Ast Prof

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is committed to creating an environment of inclusive excellence that affirms diversity across a variety of dimensions, including ability, class, ethnicity/race, gender identity and expression. Inclusive excellence is the active process of including and respecting everyone as we strive for excellence and equitable outcomes in all we do at the University of Florida. 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 with an 80% research (Florida Agricultural Experiment Station) and 20% extension (Florida Cooperative Extension Service) appointment, available at the University of Florida’s Gulf Coast Research and Education Center (GCREC).  The assignment may change in accordance with the needs of IFAS and the unit. Tenure will accrue in the Horticultural Sciences Department.  The appointee will develop an independent, nationally recognized tomato breeding and genetics program with an emphasis on creating cultivars that have outstanding yield, horticultural characteristics, flavor, and disease and pest resistance.  The appointee will conduct the research program with strong extramural funding, and is expected to publish research in peer-reviewed journals and participate in the graduate education program.  The appointee will partner with the nationally established UF tomato breeding program (which has focused on long term, high risk problems) to efficiently move valuable germplasm into finished cultivars which would include all types of commercially-grown tomatoes.  This position is part of a statewide team of research and extension faculty members whose goal is to maintain and enhance the viability of the Florida tomato industry.  Tomato is the most important vegetable crop in Florida and the Florida industry produces about 50% of all tomatoes harvested in the U.S. for the fresh market.  Extension duties include training of extension agents, commercial growers, and other industry workers through participation in formal extension programs, personal contacts, newsletter articles, fact sheets, and the GCREC website focusing on tomato variety selection and evaluation. The appointed will participate actively in 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.

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 research 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 Gulf Coast Research & Education Center, a unit in the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) at the University of Florida, is located about 20 miles southeast of the greater Tampa metropolitan area.  The center serves one of the most important tomato production regions in the U.S.  GCREC facilities include a new $16 million complex of offices, labs, walk-in growth rooms, and greenhouses situated on 475 acres available for field trials.  GCREC’s main building has a 500-seat auditorium and workspace for 20 faculty and their support staff and graduate students. 

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.

Commensurate with Education and Experience

A Ph.D. (foreign equivalent acceptable) in Plant Breeding and/or Genetics, or in Horticulture or Agronomy with a specialization in plant breeding, is required.  Experience with tomatoes and cultivar development is desirable, as is experience in the use of molecular markers to screen for traits of economic importance.  Candidates should have demonstrated skills in verbal and written communication, working cooperatively with others, and procurement of extramural funding.  Candidates must be supportive of all three functions of the Land-Grant mission and have a commitment to IFAS' core values of excellence, diversity, global involvement, and accountability.  

Postdoctoral experience is desirable. Experience and familiarity with tomato breeding and the fresh market tomato industry in the eastern U.S. is especially desirable. Experience with developing and utilizing genomics methods and approaches in plant breeding is preferred.    

For full consideration, candidates should apply and submit materials by July 20, 2023.   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 # 527350

Gary Vallad

Chair, Search and Screen Committee

University of Florida

Gulf Coast Research and Education Center

14625 CR 672

Wimauma, FL 33598

Telephone:                               813-419-6577

Electronic Mail:                      gvallad@ufl.edu

Application Information

• Individuals wishing to apply should go online to Careers at UF and submit:
• Cover letter that states applicant’s interest in the position and qualifications relative to the credentials listed above, and a long-term vision for the breeding program
• Curriculum vitae
• Contact information (including email addresses) for three individuals willing to write letters of recommendation.
• Unofficial transcripts

Selected candidate will be required to provide an 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) .

Hiring is contingent upon eligibility to work in the US. The University of Florida is a public institution and subject to all requirements under Florida Sunshine and Public Record laws.

The University of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Institution dedicated to building a broadly diverse and inclusive faculty and staff. The University and greater Gainesville community enjoy a diversity of cultural events, restaurants, year-round outdoor recreational activities, and social opportunities.