Assistant Professor of Horticulture-UF

Hiring Organization: University of Florida
Employment type: Full-Time
Job Location: North Florida Research and Education Center University of Florida
Application Due Date: April 21, 2023

POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT # 00013260 REQUISITION # 526013

Title: Assistant Professor of Horticulture

Specialization: Alternative and Sustainable Vegetable Crop Production Location: North Florida Research and Education Center

University of Florida

Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) Quincy, Florida

Salary: Commensurate with Qualifications and Experience

Review Date: For full consideration, candidates should apply and submit additional materials by April 21, 2023. The position will remain open until a viable applicant pool is determined.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is committed to creating an environment of inclusive excellence that affirms diversity across a variety of dimensions, including ability, class, ethnicity/race, gender identity and expression. Inclusive excellence is the active process of including and respecting everyone as we strive for excellence and equitable outcomes in all we do at the University of Florida. We particularly welcome applicants who can contribute to such an environment through their scholarship, teaching, mentoring, and professional service. We strongly encourage historically underrepresented groups to apply.

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 .

The University of Florida is hiring an Assistant Professor in horticulture. This is a 12-month tenure- accruing position that will be 40% research (Florida Agricultural Experiment Station) and 60% Extension (Florida Cooperative Extension Service), located at the UF/IFAS North Florida Research and Education Center (NFREC) in Quincy, FL. Tenure will accrue in the Horticulture Sciences Department of the University of Florida. This assignment may change in accordance with the needs of the unit.

The research and Extension program will focus on 1) supporting commercial vegetable production, while investigating and implementing innovative and sustainable production systems, and 2) the diversification of alternative vegetable crops for north Florida. The program may also investigate the incorporation of precision plant production (irrigation, and nutrient management) to assure sustainability and profitability for vegetable and specialty crop farms. Areas of specialization may include but are not restricted to, new crop production system including varietal, pest, weed, nutrient, and irrigation

management system in open field, and protected structure production (e.g. hydroponics, vertitical farming) utilizing conventional and organic production practices. Additional related skills in areas such as artificial intelligence, drone mapping, or spectral sensing would be valuable as tools that support the research program and will complement the current expertise at the NFREC. The incumbent will develop an Extension program to deliver the latest information on production of vegetable crops to large and small farms and open field and protected structure production. Commodities to cover include but are not limited to tomato, cucurbits, pepper, cabbage, carrots, lettuce, spinach and other leafy greens, and onions. Research and Extension activities could also include herbes, spices and medicinal plants.

Testing and evaluation of new vegetable crops, and herbs and spice crops to the region, and optimizing horticultural practices will be a major priority for this position. The development of crop production systems that assist growers in competing in the global economy and reduce the impacts of agricultural activities on the north Florida environment is another imperative. Funding and support for research and Extension activities would be available from commodity groups such as Florida Fruit Vegetable Association, the Florida Tomato committee, or the Florida Watermelon Association.

The successful candidate will function as part of a team at the NFREC and other campuses of the University of Florida cooperating with scientists in plant pathology, entomology, nematology, horticulture, plant breeding, soil and water science, and related disciplines. Through Extension efforts, the successful candidate will meet the specific industry needs of the north Florida region. In a team environment, the candidate will train county Extension agents in vegetable production. Interaction with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Service, the Suwannee and North Florida Water Management Districts, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, USDA/ARS, USDA/Natural Resources Conservation Services, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and other local, state, and federal agencies is important to this position. Expectations may change in accordance with the needs of the unit and statewide concerns.

The incumbent will seek external grant funding and industry contracts to actively support their research and Extension program. Research findings are expected to be published in refereed journals and Extension fact sheets in the UF/IFAS EDIS system (http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/) and appropriate industry publications. Additional activities in support of Extension programming will include the development of multimedia instructional materials and leading in-service training programs and other educational workshops. The successful candidate will actively participate in graduate education by serving as chair and member of graduate student committees and supervising thesis, dissertation, and publishing research results with students.

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.

Qualifications

Required:

D. (foreign equivalent acceptable) in horticulture or equivalent with broad knowledge in olericulture is required at the time of hire. This position will be filled as soon as an acceptable applicant is available.
Demonstrated skills in written and oral communication, data management, and technical
Ability and willingness to meet demanding travel

Demonstrated ability to work with people regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, religion, or veteran
Candidates must be supportive of the mission of the Land-Grant system. Candidates must also have a commitment to IFAS core values of excellence, diversity, global involvement, and

Preferred:

Postdoctoral experience is
Previous experience in a land-grant
Experience in working with open field and protected structure production.
Demonstrated ability to develop a robust educational program for stakeholder groups that includes traditional and web-based training
An established network of collaborators in other states for olericulture
Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate with stakeholder groups and the scientific community through presentations and
Demonstrated ability to diagnose and manage common problem in vegetable
Demonstrated ability to work in a multidisciplinary, collaborative team

Background Information:

The NFREC is comprised of three sites situated in Marianna, Quincy, and Live Oak, FL. Both Quincy and Live Oak have ongoing vegetable crop research and Extension programs, and collaborations with faculty in the NFREC in Live Oak are expected of the successful candidate as well as collaborations with faculty on main UF campus in Gainesville, FL.

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). 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 nation’s 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.

Employment Conditions

This position is available until filled 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 # 526013 Xavier Martini

Chair, Search and Screen Committee University of Florida

North Florida Research and Education Center 155 Research Road

Quincy, FL 32351

Telephone: 850-875-7160

Facsimile: 352-846-6617

Electronic Mail: xmartini@ufl.edu

Application Information

Individuals wishing to apply should go online to Careers at UF and submit:
- Cover letter that states applicant’s research interest and qualifications relative to the credentials listed
- One-page document describing your extension
- Diversity statement indicating how your previous experiences have prepared you to contribute to an inclusive institutional
- Curriculum
- Contact information (including email addresses) for 3 individuals willing to write letters of recommendation

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 dedicated to building a broadly diverse and inclusive faculty and staff. The University and greater Gainesville community enjoy a diversity of cultural events, restaurants, year-round outdoor recreational activities, and social opportunities.