Assistant or Associate Professor – Plant Pathology

Job no: 534215
Work type: Tenure-Track Faculty
Location: Gadsden
Categories: Biology/Life Science, Agricultural Sciences
Department: 60770000 - AG-NFREC-QUINCY

Ast/Aso Prof

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), located at the North Florida Research and Education Center, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, at the University of Florida. The North Florida Research & Education Center (NFREC) is one of the largest and the most varied units of UF/IFAS, consisting of research and education campuses in Quincy, Marianna, and Live Oak, Florida. NFREC has faculty members representing 9 academic units, 5 emeritus faculty members and a dynamic population of post-doctoral associates, scientific/farm/administrative staff. This variety of faculty, staff and programs provides a unique setting for interdisciplinary work within the NFREC campuses, with colleagues on the main campus and with faculty at other Centers around the state. Tenure will accrue in the Department of Plant Pathology. This assignment may change in accordance with the needs of the unit, UF campus and with faculty at other Centers around the state.

The incumbent will develop an integrated research and Extension program in plant pathology supporting commercial specialty crop and ornamental production systems. Expertise in plant pathogen diagnosis and disease management is expected. Experience with traditional and molecular techniques for identification of plant pathogens, applied population genetics, and novel disease management strategies is preferred. It is expected that the successful candidate will develop an internationally recognized program while meeting the specific needs of the region. The successful candidate will serve as Director of the Plant Disease Diagnostic Lab at the NFREC and will function as part of a team at NFREC cooperating with horticultural scientists, plant pathologists, entomologists, plant physiologists, plant breeders, and related expertise as needed. The faculty member will actively seek contract and grant funding to support the program. Publication of impactful research in appropriate refereed journals is expected. Extension activities will include responding to current and emerging plant disease problems encountered by commercial producers. The incumbent is expected to be a resource for County Agents and Regional Specialized Agents across the Florida Panhandle and North Florida who work in specialty crops and ornamental production by providing regular In-Service Training, writing Extension documents, publishing in newsletters, etc. The incumbent will be expected to interact with stakeholders including producers, industry representatives, commodity groups, and other clientele to further the mission of UF-IFAS. The faculty member will be part of the Graduate Field of Plant Pathology and actively participate in graduate education by chairing and serving on graduate committees, and supervising thesis and dissertation research. Proactive student mentorship and publishing with students is expected.

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.

Background Information:

The North Florida Research & Education Center (NFREC) is one of the largest and most varied off-campus units of UF/IFAS, consisting of research and education campuses in Quincy, Live Oak, and Marianna, Florida. The NFREC-Quincy campus is a 1,021-acre research and education facility located in the Big Bend Region of Florida. Research programs are collaborative, with a system-based focus on cropping systems, beef/forage production systems, plant breeding systems, specialty crop systems and natural resource management systems. NFREC-Suwannee Valley (NFREC-SV) is located on 400 acres of land and is dedicated to serving researchers as well as beginning farmers and small & commercial growers in the Suwannee area region. Four Regional Specialized Extension Agent positions located at NFREC-SV serve Extension clientele throughout the NE Extension District. Research projects are carried out at this Center under direction of research faculty from Gainesville, NFREC-Quincy, NFREC-Marianna and others. Crop diversity (50 crops) and production systems (field & greenhouse) are featured at this Unit. NFREC-Marianna is a 1300 acre campus that focuses on agronomic and beef cattle research and education. It houses the Feed Efficiency program that is the largest of its kind researching subtropical cattle. The beef cattle research program deals with beef cattle production, genetics and breeding; and is the home of the Florida Bull Test facility. Another important component of this campus is the breeding and production programs in annual peanuts, bahia grass, perennial peanut and winter forages.

The Plant Pathology Department is the largest plant pathology program in the country, with more than 35 faculty members. Their expertise includes dozens of commodities and pathogen groups representative of the sub-tropical, tropical and temperate production systems in Florida. The department offers a comprehensive graduate training program and aggressively recruits top students from the U.S. and around the world.

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 doctorate (foreign equivalent acceptable) in plant pathology or a closely related discipline at the time of hire is required. Candidates that are ABD or earning their degree by May 2025 are welcome to apply.
• 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 .

• Postdoctoral experience and a strong background and knowledge of methods for identification of fungal, bacterial and viral pathogens.
• Evidence of ability to conduct independent and collaborative research in plant disease diagnostics technologies, applied population genetics, and disease management with practical applications in horticultural and/or ornamental systems.
• Experience in extension program development and working with growers, extension agents and other stakeholders
• Previous experience in Extension in a land-grant university setting
• Demonstrated ability to work in a multidisciplinary, collaborative team environment.

For full consideration, candidates should apply and submit materials by January 31, 2025. The position will remain open until a viable applicant pool is determined.

Employment Conditions

This position is available February 15, 2025, and will be filled as soon thereafter as an acceptable applicant is available. Compensation is commensurate with the education, experience, and qualifications of the selected applicant.

Nominations

Nominations are welcome. Nominations need to include the complete name and address of the nominee. Nominee information should be sent to:

Dr. Ian Small

Chair, Search and Screen Committee

University of Florida

North Florida Research and Education Center

155 Research Rd.

Quincy, FL, 32351

Telephone: 850-875-7120

Electronic Mail: ismall@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
• Curriculum vitae
• Research statement including previous and planned research (up to 2 pages)
• Extension statement (up to 2 pages)
• Contact information (including email addresses) for three individuals willing to write letters of recommendation from a professional perspective
• Unofficial transcripts

Selected candidates 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) .

The North Florida Research and Education Center in Quincy is situated about 20 miles west of Tallahassee, Florida. The area is rich in natural resources such as state parks, lakes, rivers, and forests and ranges from rural to metropolitan where a variety of cultural events, restaurants, and social opportunities are available to enjoy. The area is near to some of the Gulf Coast’s best beaches for swimming, fishing and boating.

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 Employment Opportunity Employer. The University is committed to non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations, genetic information, and veteran status in all aspects of employment including recruitment, hiring, promotion, transfers, discipline, terminations, wage and salary administration, benefits, and training. The University and greater Gainesville community enjoy a variety of cultural events, restaurants, year-round outdoor recreational activities, and social opportunities.

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 .