Assistant OR Associate Professor of Production Horticulture of Citrus and Other Tree Crops

Classification Title:

Ast/Aso Prof

Job Description:

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences at the University of Florida 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- OR 12-month tenure-accruing position that will be 60% research (Florida Agricultural Experiment Station) and 40% extension (Florida Cooperative Extension Service), available in the Indian River Research and Education Center (IRREC), Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, at the University of Florida. This assignment may change in accordance with the needs of the unit. Duties include developing a nationally and internationally recognized research and extension program in production horticulture of citrus and other tree crops. The research portion of this assignment should address the issues confronting citrus production on the flatwood soils in the Indian River area. Emphasis should be placed on discovering new or modified cultural or management practices (such as nutrient strategies, grove architecture, rootstocks/scions) that effectively enhance citrus production and management of pests and diseases (particularly citrus greening). Research and extension activities may also focus on physiology and production systems of other tree fruit crops relevant to the region. Tenure will accrue in the Department of Horticultural Sciences. The faculty member will seek contract and grant funding to support their research program. Communication of research results in appropriate peer-reviewed journals and scientific and trade publications is an essential requirement for this position. The successful candidate will be expected to interact closely with faculty in other disciplines at IRREC, including soil and water science, agricultural engineering, plant pathology, entomology, root biology, and postharvest physiology and handling. Likewise, the incumbent is expected to interact with scientists at other UF/IFAS centers, campus departments, the nearby USDA/ARS facilities, and other relevant state agencies.

Specific extension responsibilities include developing recommendations and programs to accomplish positive changes and assisting county Extension faculty in their citrus and other tree crop production-related extension programs. The appointee must be an active leader in the appropriate goals and focus teams and develop an effective advisory committee to insure appropriate program focus. The incumbent will function as a member of the statewide horticultural extension team with program emphasis in the Indian River area including St. Lucie, Indian River, Martin, Palm Beach, Okeechobee, and Brevard Counties.

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 the 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 Indian River Research and Education Center is a unit of the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) at the University of Florida and located on a 700-acre site west of Fort Pierce, St. Lucie County. Fort Pierce is located on the east coast of Florida, 50 miles north of West Palm Beach. The internationally recognized research center is in a major agricultural region in which nurseries, citrus, beef cattle, and vegetables are major industries. The IRREC is an interdisciplinary unit of the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station, the Florida Cooperative Extension Service, and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, all of which are administered by IFAS to serve the land-grant mission.

Expected Salary:

Commensurate with Experience and Education

Minimum Requirements:

Required:

A doctorate (foreign equivalent acceptable) in Horticultural Sciences or 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 Qualifications:

Preferred :

Postdoctoral experience and extensive training and expertise in citrus and other tree fruit crop physiology, production, and management, work with interdisciplinary teams, and skills with state-of-the-art tools are highly desirable.

Special Instructions to Applicants:

For full consideration, candidates should apply and submit materials by November 14, 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 Position # 00014620

Dr. Mark A. Ritenour

Chair, Search and Screen Committee

University of Florida

Indian River Research and Education Center

2199 South Rock Road

Ft. Pierce, FL 34945-3138

Telephone: 772-577-7359

Fax: 772-468-5668

ritenour@ufl.edu

Application Information

To ensure full consideration, please apply online and submit additional materials by November 14, 2022. Individuals wishing to apply should go online to https://explore.jobs.ufl.edu/en-us/job/519135 and submit:

• Cover letter that states applicant’s interest in the position, qualifications relative to the credentials listed above, teaching and research philosophies, and a diversity statement.
• Curriculum vitae
• Contact information (including email addresses) for 4 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.

Health Assessment Required:
No