Assistant/Associate Scientist - Mechanical Engineering

University of Florida•Hillsborough, FL

11d•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 is 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 AI, 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. This role will 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. Collaboration with faculty, students, growers, equipment manufacturers, and agricultural technology companies is expected to accelerate the translation of research into commercially viable products. The candidate will also participate in undergraduate and graduate education by chairing and serving on graduate committees, supervising research, and publishing results with students. Faculty are encouraged to participate in professional development activities and may teach courses and seminars.

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 and procurement of external funding.
Must be supportive of the mission of the University Land-Grant system.
Must have a commitment to UF core values.
Eligibility to work in the US.

Nice To Haves

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

Seek contract and grant funding actively to support their program.
Engage in Extension activities in their program area.
Design, develop, and evaluate innovative mechanization and automation solutions that address critical labor challenges facing the specialty crop industry.
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 to 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, and publishing research results with students.
Participate in professional development activities related to teaching and advising.
May teach courses and seminars.