Assistant/Associate Scientist - Mechanical Engineering

University of Florida•Hillsborough, FL

12d•Onsite

About The Position

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is seeking a non-tenure track Mechanical Engineer for a 9-month position at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center (GCREC). This role will be 70% research and 30% extension, with the home department being Agricultural and Biological Engineering. The position is part of a new cohort for the GCREC Agricultural AI Institute, focusing on advancing artificial intelligence, automation, and robotics for specialty crop production. The successful candidate will work in a collaborative, interdisciplinary environment with engineers, computer scientists, horticultural scientists, and AI researchers to develop innovative technologies for specialty crop agriculture. The role involves designing, developing, and evaluating mechanization and automation solutions, leading the engineering design, fabrication, and field evaluation of agricultural equipment and robotic systems, and collaborating with various stakeholders to accelerate the translation of research into commercial products. The candidate will also participate in undergraduate and graduate education by supervising research and potentially teaching courses. The position requires active pursuit of contract and grant funding to support the program and engagement in Extension activities.

Requirements

A doctorate in Engineering, Ag engineering, or a related field is required.
A Masters degree plus at least ten years of experience may be substituted for the doctorate.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Proven ability to participate in collaborative efforts.
Proven ability to procure external funding.
Supportive of the mission of the University Land-Grant system.
Commitment to UF core values.
Eligibility to work in the US.

Nice To Haves

Applied, interdisciplinary engineer with experience with equipment design, prototyping, and field evaluation of agricultural technologies.
Experience with horticultural crops, field machinery, sensors, or precision-ag systems is desirable.

Responsibilities

Design, develop, and evaluate innovative mechanization and automation solutions for specialty crop production.
Lead the engineering design, fabrication, and field evaluation of agricultural equipment and robotic systems, including transplanters, crop management tools, mechanical harvesting technologies, harvest aids, and human-machine interactive systems.
Collaborate closely with faculty, students, growers, equipment manufacturers, and agricultural technology companies.
Accelerate the translation of research into commercially viable products and support the successful commercialization and adoption of innovative agricultural technologies.
Participate actively in undergraduate and graduate education by chairing and serving on graduate committees, supervising thesis, dissertation, and undergraduate research.
Publish research results with students.
Seek contract and grant funding actively to support their program.
Engage in Extension activities in their program area.