Assistant or Associate Professor of Phytopathology in Controlled and Space Environments

University of Florida

7d • Onsite

About The Position

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is seeking an Assistant or Associate Professor of Phytopathology in Controlled and Space Environments. This is a 12-month, tenure-accruing position that is 70% research and 30% teaching, located at the Mid-Florida Research and Education Center (MREC) in Apopka, Florida. The successful candidate will develop a nationally and internationally recognized, extramurally funded, research and teaching program in specialty crops pathology in controlled environment structures and space environments, with an emphasis on advancing knowledge of plant disease epidemiology. Particular emphasis will be placed on addressing the unique challenges of managing plant health in Bioregenerative Life Support Systems (BLSS) that support human habitats in space. Collaboration with colleagues across Florida, nationally, and internationally is expected. The research program will address fundamental and applied questions critical to sustaining plant health in controlled-environment and space-based agricultural systems. Key research areas include Plant-Pathogen Dynamics in Closed and Space-Analog Environments and Pathogen Management Strategies. The incumbent will engage in scholarly activities related to instruction, including teaching graduate and undergraduate courses, and is expected to publish research results, present findings at professional meetings, and collaborate with interdisciplinary faculty and industry partners. The faculty member is expected to be affiliated with the UF’s Astraeus Space Institute, Emerging Pathogens Institute, and Global Food Systems Institute.

Requirements

• A doctorate (foreign equivalent acceptable) in Plant Pathology, Microbiology, Horticulture, Biology, or a closely related discipline is required.
• Demonstrated skills in verbal and written communication.
• Demonstrated skills in developing and maintaining interpersonal relationships.
• Demonstrated skills in publication in peer-reviewed journals.
• 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.

Nice To Haves

• Postdoctoral research experience is desirable.
• Prior teaching is desirable.
• A strong record of publishing in refereed journals is desirable.
• Demonstrated expertise in pathology is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Develop a nationally and internationally recognized, extramurally funded, research and teaching program in specialty crops pathology in controlled environment structures (greenhouses, vertical farming, container farming, high tunnels, and screen/shade houses) and space environment, with emphasis on advancing knowledge of plant disease epidemiology.
• Address the unique challenges of managing plant health in Bioregenerative Life Support Systems (BLSS) that support human habitats in space, including those relevant to the International Space Station, lunar, and Martian missions.
• Conduct research on pathogen biology with emphasis on survival, growth, and dispersal in controlled environment structures, and under microgravity and other extraterrestrial conditions.
• Conduct research on the effects of microgravity and extraterrestrial conditions on plant resistance mechanisms, pathogen virulence, and disease development.
• Investigate the aerobiology of globally dispersed plant pathogens as analogs for transport, persistence, and exposure risks on planetary surfaces and in closed habitats.
• Develop and implement advanced diagnostic tools and methodologies for the early detection, identification, and monitoring of plant pathogens in controlled environments and space habitats.
• Investigate novel pathogen and disease management strategies suitable for controlled and space environment systems, including soil-less and soil-based plant production systems.
• Develop integrated pest management (IPM) frameworks tailored to the unique biological, physical, and operational challenges associated with maintaining plant health in controlled and space environment systems.
• Develop and deliver a graduate-level course 'Applied Epidemiology in Controlled and Space Environments' and a graduate course on 'Plant Health in Controlled and Space Environments', each with an undergraduate section.
• Publish research results in national and international refereed and non-refereed journals.
• Present research results at professional meetings.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary faculty and industry partners to address emerging plant pathology challenges in closed and controlled environments.
• Participate actively in graduate education by chairing and serving on graduate committees, supervising thesis and dissertation research, and publishing research results with students.
• Engage in professional service, consistent with the IFAS land-grant mission.
• Actively seek contract and grant funding to support his/her program.
• Involvement in national and international professional societies is expected.
• Be supportive of and engaged in all three mission areas—Research, Teaching and Extension—regardless of the assignment split specified in the position description.

Benefits

• Tenure-accruing position
• Access to laboratory, greenhouse, and field research facilities
• Strong partnerships with industry stakeholders
• Opportunities to integrate teaching with research, extension, and outreach activities
• Affiliation with UF’s Astraeus Space Institute, Emerging Pathogens Institute, and Global Food Systems Institute.

What This Job Offers

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