Assistant/Associate Professor – Forage Breeding/Genetics

University of Florida • Jackson, MS

3d • 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 is 70% research (Florida Agricultural Experiment Station) and 30% Extension (Florida Cooperative Extension Service), available at the North Florida Research and Education Center - Marianna, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. North Florida Research & Education Center (NFREC) is one of the largest and the most varied units of UF/IFAS, consisting of research and education campuses in Quincy, Marianna, and Live Oak, Florida. NFREC has faculty members representing 7 academic departments and the School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences, 3 emeritus faculty members (still active in research at NFREC) and a dynamic population of post-doctoral associates, 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 with faculty at other Centers around the state. Tenure will accrue in the Agronomy Department. This assignment may change in accordance with the needs of the unit. The UF IFAS Forage Team , considered one of the best nationwide, is an integrated research, teaching, and Extension group of Agronomy faculty with collaborative efforts extending across IFAS units. Responsibilities in this position will include the development of a forage breeding program to develop and release forage species and cultivars that help address biotic and abiotic stresses, seasonal distribution of forage production, biological dinitrogen fixation, seed production, and overall fitness of forage germplasm for Florida and the Southeast U.S. production and livestock systems. The program should include laboratory and field activities using novel breeding technologies. The faculty member will actively seek external funding to support their program. The faculty member will develop an Extension program within their expertise, including efforts aimed at enhancing producer adoption of new and existing forage cultivars within the scope of best management practices that protect natural resources. The faculty member is expected to collaborate with stakeholders, especially those in the Florida Cattlemen’s Association, aligning the research and Extension programs with the priorities of the allied industry. This program should also collaborate with the cropping systems/agronomy/integrated crop-livestock systems program at UF. The successful candidate will participate actively in undergraduate and graduate education by chairing and serving on graduate 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, as well as may teach courses and seminars on a limited basis. As a land-grant institution, all IFAS 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 Plant Breeding or a closely related discipline with emphasis on field-based crop improvement/plant breeding/cultivar development is required.
• 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 .

Nice To Haves

• Demonstrated experience in field-based plant breeding research, securing extramural funding, and mentoring graduate students.
• Postdoctoral or industry experience in the development/or application of novel methods targeting cultivar development is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Development of a forage breeding program to develop and release forage species and cultivars that help address biotic and abiotic stresses, seasonal distribution of forage production, biological dinitrogen fixation, seed production, and overall fitness of forage germplasm for Florida and the Southeast U.S. production and livestock systems.
• The program should include laboratory and field activities using novel breeding technologies.
• Actively seek external funding to support their program.
• Develop an Extension program within their expertise, including efforts aimed at enhancing producer adoption of new and existing forage cultivars within the scope of best management practices that protect natural resources.
• Collaborate with stakeholders, especially those in the Florida Cattlemen’s Association, aligning the research and Extension programs with the priorities of the allied industry.
• Collaborate with the cropping systems/agronomy/integrated crop-livestock systems program at UF.
• Participate actively in undergraduate and graduate education by chairing and serving on graduate committees, supervising thesis, dissertation and undergraduate research, and publishing research results with students.
• Participate in professional development activities related to teaching and advising, as well as may teach courses and seminars on a limited basis.
• Be supportive of and engaged in all three mission areas—Research, Teaching and Extension—regardless of the assignment split specified in the position description.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees