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

University of Florida•Gainesville, FL

5d•Onsite

About The Position

This is a 12-month tenure-accruing position with a 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 research component focuses on utilizing advances in biochemistry, metabolomics, metabolic engineering, and genomics for high-value fruit and vegetable crops to explore the genetics and biochemistry of fruit/vegetable flavor and texture in specialty crops. The candidate is expected to dedicate effort into research on flavor profiles of specialty crops, utilizing resources on tomato flavor biochemistry, genomics, and genetics. Collaboration with the UF tomato breeding program and other researchers is expected. The position requires seeking strong extramural funding, publishing in peer-reviewed journals, and participating in the graduate education program. Teaching duties include undergraduate and/or graduate courses related to genetics, biochemistry, and breeding, with a specific contribution to PCB 5065 Advanced Genetics. The appointed faculty member will actively participate in graduate education by chairing and serving on committees, supervising research, and publishing results with graduate students. Tenure will accrue in the Horticultural Sciences Department. The faculty member will actively seek contract and grant funding, engage in Extension activities, and participate in scholarly activities related to instruction, including advising, mentoring, curriculum development, seeking funding for teaching programs, and producing learning tools. Faculty are encouraged to support and participate in the CALS Honors Program, distance education, and international education. All faculty are expected to be supportive of and engaged in all three mission areas—Research, Teaching, and Extension—regardless of the assignment split.

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 is desirable.
Experience with molecular breeding is desirable.
Experience with 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.