Entomology And Nematology Department

Employment Opportunities

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Notice of Public Meeting, Hearing or Workshop (1)

FACULTY

Assistant/Associate/Full Professor of Apiculture
Classification Minimum Requirements:
Candidates for this rank shall hold the highest degree appropriate to their field. A candidate shall be expected to demonstrate successful experience pertinent to the position they are being recommended and have demonstrated qualities relevant to the goals of the academic unit in which they will be employed.

Job Description:
The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is creating an environment that affirms community across all dimensions. 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 tenured or tenure-accruing position that will be 70% research (Florida Agricultural Experiment Station) and 30% Extension (Florida Cooperative Extension Service), available in the Entomology and Nematology Department, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, at the University of Florida based in Gainesville. This assignment may change in accordance with the needs of the unit. Tenure will accrue in the Entomology and Nematology Department. The faculty member will seek contract and grant funding actively to support their program. The faculty member will engage in Extension activities in their program area.

Expected Duties
Assigned research responsibilities include developing an internationally recognized, collaborative research program focused on honey bees that integrates basic and applied research to address critical challenges facing apiculture and deliver practical solutions that benefit the beekeeping industry. The successful candidate is expected to establish a strong, extramurally funded research program and disseminate findings through publications in high-impact, peer-reviewed journals. Research areas may include, but are not limited to, honey bee husbandry, nutrition, queen health and resilience, pests and pathogens, epidemiology, environmental stressors, behavior, and other aspects of honey bee biology, health, and management.

Extension responsibilities will be the development of a targeted Extension program related to the appropriate field of expertise. This will include 1) conducting need assessments of specific target audiences (beekeepers, government entities etc.) and using the information gathered to develop learning tools, and activities that meet the identified needs; 2) evaluation of the impacts of the Extension programs to facilitate program adjustment and satisfy reporting requirements. Cooperation with beekeeping organizations, county Extension faculty, Florida agricultural industries, and the Florida Department of Agriculture is expected.

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 successful candidate will be housed in the Honey Bee Research and Extension Laboratory (HBREL), adjacent to Steinmetz Hall, home to the University of Florida Entomology and Nematology Department. HBREL is comprised of dedicated facilities totaling over 16,000 sq. ft. that include the main building (office space for 25, dedicated instructional laboratory, extension wing, containment facility for in vitro rearing of honey bees on royal jelly), a support facility, honey house, teaching pavilion and apiary. Programs coordinated by HBREL include UF/IFAS Bee College, the UF/IFAS Master Beekeeper Program, and Two Bees in a Podcast.

The Entomology & Nematology Department has 73 faculty with locations in Gainesville FL and around the state at Research and Education Centers. Our undergraduate and graduate entomology programs are both among the largest in the country with a variety of subject areas and include numerous apiculture-related courses . Non-thesis distance M.S. and on-line certificate programs are also an important component of our teaching efforts. Course offerings attract students in a variety of majors from across colleges within the university.

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.

Expected Salary:
Commensurate with Experience and Education
We Offer Exceptional Benefits

Required Qualifications:
- A doctorate (foreign equivalent acceptable) in Entomology or a closely related discipline.
- Evidence of collaborative research
- Strong publication record
- Experience in apiculture
- Demonstrated ability to procure extramural research funding for appointment at the Associate and Full Professor rank
- Demonstrated skills in verbal and written communication
- Supportive of the mission of the Land-Grant system.
- A commitment to UF core values.
Preferred:
- Postdoctoral experience is desirable for appointment at the Assistant Professor rank
- Demonstrated ability to procure extramural research funding for appointment at the Assistant Professor rank
- Experience mentoring graduate and undergraduate students
- Experience with Extension programs
- Experience working with beekeepers
Special Instructions to Applicants:

For full consideration, candidates should apply and submit materials by September 14, 2026. Applications may be reviewed as they are received. The position will remain open until a viable applicant pool is determined.

Employment Conditions
This position is available July 1, 2027 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. This information should be sent to:

Please refer to Requisition # 540759
Dr. Bryony Bonning
Chair, Search and Screen Committee
University of Florida, IFAS
Entomology and Nematology Department
1881 Natural Area Drive
Gainesville, FL 32611-0620
Telephone: 352-273-3984
Facsimile: 352-392-0190
Electronic Mail: bbonning@ufl.edu

Application Information
- Individuals wishing to apply should go online to Careers at UF and submit:
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 and greater Gainesville community enjoy a variety of cultural events, restaurants, year-round outdoor recreational activities, and social opportunities.

POSTDOCTORAL POSITIONS

Harnessing Microbiomes to Develop Novel Insect Attractants

The Wong Laboratory in the Department of Entomology and Nematology at the University of Florida invites applications for a postdoctoral researcher to join our interdisciplinary research program investigating how insect-associated microbiomes shape host behavior and how these interactions can be harnessed to develop novel semiochemical-based tools for pest monitoring and management.

Our research seeks to identify microbial-derived chemical signals that modulate insect behavior by integrating microbiome science, chemical ecology, insect behavior, analytical chemistry, and molecular biology. We combine basic research of insect-microbe interactions with translational research to develop microbial-based attractants and repellents for the management of economically important agricultural pests.

The successful candidate will lead a USDA-funded project to develop microbial-based attractants for screwworm flies, while also contributing to broader research initiatives on other agricultural pests, including spotted-wing drosophila, stink bugs, and other invasive insects.

Minimum qualifications:
• Ph.D. in Entomology, Microbiology, Chemical Ecology, Molecular Biology, or a closely related field.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary research environment.
• Proficient in experimental design, statistical analysis, and scientific writing.

Preferred qualifications:
Experience in one or more of the following areas is desirable:
• Insect behavior and behavioral assay optimization.
• Volatile chemical analysis using GC-MS and/or LC-MS.
• Microbial isolation, culturing, or microbiome research.

Salary: $59,000 plus fringe benefits.

Start date: Flexible.

Duration: Two-year, with the possibility of renewal based on performance and funding availability.

To apply, please submit a CV and a cover letter in pdf files to Dr. Adam CN Wong (adamcnwong@ufl.edu) with the subject line “Postdoc application: microbiome". Please include the contact information of at least two references familiar with your work.

The University of Florida is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. We welcome nominations of and applications from anyone who would bring additional dimensions to the university's research, teaching and extension mission, including women, members of minority groups, protected veterans, and individuals with disabilities.

GRADUATE ASSISTANTSHIPS AND FELLOWSHIPS

Graduate Research Assistant – Ph.D. Student Position Opening Molecular Nematode Interactions
Position Summary:
The newly established multidisciplinary Plant-Nematode-Microbe interactions laboratory at University of Florida is looking for its first ever graduate student.

We are seeking a highly motivated student to work on deciphering molecular bases of plant-nematode-microbe interactions. The student will use molecular biology, biochemistry and computational techniques to decipher the dynamics of nematode interactions with plants, microbes and other nematodes. This Ph.D. position is hosted by the department of Entomology and Nematology at University of Florida, Gainesville.

Expected Start Date: Summer 2026

Minimum Qualifications:
- A research-based master’s degree with a strong record of research publication in – Molecular Biology/ Plant Biology and Physiology/ Plant Pathology/ Biochemistry/ Microbiology/ Ecology/ Nematology or any other relevant major.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills in English.
- Ability to lead and be led to work with other team members as required.
- Aptitude to work in both greenhouse and in laboratory settings performing in vitro and in silico analyses.
Application Process:
Applicants should submit the following materials to Dr. Rajendran via email only (deepakrajendran@ufl.edu):
1. 3-page Curriculum vitae (CV) / Resume with a clear publication record.
2. Unofficial transcripts for all the University degrees earned.
3. 1-page Personal statement outlining candidate’s interests and how they fit in the program.
4. 1-page Research statement outlining candidate’s research interests relevant to the lab (deepakhaarith.com) – potential projects and research questions to explore.
5. TOEFL or IELTS test scores (for international applicants). GRE scores are not required but preferred.
6. Contact information of at least 3 references.
Deadline:
All applications need to be sent in via email only (deepakrajendran@ufl.edu) by 30th of September 2025 4 p.m. EST (GMT -06:00h).A short-list of candidates will be invited for an online interview by the 31st of October 2025. For any questions or clarifications, please email Dr. Deepak Rajendran.

STAFF POSITIONS

Currently there are no staff openings

Currently there are no staff openings

OPS POSITIONS

OPS Research Assistant
DEPARTMENT: Entomology and Nematology, University of Florida

SUMMARY OF POSITION ROLE/RESPONSIBILITIES:
We are looking for a Research Assistant to join our research team (Adam CN Wong’s lab):

Key responsibilities include:
- Maintain insect (especially Drosophila) colonies in the lab.
- Conduct insect behavioral assays, including the use of a video tracking system and olfactometers
- Perform DNA/RNA isolation from insect tissues for high throughput sequencing.
- Perform bacterial and fungal culturing.
- Make axenic and gnotobiotic
The position is available immediately, but the exact start date is negotiable. Training will be provided.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS OF THE POSITION
Excellent time management and communication skills, organized, a good team player.

Minimum qualifications:
Bachelor degree in entomology, biology, microbiology, molecular biology, biology or closely related fields.

EMPLOYMENT TYPE AND SALARY
OPS. Full-time (part-time will be considered but no less than 20h/week).
$15-21/h depending on qualifications and experience.

To inquire/apply:

Email adamcnwong@ufl.edu for more information. To apply, please submit a CV and at least two reference contacts.