Assistant/Associate Professor of Tropical Fruit Crops

University of Florida • Dade, FL

8d

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 faculty position, 25% research (Florida Agricultural Experiment Station) and 75% Extension (Florida Cooperative Extension Service), available in the Department of Horticultural Sciences, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS), University of Florida; located at the Tropical Research and Education Center in Homestead, FL. The incumbent will assume leadership of a state-wide extension program to increase the knowledge and skills of extension agents and industry representatives (e.g., producers, packinghouses, etc.) in the area of tropical and subtropical fruit production. The primary responsibility will be developing an educational program in production of tropical fruit crops grown commercially in the state. The program of work shall include publications, multi-media news releases, workshops, field days, meetings, and other activities. In cooperation with county extension personnel, participate in consultations with established commercial growers and nurserymen in commercial tropical and subtropical fruit production. The individual will be expected to collaborate with colleagues at the Center and beyond in an applied research program pertinent to the problems of the industry. This includes participating in the IR-4 Minor Use Pesticide Registration Program at the research center. The successful candidate will also advise the research center’s field manager on proper maintenance and care of the centers subtropical and tropical fruit orchards and germplasm collection. Instructional opportunities include teaching a 1/2 term Summer-term course in tropical fruit production. This is a 5000-level course designed for graduate and advanced undergraduate students, and qualified industry participants and is offered in alternate years. The successful candidate will participate actively in undergraduate and graduate education by chairing and serving on graduate committees, supervising theses, and dissertation, and publishing research results with students. Faculty are encouraged to participate in professional development activities related to teaching and advising. 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

• Candidates for this rank shall hold the highest degree appropriate to their field.
• A candidate shall be expected to demonstrate successful experience pertinent to the position they are being recommended and have demonstrated qualities relevant to the goals of the academic unit in which they will be employed.
• A doctorate (foreign equivalent acceptable) in Horticultural Science or a closely related discipline is required.
• The candidate should be familiar with basic horticultural practices such as tree canopy management, irrigation and nutrient management, and insect pest and disease management for tree crops.
• The candidate should be familiar with whole-plant physiology and molecular and traditional plant breeding techniques.
• 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.
• Hiring is contingent upon eligibility to work in the US.

Nice To Haves

• Postdoctoral experience and knowledge of subtropical and tropical fruit crop botany and production is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Assume leadership of a state-wide extension program to increase the knowledge and skills of extension agents and industry representatives in the area of tropical and subtropical fruit production.
• Developing an educational program in production of tropical fruit crops grown commercially in the state.
• Program of work shall include publications, multi-media news releases, workshops, field days, meetings, and other activities.
• In cooperation with county extension personnel, participate in consultations with established commercial growers and nurserymen in commercial tropical and subtropical fruit production.
• Collaborate with colleagues at the Center and beyond in an applied research program pertinent to the problems of the industry. This includes participating in the IR-4 Minor Use Pesticide Registration Program at the research center.
• Advise the research center’s field manager on proper maintenance and care of the centers subtropical and tropical fruit orchards and germplasm collection.
• Teaching a 1/2 term Summer-term course in tropical fruit production.
• Participate actively in undergraduate and graduate education by chairing and serving on graduate committees, supervising theses, and dissertation, and publishing research results with students.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees