Postdoctoral Associate - Soil Health Project

Classification Title:

Postdoc Aso

Job Description:

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 .

Faculty in the Soil and Water Sciences Department at the University of Florida are seeking a qualified, motivated postdoctoral research associate to work on an exciting, multidisciplinary, grant project titled “Integrating cover crops for improving soil health into commercial crop production in Florida”. The overall goal of this project is to determine suitable physical, chemical and biological parameters to asses status and improvements in soil health at the research and commercial farms at two locations in Florida.

The project team is led by Dr. Mylavarapu et. al. This position will have two primary areas of responsibility: 1) Implement and successfully complete studies on the field production sites as per the design and layout, collect timely soil and plant samples at both north and south Florida locations and organize for analyses, with the help of other staff and student employees in the Lab; and 2) assist the staff biologist with microbial analyses, including qPCR of functional genes and 16S rRNA amplicon sequence analysis, on the samples in the Lab. Adequate training and support will be provided for all activities; however, prior experience with sequence analysis is desirable. The postdoctoral associate will also analyze the data, prepare and submit the quarterly and final reports timely to the funding agency, preparation of manuscripts for journals and outreach, participate in project meetings.

In addition to the opportunity to work in this novel multidisciplinary collaboration, the postdoctoral fellow will have many opportunities for personal and professional growth including attendance at a state level conference, meetings with producers, state agencies and other extension clientele. The postdoctoral associate will be located on the main campus in Gainesville and will have several opportunities to interact with faculty from many disciplines and Departments and students.

This position is expected to begin immediately and is renewable annually for up to two years of postdoctoral support.

Expected Salary:

Commensurate with Education and Experience

Minimum Requirements:

A doctorate (foreign equivalent acceptable) is required.

Preferred Qualifications:

Prior experience with sequence analysis is desirable. Experience with managing field studies and amplicon sequence analysis are desirable.

Special Instructions to Applicants:

Application must be submitted by 11:55 p.m. (ET) of the posting end date.

Individuals wishing to apply should go online to https://explore.jobs.ufl.edu/en-us/job/519089 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 3 individuals willing to write letters of recommendation

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.

Health Assessment Required: No