Assistant Professor/Soil Scientist (71852)

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 12-month tenure-accruing position that will be 60% research (Florida Agricultural Experiment Station) and 40% extension (Florida Cooperative Extension Service), available in the Southwest Florida 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. The Soil Scientist position at the SWFREC is to provide a balance of research and extension activities relating to crop nutrition and water management of citrus and vegetable crops. Duties will include development of nutrient recommendations, fate of ground applied nutrients, and evaluation of soil test results. These research activities should provide solid science on which to evaluate the effectiveness of present nutrient and irrigation best management practices (BMPs) and to determine the need for additional BMPs to be implemented in the future. A demonstrated ability to use crop plant growth and production models and interact with AI faculty to calibrate models and improve the ability of models to decribe the soil/plant/atmosphere continum as an approach to crop nutreint recommendations is prefered but not required. The overall goal of the program will be the maintenance of the ecological balance between efficient agricultural production and protecting natural areas. Extension program will provide stakeholders with the latest nutrient and water management information through grower meeting, workshops, trade journal articles, websites, publications, and field demonstrations.

Tenure will accrue in the Soil and Water Sciences Department. The faculty member will participate actively in undergraduate and graduate education by chairing graduate committees, serving on graduate committees, supervising thesis and dissertation research, supervising undergraduate research, and publishing the results with their graduate students in refereed journals. The faculty member will aggresively seek contract and grant funding to support their program. The faculty member will engage in extension activities in their program area.

Faculty are encouraged to participate in professional development activities related to teaching and advising and may teach courses and present 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 Southwest Florida Research and Education Center (SWFREC) is located one mile north of Immokalee and approximately 35 miles southeast of Fort Myers, Florida. Florida’s Gulf Coastline, located within 40 miles from the REC, has internationally recognized tourism destinations (Sanibel, Captiva, and Marco Islands Beaches). SWFREC supports twelve faculty programs and a staff of more than 90 people. Active research programs in vegetable production, water management, crop nutrition, pest management, plant pathology, agricultural economics, and citrus horticulture occur on 320 acres of land at SWFREC. The faculty and staff of SWFREC serve a vibrant commercial agricultural region.

Southwest Florida REC is situated at the intersection of agricultural, urban, environmental interests within the iconic landscapes of Everglades and Big Cypress National Preserve. Farm gate sales for the region average more than 1 billion dollar each year. The region has intensive production in citrus, beef cattle, fresh market vegetables, and sugarcane. The area has a unique blend of agriculture, a rapidly growing urban area, and protected ecosystems. Agriculture in the region faces environmental challenges including water supply and quality and competes with ever-increasing land values.

Required:

A doctorate (foreign equivalent acceptable) in Soil and Water Sciences or a closely related discipline is required. Candidates should have demonstrated skills in verbal and written communication, interpersonal relationships. Demonstrated procurement of extramural funding is preferred. 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 June 1, 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 # 71852

Andrew Ogram, PhD

Chair, Search and Screen Committee

University of Florida

PO Box 11020

Gainesville, FL. 32611-0290

Telephone: 352.294.3138

Facsimile: 352.392.3399

Electronic Mail: aogram@ufl.edu

Application Information

• Individuals wishing to apply should go online to http://apply.interfolio.com/85521 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 for graduate studies

Final candidate will be required to provide 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), which can be found at http://www.naces.org/ .

The University of Florida is an equal opportunity institution dedicated to building a broadly diverse and inclusive faculty and staff.

The University of Florida is An Equal Employment Opportunity Institution. 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). Hiring is contingent upon eligibility to work in the US. Searches are conducted in accordance with Florida's Sunshine Law.

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