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Assistant Professor-Breeding Nursery/Landscape Crops (70082)

Employer
University of Florida
Location
Florida, United States
Salary
Salary Not Specified
Date posted
Feb 16, 2021


The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is committed to creating an environment that affirms diversity across a variety of dimensions, including ability, class, ethnicity/race, gender identity and expression. We particularly welcome applicants who can contribute to such an environment through their scholarship, teaching, mentoring, and professional service. We strongly encourage historically underrepresented groups to apply.

If an accommodation due to a disability is needed to apply for this position, please call 352-392-2477 or the Florida Relay System at 800-955-8771 (TDD) or visit Accessibility at UF .

This is a 9-month tenure-accruing position that will be 70% research (Florida Agricultural Experiment Station) and 30% extension (Florida Cooperative Extension Service), available at the Tropical Research and Education Center, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, at the University of Florida. This assignment may change in accordance with the needs of the unit. Tenure will accrue in the Department of Environmental Horticulture. The research program must be developed to meet the needs of the subtropical and tropical ornamental horticulture industry in south Florida in cooperation with other faculty in the Environmental Horticulture Department and UF/IFAS Extension located at the main campus in Gainesville and at other locations throughout the state. Duties include providing innovative leadership and expertise in plant breeding and genetics of nursery/landscape plants. This program will bridge basic plant science, conventional cultivar development and modern plant breeding techniques for crop improvement. The individual will establish a competitive, externally funded research program focused on the improvement of nursery/landscape crops. Breeding objectives may include the development of new cultivars with enhanced tolerance to environmental stresses, novel ornamental value, improved pest resistance, non-invasiveness, and/or superior commercial traits. Other foundational/collaborative research may relate to applied propagation and production (for commercialization); screening germplasm (for resistance to diseases, insects, and environmental stresses); genomics (for breeding and biotechnological applications); gene editing and plant transformation. The faculty member will participate actively in undergraduate and graduate education by chairing and serving on graduate committees, supervising thesis and dissertation research and publishing the results with their graduate students. The faculty member will actively seek contract and grant funding to support their program. The faculty member will engage in Extension activities in their program area, including demonstration of germplasm evaluation and new cultivar introduction and methods for commercial production of introduced new plants and cultivars. Other Extension activities will include providing training, resource materials and technical assistance to Extension Agents, collaborating with them on extension and technical publications and grants and conducting workshops/trainings for the ornamental/landscape plant industry and other stakeholders in partnership with Extension faculty.

The successful candidate will 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. Faculty are encouraged to participate in professional development activities related to teaching and advising and may teach courses and seminars.

Because of the IFAS land-grant mission, all faculty are expected to be supportive of and engaged in all three mission areas—Research, Teaching and Extension—regardless of the assignment split specified in the position description.

Background Information:

The Tropical Research and Education Center ( https://trec.ifas.ufl.edu/ ) in Homestead ( https://www.cityofhomestead.com/ ) is a branch of UF/IFAS. TREC is a 160-acre center with office, laboratory, greenhouse, teaching, and field plot facilities. Currently, there are 17 faculty members located at the center. TREC is located in Miami-Dade County about 30 miles south of metropolitan Miami.

Required:

A doctorate (foreign equivalent acceptable) in in plant science, horticulture, or a closely related discipline is required. Experience in and knowledge of the production, cultivation, and systematics of nursery/landscape plants is highly desirable. Candidates should have demonstrated skills in verbal and written communication, interpersonal relationships, and procurement of extramural funding. Candidates must be supportive of the mission of the Land-Grant system. Candidates must also have a commitment to IFAS core values of excellence, diversity, global involvement, and accountability.

Preferred:

Postdoctoral experience is desirable.

For full consideration, candidates should apply and submit additional materials by April 15, 2021. The position will remain open until a viable applicant pool is determined.

Nominations

Nominations are welcome. Nominations need to include the complete name and address of the nominee. This information should be sent to:

Please refer to Requisition # 70082

Dr. Bruce Schaffer

Chair, Search and Screen Committee

University of Florida

Tropical Research and Education Center

18905 S.W. 280 Street

Homestead, FL 33031

Telephone: (786) 217-9265

Facsimile: (305) 246-7003

Electronic Mail: bas56@ufl.edu

Application Information

  • Individuals wishing to apply should go online to http://apply.interfolio.com/84328 and submit:
    • Cover letter that states applicant’s interest in the position and qualifications relative to the credentials listed above
    • Curriculum vitae
    • Contact information (including email addresses) for 4 individuals willing to write letters of recommendation
    • Unofficial transcripts


Selected candidate will be required to provide an official transcript to the hiring department upon hire. A transcript will not be considered “official” if a designation of “Issued to Student” is visible. Degrees earned from an education institution outside of the United States are required to be evaluated by a professional credentialing service provider approved by National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) .

Hiring is contingent upon eligibility to work in the US. The University of Florida is a public institution and subject to all requirements under Florida Sunshine and Public Record laws.

The University of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Institution dedicated to building a broadly diverse and inclusive faculty and staff. The University and greater Gainesville community enjoy a diversity of cultural events, restaurants, year-round outdoor recreational activities, and social opportunities.

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The University of Florida is committed to non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations, genetic information and veteran status in all aspects of employment including recruitment, hiring, promotions, transfers, discipline, terminations, wage and salary administration, benefits, and training.

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