Research Assistant Scientist In Vitro Breeding

University of Florida • Gainesville, FL

1d • Onsite

About The Position

This is a 12-month non-tenure-accruing position that will be 100% research (Blueberry Breeding Program), available in the Horticultural Sciences Department, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, at the University of Florida. This assignment may change in accordance with the needs of the Blueberry Breeding Program. The faculty member will serve as the In vitro Breeding Team Leader. Duties will include working closely with the Blueberry Breeding Program’s Director to develop and integrate advanced plant tissue culture techniques and cellular manipulation strategies to advance the development of superior cultivars at the University of Florida. Additionally, the faculty member will work on elaborating research lines, managing projects, securing collaboration and funds, and actively supporting the innovation of biotechnological strategies and automation systems to optimize germplasm conservation, propagation, enhance diversity and generate new cultivars support Florida’s agriculture sector. The research outcomes will broaden the breeding capacity and will also be implemented in an operational manner. The faculty member will be responsible for reporting progress, outputs, and impacts to interested stakeholders.

Requirements

• A doctorate (foreign equivalent acceptable) in plant breeding or a closely related discipline.
• Hands-on experience in plant breeding technologies.
• Expertise in tissue culture.
• Experience related to ploidy manipulation.
• Experience related to cellular cycle manipulation.
• Experience related to blueberry regeneration strategies.
• Experience related to plant clonal propagation.
• Demonstrated skills in verbal and written communication.
• Demonstrated skills in interpersonal relationships.
• Supportive of the mission of the Land-Grant system.
• Commitment to UF core values.

Nice To Haves

• Postdoctoral experience and industry experience in plant breeding, tissue culture, working with blueberry and other specialty crops.
• Experience using transcriptomic information to assist in breeding strategies and tissue culture.
• Experience with tissue culture training and R&D leadership.
• Experience collaborating with industry partners and translating research into applied outcomes.
• Demonstrated project management and leadership experience, including building collaborations among a variety of interdisciplinary scientific teams.
• Grant writing and budgeting for scientific discovery.
• Multi-lingual to operate in an international context.
• Supervision skills for communications and administrative staff.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the In vitro Breeding Team Leader.
• Work closely with the Blueberry Breeding Program’s Director to develop and integrate advanced plant tissue culture techniques and cellular manipulation strategies.
• Elaborate research lines.
• Manage projects.
• Secure collaboration and funds.
• Support the innovation of biotechnological strategies and automation systems to optimize germplasm conservation, propagation, enhance diversity and generate new cultivars.
• Report progress, outputs, and impacts to interested stakeholders.

What This Job Offers

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