Assistant/Associate Professor (Plant Breeder)

University of Florida • Palm Beach, FL

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is seeking an Assistant/Associate Professor (Plant Breeder) for a 12-month tenure-accruing position at the Everglades Research and Education Center. This role is 70% research and 30% extension. The primary focus will be on improving lettuce cultivars, specifically cos (romaine) and crisphead (iceberg) types, for Florida production. The position will also focus on other lettuce types and leafy vegetables like spinach, chard, and kale, supporting the baby leaf industry. The research program will involve evaluating genetics for traits such as disease resistance, heat tolerance, nutrient use efficiency, weed management, postharvest technology, and alternative production systems. The faculty member will interact with stakeholders, breeders, and grower organizations, release new varieties, publish research, produce extension materials, and actively seek funding. The role also includes active participation in undergraduate and graduate education, supervising students, and potentially teaching courses. All faculty are expected to support and engage in research, teaching, and extension missions.

Requirements

• A doctorate (foreign equivalent acceptable) in Plant breeding, Horticulture or a closely related discipline.
• Postdoctoral experience.
• Experience with and a strong understanding of plant breeding with focus on cultivar development.
• Experience with molecular techniques used in crop improvement.
• Ability and self-motivation to communicate effectively and work cooperatively with research and extension faculty, and vegetable growers.
• Demonstrated skills in verbal and written communication.
• Demonstrated skills in interpersonal relationships.
• Demonstrated skills in procurement of extramural funding.
• Supportive of the mission of the Land-Grant system.
• Commitment to UF core values.
• Eligibility to work in the US.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in leafy vegetable breeding programs is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Improving lettuce cultivars of cos (romaine) and crisphead (iceberg) types for Florida production.
• Focusing on improving other types of lettuce such as leaf, butterhead, niche, and other leafy vegetables.
• Providing lettuce breeding lines and cultivars adapted to different environmental conditions throughout the state, with an emphasis on the Florida Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA).
• Supporting the baby leaf industry on field production issues such as diseases affecting this industry.
• Evaluating the genetics of traits to develop lettuce cultivars adapted to Florida using multi-disciplinary research approaches in disease resistance, heat tolerance, nutrient use efficiency, weed management, postharvest technology, and alternative lettuce production systems.
• Interacting with stakeholders, breeders in other states and federal agencies, and vegetable grower organizations.
• Releasing new horticulturally acceptable varieties.
• Publishing research results in refereed journals.
• Producing extension publications and instructional materials.
• Seeking contract and grant funding actively to support his/her program.
• Engaging in Extension activities in their program area.
• Participating actively in undergraduate and graduate education by chairing and serving on graduate committees.
• Supervising thesis, dissertation and undergraduate research.
• Publishing research results with students.
• Teaching courses and seminars (encouraged).

Benefits

• Tenure-accruing position
• Commensurate with Education and Experience salary

What This Job Offers

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