Assistant/Associate/Full Professor of Plant Virology (85157)

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 20% teaching (College of Agricultural and Life Sciences), 80% research (Florida Agricultural Experiment Station) available in the Department of Plant Pathology, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS), at the University of Florida. The position can be filled at the assistant/associate/full professor level, depending on qualifications. This assignment may change in accordance with the needs of the unit. The successful candidate is expected to establish an independent, nationally, and internationally recognized extramurally funded research program in plant virology.

Viral genetics, evolution and ecology are foundational to pathogen emergence, vector relationships, host range, and the stability of host resistance. Plant viruses are causing devastating losses to food crops worldwide, but development of new disease management strategies are limited by our understanding of evolutionary and ecological aspects of virus-plant interactions. If you are excited about addressing forward-looking questions in plant virus systems and contributing to food security, please consider applying for this position. This is an opportunity to develop or grow a research program using high-throughput genotyping and enhanced computational tools at a university heavily invested in computational and AI resources. Research that addresses questions in evolutionary epidemiology, host resistance, pathogen virulence, evolution and emerging diseases, and genotypic and phenotypic adaption are of interest. Research that will contribute to prediction or management of plant virus pandemics or emerging pathogens is highly desirable.

Experience in systems virology, evolutionary molecular genetics, systems modeling, genotype to phenotype mapping or similar computational approaches is necessary. The successful candidate is expected to establish or grow a nationally and internationally recognized extramurally funded research program. In addition to establishing a productive research program, the candidate is also expected to engage in scholarly activity related to teaching, including mentoring graduate and undergraduate students, and teaching graduate or undergraduate courses.

The position is located in Gainesville and tenure will accrue in the Department of Plant Pathology. The faculty member will participate actively in undergraduate and graduate education by chairing and serving on graduate committees, supervising thesis and dissertation research, supervising undergraduate research, and publishing the results with their graduate students. The faculty member will seek contract and grant funding actively to support their program. The faculty member will engage in Extension activities in their program area.

The successful candidate will have access to advanced AI-focused computing resources and extensive computational support through the UF Research Computing and NVIDIA https://news.ufl.edu/2021/01/-nvidia-supercomputer-/ . There are opportunities for collaboration in initiative computational and modeling efforts across the university and in the department. The university boasts a large group of virologists across several colleges. Core facilities within UF’s Interdisciplinary Center for Biotechnology Research (ICBR) contain equipment and expertise for bioinformatics, proteomics, mass spectrometry, metabolomics, electron microscopy, cytometry, DNA sequencing, and gene expression analyses.

Teaching is a highly valued activity and there are opportunities to develop a creative and impactful teaching program. The successful candidate will engage in scholarly activities related to instruction, including teaching undergraduate and/or graduate courses, advising and mentoring undergraduate and graduate students, participating in curriculum revision and enhancement, seeking funding for the teaching program, supervising undergraduate and graduate research and creative work, publishing teaching-related scholarship, producing learning tools, and engaging in professional development activities related to teaching and advising. Faculty are encouraged to support and participate in the CALS Honors Program, distance education, and international education.

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 Department of Plant Pathology ( http://plantpath.ifas.ufl.edu ) at the University of Florida is one of the largest in the US, with over 30 faculty located in Gainesville and at eight Research and Education Centers around the state. We have broad expertise in microbial and plant genetics and genomics, as well as disease diagnostics and management. There is a substantial graduate program with 50 – 60 graduate students and an extensive graduate curriculum. Collaboration across departments and colleges is the norm and department values are collaborative, diverse, and inclusive.

Required:

A doctorate (foreign equivalent acceptable) in plant pathology, molecular biology, ecology, molecular genetics, or a closely related discipline is required. 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:

Relevant postdoctoral experience is expected.

For full consideration, candidates should apply and submit additional materials by January 3, 2022. 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 # 85157

Svetlana Folimonova

Chair, Search and Screen Committee

University of Florida

Department of Plant Pathology

PO Box 110680

Gainesville, FL 32611-0680

Telephone: 352.273.4655

Facsimile: 352.392.6532

Electronic Mail: svetlana@ufl.edu

Application Information

Individuals wishing to apply should go online to http://apply.interfolio.com/97196 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 five individuals willing to write letters of recommendation
• Unofficial transcripts

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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