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Assistant Professor – Weed Scientist
Description of Duties
The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is creating an environment that affirms community across all dimensions. We particularly welcome applicants who can contribute to such an environment through their scholarship, teaching, mentoring, and professional service. 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) at the West Florida Research and Education Center, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, at the University of Florida in Jay, FL. This assignment may change in accordance with the needs of the unit. Tenure will accrue in the Agronomy Department.
The successful candidate will develop a nationally and internationally recognized, externally funded research and extension programs in weed science emphasizing agronomic field, forage, and emerging crops (e.g., specialty and bioenergy). Expertise in conducting applied field and controlled environment research is essential. Candidate will be expected to develop integrated weed management strategies based on sound understanding of weed biology and ecology; that incorporates chemical, cultural, and mechanical tactics. Expected areas of research include managing herbicide resistant, invasive, and/or difficult to control weed species; developing and evaluating new or novel technologies for weed management such as cutting-edge smart sprayer technologies powered by artificial intelligence tailored to address the distinct challenges of the area; developing new and improved integrated weed management strategies in response to climate change; maximizing crop yields to feed a growing population, and developing integrated weed management techniques for production agriculture.
The faculty member will participate actively in graduate education by chairing graduate committees, serving on graduate committees, supervising thesis and dissertation research, supervising undergraduate research, and publishing results with their graduate students. The faculty member will actively seek contract and grant funding to support their program, including operational costs, technical support, and equipment. The faculty member will develop a comprehensive extension program with measurable objectives and well-defined impacts in the weed science program area and work with other IFAS specialists and county faculty to deliver extension programs to target audiences using field days, clientele meetings, newsletters, EDIS (Electronic Data Information System) publications, and other electronic media. The successful candidate will actively participate in the Extension Focus Team related to weed management.
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.
Required:Applicant must possess or have completed all the requirements for a Ph.D. (foreign equivalent acceptable) in Weed Science or a closely related discipline. 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 UF core values of excellence, discovery & innovation, inclusion, freedom & civility, community, and stewardship. Candidates must be able to work on interdisciplinary team projects and to work with diverse audiences. Preferred:Postdoctoral experience is desirable. Interest and experience in international dimensions of weed science is desirable.
Type of position
Tenure-Track Faculty
Salary
Commensurate with Education and Experience
Benefits
Benefits information can be found here: https://jobs.ufl.edu/#benefits
Location
4253 Experiment Drive Hwy. 182, Jay, FL 32565,
Closing Date
03/01/2024
Date Position Available
01/06/2024
University of Florida, IFAS
The University of Florida is a Land-Grant, Sea-Grant, and Space-Grant institution, encompassing virtually all academic and professional disciplines, with an enrollment of more than 56,000 students. UF is a member of The Association of American Universities. The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences includes the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station, the Florida Cooperative Extension Service, the College of Veterinary Medicine, the Florida Sea Grant program, and encompasses 16 on-campus academic departments and schools, 12 Research and Educational Centers (REC) located throughout the state, 6 Research sites/demonstration units administered by RECs or academic departments, and Florida Cooperative Extension Service offices in all 67 counties (counties operate and maintain). The School of Natural Resources and Environment is an interdisciplinary unit housed in IFAS and managed by several colleges on campus. UF/IFAS employs nearly 4,500 people, which includes approximately 990 salaried faculty and 1,400 permanent support personnel located in Gainesville and throughout the state. IFAS, one of the nation’s largest agricultural and natural resources research and education organizations, is administered by a Vice President and four deans: the Dean of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, the Dean for Extension and Director of the Florida Cooperative Extension Service, the Dean for Research and Director of the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station, and the Dean for the College of Veterinary Medicine. UF/IFAS also engages in cooperative work with Florida A&M University in Tallahassee.
This position is part of the UF/IFAS West Florida Research and Education Center located northeast of Pensacola, Florida. The faculty member will be located at the Jay Research Facility. This 640 acre research unit is located about 12 miles north of Milton near Jay, FL. Research is conducted in cropping systems, weed science, golf and sports turf management, landscape and nursery management, forestry, and wildlife ecology. In addition to the Jay Research Facility, the center has an off-campus undergraduate academic program that is a collaborative effort between the University of Florida, Pensacola State College (PSC) and the University of West Florida. This unique academic program, located at the PSC campus in Milton (approximately 20 miles northeast of Pensacola, FL), allows students to pursue a B.S. degree in Natural Resource Conservation or Plant Sciences.
WFREC faculty and staff are dedicated to interdisciplinary research, extension and teaching programs that meet the needs of local clientele with statewide, nationwide as well as global impacts. The location of WFREC allows families to enjoy the advantages of rural living while being within minutes of Pensacola, one of Florida’s major cities, Gulf of Mexico beaches; and extensive public forest lands and rivers.