Assistant/Associate Professor – Extension Agronomy

University of Florida • Quincy, FL

42d • Onsite

About The Position

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is creating an environment that affirms community across all dimensions. 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 12-month tenure-accruing position that will be 40% research (Florida Agricultural Experiment Station) and 60% Extension (Florida Cooperative Extension Service), available in the North Florida Research and Education Center (NFREC), Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, at the University of Florida. Tenure will accrue in the Agronomy Department. This assignment may change in accordance with the needs of the unit. The NFREC is one of the largest and the most diverse units of UF/IFAS, consisting of research and education campuses in Quincy, Marianna, and Live Oak, Florida. NFREC has faculty members representing 8 academic departments and the School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences, 5 emeritus faculty members and a dynamic population of graduate students, post-doctoral associates, and scientific/farm/administrative staff. This variety of faculty, staff and programs provides a unique setting for interdisciplinary work within the NFREC campuses, with colleagues on the main UF campus and faculty at other Centers around the state. The incumbent is expected to develop a dynamic integrated research and Extension program focusing on the primary agronomic cropping systems in North Florida including peanut, cotton, corn, and soybean. This requires integral knowledge of whole plant response to agronomic practices from planting until harvest, as well as developing good understanding of off-season management options. Expertise in variety selection, planting methods and rates, irrigation, and cropping systems are essential for the successful candidate. Activities dealing with optimizing crop management and production, digital agriculture, alternative rotational and emerging crops, winter crops, and integrated crop livestock systems are potential research and Extension avenues. Future-focused skills in the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and/or machine learning to collect and integrate agronomic and environmental data towards specific objectives including the investigation of advanced technologies for optimization of crop inputs and cropping systems are encouraged. The incumbent is expected to develop an internationally recognized program while meeting the specific needs of the region. The successful candidate will develop collaborative projects with supporting UF/IFAS research and Extension faculty located at main campus and across North Florida including agronomists, plant pathologists, entomologists, breeders, economists, and scientists in water quality, soil science, as needed. The faculty member will actively seek contract and grant funding to support his/her program. The significant appointment in Extension means that the incumbent is expected to participate in Florida’s Cooperative Extension Strategic Initiatives and become a strong leader and resource for County Agents and Regional Specialized Agents across Florida’s northern tier who work in agronomic crops, by providing regular In-Service Training, writing Extension documents (EDIS articles), publishing in newsletters, etc. The incumbent will be expected to interact with stakeholders, including producers, industry representatives, commodity groups, and other clientele to further the UF/IFAS mission. The successful candidate will participate actively in undergraduate and graduate education by chairing and serving on graduate student committees, supervising thesis, dissertation and undergraduate research, and publishing research results with students. Faculty are encouraged to participate in professional development activities related to teaching and advising and may teach courses and seminars. 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.

Requirements

• A doctorate (foreign equivalent acceptable) in Agronomy, Crop Science or a closely related discipline is required.
• Demonstrated skills in verbal and written communication.
• Demonstrated skills in interpersonal relationships.
• Demonstrated skills in procurement of extramural funding.
• Must be supportive of the mission of the Land-Grant system.
• Must have a commitment to UF core values.
• Hiring is contingent upon eligibility to work in the US.

Nice To Haves

• Postdoctoral experience is desirable.
• Previous experience in Extension in a land-grant university setting.
• Demonstrated ability to develop a robust educational program for stakeholder groups including the use of traditional and multimedia tools.
• An established network of collaborators in other states in agronomic crop systems.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a multidisciplinary, collaborative team environment.

Responsibilities

• Develop a dynamic integrated research and Extension program focusing on the primary agronomic cropping systems in North Florida including peanut, cotton, corn, and soybean.
• Develop good understanding of off-season management options.
• Optimize crop management and production.
• Engage in activities related to digital agriculture, alternative rotational and emerging crops, winter crops, and integrated crop livestock systems.
• Utilize artificial intelligence (AI) and/or machine learning to collect and integrate agronomic and environmental data.
• Investigate advanced technologies for optimization of crop inputs and cropping systems.
• Develop collaborative projects with supporting UF/IFAS research and Extension faculty.
• Actively seek contract and grant funding to support his/her program.
• Participate in Florida’s Cooperative Extension Strategic Initiatives.
• Become a strong leader and resource for County Agents and Regional Specialized Agents across Florida’s northern tier.
• Provide regular In-Service Training.
• Write Extension documents (EDIS articles).
• Publish in newsletters.
• Interact with stakeholders, including producers, industry representatives, commodity groups, and other clientele.
• Participate actively in undergraduate and graduate education.
• Chair and serve on graduate student committees.
• Supervise thesis, dissertation and undergraduate research.
• Publish research results with students.
• Participate in professional development activities related to teaching and advising.
• Teach courses and seminars.
• Be supportive of and engaged in all three mission areas—Research, Teaching and Extension.

Benefits

• Tenure-accruing position
• 40% research (Florida Agricultural Experiment Station)
• 60% Extension (Florida Cooperative Extension Service)
• Access to research and education campuses in Quincy, Marianna, and Live Oak, Florida.
• Unique setting for interdisciplinary work.
• Opportunity to develop an internationally recognized program.
• Supportive and engaged work environment in Research, Teaching, and Extension.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree