Assistant/Associate Professor of Plant Disease Resistance

University of Florida•Gainesville, FL

19h•Onsite

About The Position

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) at the University of Florida is seeking an Assistant/Associate Professor of Plant Disease Resistance. This is a 12-month tenure-accruing position with a split appointment: 20% teaching in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) and 80% research in the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station. The position is based in the Department of Plant Pathology in Gainesville. The faculty member will develop an internationally recognized, externally funded research program focused on understanding and improving the genetic resistance of plant species to pathogens. Research may encompass fundamental studies of molecular and biochemical mechanisms of resistance and susceptibility, as well as translational research involving selection, breeding, or engineering of disease-resistant plants. Collaboration with other UF/IFAS units, campus departments, research centers, government agencies, and private/non-profit organizations is expected. In the teaching appointment, the faculty member will develop and teach a graduate-level course on plant disease resistance and participate in other graduate/undergraduate courses. Mentoring graduate students, supervising research, and participating in graduate committees are integral components. The faculty member will actively seek contract and grant funding and engage in Extension activities. Scholarly activities related to instruction, including teaching, advising, mentoring, curriculum development, and publishing teaching-related scholarship, are also expected. Support for the CALS Honors Program, distance education, and international education is encouraged. All faculty are expected to support and engage in IFAS's three mission areas: Research, Teaching, and Extension.

Requirements

A doctorate (foreign equivalent acceptable) in Plant Pathology, Genetics or a closely related discipline.
Demonstrated skills in publication of peer-reviewed research.
Demonstrated verbal communication skills.
Demonstrated interpersonal relationship skills.
Demonstrated procurement of extramural funding.
The ability and desire to lead.
Ability to work effectively within interdisciplinary teams.
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

Experience in plant physiology, plant genomics, plant breeding, host/parasite interactions, and/or other aspects of plant health and genetics are highly desirable.
Quantitative analytical and molecular skills are highly desirable.
Postdoctoral experience is desirable.

Responsibilities

Develop an internationally recognized, externally funded research program using contemporary methods to explore and improve genetic resistance of plant species to pathogens.
Understand plant resistance and susceptibility and develop genetically improved plants for crop production, ecosystem restoration, or other applications.
Conduct fundamental research focusing on naturally occurring molecular and biochemical mechanisms and/or the genetic architecture of plant resistance and tolerance to pathogens.
Conduct translational research involving selection, breeding, or engineering of new genetic lines of disease-resistant plants.
Synergize research program with faculty in the Department of Plant Pathology and explore collaboration opportunities with other units on campus and external organizations.
Develop and teach a course aligned with plant disease resistance at the graduate level.
Participate in teaching other formal courses at the graduate/undergraduate level.
Mentor graduate students as an integral component of the teaching and research program.
Serve on and chair graduate committees.
Supervise thesis and dissertation research.
Supervise undergraduate research.
Publish results with graduate students and postdoctoral associates.
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.
Advise and mentor undergraduate and graduate students.
Participate in curriculum revision and enhancement.
Seek funding for the teaching program.
Supervise undergraduate and graduate research and creative work.
Publish teaching-related scholarship.
Produce learning tools.
Engage 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.