida

Environmental Horticulture

PO Box 110670

Gainesville, FL 32611

Telephone:                               352-273-4500

Electronic Mail:                      vendrame@ufl.edu

Application Information

• Individuals wishing to apply should go online to Careers at UF and submit:
  • Cover letter that states applicants interest in the position and qualifications relative to the credentials listed above
  • Outline of potential research interests
  • Outline of teaching philosophy, experience and interests
  • Curriculum vitae
  •  Contact information (including email addresses) for 3 individuals willing to write letters of recommendation
  • Unofficial transcripts

Selected candidate will be required to provide an official transcript to the hiring department upon hire. A transcript will not be considered “official” if a designation of “Issued to Student” is visible.  Degrees earned from an education institution outside of the United States are required to be evaluated by a professional credentialing service provider approved by National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) .

Hiring is contingent upon eligibility to work in the US. The University of Florida is a public institution and subject to all requirements under Florida Sunshine and Public Record laws.

The University of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Institution. The University and greater Gainesville community enjoy a diversity of cultural events, restaurants, year-round outdoor recreational activities, and social opportunities.