Assistant/Associate Professor (Plant Breeder)

Plant Breeder•Palm Beach, FL

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) at the University of Florida is seeking an Assistant/Associate Professor (Plant Breeder) for a 12-month tenure-accruing position. This role will be 70% research (Florida Agricultural Experiment Station) and 30% extension (Florida Cooperative Extension Service), based at the Everglades Research and Education Center (EREC) in Belle Glade, Florida. The primary focus will be on improving lettuce cultivars, specifically cos (romaine) and crisphead (iceberg) types, for Florida's diverse environmental conditions, with an emphasis on the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA). The position will also support the baby leaf industry by addressing field production issues, particularly diseases. The research program will involve evaluating the genetics of traits such as disease resistance, heat tolerance, nutrient use efficiency, weed management, postharvest technology, and alternative production systems like protected structures. Collaboration with stakeholders, other breeders, federal agencies, and grower organizations is crucial. The faculty member is expected to release new varieties, publish research, produce extension materials, and actively seek grant funding. Engagement in undergraduate and graduate education, including committee work and student supervision, is also a key component. All faculty are expected to support and engage in IFAS's research, teaching, and extension mission areas.

Requirements

A doctorate (foreign equivalent acceptable) in Plant breeding, Horticulture or a closely related discipline is required.
Postdoctoral experience is required.
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, are essential.
Demonstrated skills in verbal and written communication.
Demonstrated skills in interpersonal relationships.
Demonstrated skills in procurement of extramural funding.
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 leafy vegetable breeding programs is highly desirable but not required.

Responsibilities

Improve lettuce cultivars of cos (romaine) and crisphead (iceberg) types for Florida production.
Focus on improving other types of lettuce such as leaf, butterhead, niche, and other leafy vegetables.
Provide lettuce breeding lines and cultivars adapted to different environmental conditions throughout the state, with an emphasis on the Florida Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA).
Support the baby leaf industry on field production issues such as diseases affecting this industry.
Evaluate 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 such as protected structures.
Interact with stakeholders, breeders in other states and federal agencies, and vegetable grower organizations.
Release new horticulturally acceptable varieties.
Publish research results in refereed journals.
Produce extension publications and instructional materials.
Seek contract and grant funding actively to support his/her program.
Engage in Extension activities in their program area.
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.
May teach courses and seminars.
Be supportive of and engaged in all three mission areas—Research, Teaching and Extension—regardless of the assignment split specified in the position description.