Assistant/Associate Professor – Improvement of Flavor Profiles of Specialty Crops

University of Florida•Gainesville, FL

3d•Onsite

About The Position

This is a 12-month tenure-accruing position with an 70% research (Florida Agricultural Experiment Station) and 30% teaching (College of Agricultural and Life Sciences) appointment, available in the Horticultural Sciences Department, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, at the University of Florida, Gainesville main campus. The assignment may change in accordance with the needs of IFAS and the unit. The position will be responsible for conducting innovative research exploring appropriate tools (e.g. chemistry/molecular biology/genomics/metabolomics/quantitative genetics) to better understand the genetics and biochemistry of fruit/vegetable flavor, and texture in specialty crops. The position is also expected to collaborate closely with the UF tomato breeding program and other members of the department and the wider UF research community. The appointee will conduct the research program with strong extramural funding and is expected to publish research in peer-reviewed journals and participate in the graduate education program. Teaching duties will include undergraduate and/or graduate courses related to genetics, biochemistry and breeding. The appointed will contribute effort in teaching PCB 5065 Advanced Genetics. The appointed will participate actively in graduate education by chairing graduate committees, serving on graduate committees, supervising thesis and dissertation research, supervising undergraduate research and publishing the results with their graduate students. Tenure will accrue in the Horticultural Sciences Department. The faculty member will seek contract and grant funding actively to support their program. The faculty member will engage in Extension activities in their program area. The successful candidate will engage in scholarly activities related to instruction, including teaching undergraduate and/or graduate courses, advising and mentoring undergraduate and graduate students, participating in curriculum revision and enhancement, seeking funding for the teaching program, supervising undergraduate and graduate research and creative work, 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.

Requirements

A doctorate in plant breeding, biochemistry, genetics and genomics, or a related discipline is required.
A strong interest in the genetics and biochemistry of fruit/vegetable flavor.
Demonstrated verbal and written communication skills.
Demonstrated interpersonal relationships.
Demonstrated working cooperatively with others.
Demonstrated working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
Demonstrated team leadership and organization.
Ability to obtain extramural funding.
Must be supportive of the mission of the Land-Grant system.
Must have a commitment to UF core values.

Nice To Haves

Postdoctoral experience is desirable.
Experience with flavor chemistry, molecular breeding, and specialty crops is desirable.
Familiarity with tomato breeding or tomato genetics is also desirable.

Responsibilities

Conduct innovative research exploring appropriate tools (e.g. chemistry/molecular biology/genomics/metabolomics/quantitative genetics) to better understand the genetics and biochemistry of fruit/vegetable flavor, and texture in specialty crops.
Dedicate effort into research on flavor profiles of specialty crops by utilizing new and previously established resources on tomato flavor biochemistry, genomics, and genetics, focused on understanding the biochemical and molecular bases of flavor and the improvement of flavor in modern cultivars.
Collaborate closely with the UF tomato breeding program and other members of the department and the wider UF research community.
Conduct the research program with strong extramural funding.
Publish research in peer-reviewed journals.
Participate in the graduate education program.
Teach undergraduate and/or graduate courses related to genetics, biochemistry and breeding.
Contribute effort in teaching PCB 5065 Advanced Genetics.
Participate actively in graduate education by chairing graduate committees, serving on graduate committees, supervising thesis and dissertation research, supervising undergraduate research and publishing the results with their graduate students.
Seek contract and grant funding actively to support their program.
Engage in Extension activities in their program area.
Engage in scholarly activities related to instruction, including teaching undergraduate and/or graduate courses, advising and mentoring undergraduate and graduate students, participating in curriculum revision and enhancement, seeking funding for the teaching program, supervising undergraduate and graduate research and creative work, publishing teaching-related scholarship, producing learning tools, and engaging in professional development activities related to teaching and advising.
Support and participate in the CALS Honors Program, distance education, and international education.
Be supportive of and engaged in all three mission areas—Research, Teaching and Extension—regardless of the assignment split specified in the position description.

Benefits

Tenure-accruing position
70% research appointment
30% teaching appointment
Opportunity to publish research in peer-reviewed journals
Participation in graduate education program
Opportunity to seek contract and grant funding
Engagement in Extension activities
Scholarly activities related to instruction
Advising and mentoring undergraduate and graduate students
Participation in curriculum revision and enhancement
Supervising undergraduate and graduate research and creative work
Producing learning tools
Professional development activities related to teaching and advising
Support and participation in the CALS Honors Program, distance education, and international education.