JOB DESCRIPTION

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences 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 12-month tenure-accruing position that will be 70% research (Florida Agricultural Experiment Station) and 30% teaching (College of Agricultural and Life Sciences), available at the Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, at the University of Florida. This assignment may change in accordance with the needs of the unit. The incumbent will specialize in the study of plant-parasitic nematodes in South Florida and the Caribbean that cause disease to important horticultural and agricultural crops in the region and developing improved pest management options.  Involvement with south Florida stakeholders (growers and farmers) is expected. Our university affords the candidate opportunities to participate in interdisciplinary research with basic and applied nematologists, and specialists in entomology, plant pathology, horticulture, agronomy, and soil and water science, among others.  The faculty member will actively seek extramural funding to develop and support an internationally recognized program for plant-parasitic nematode management in tropical agriculture.   

For the teaching assignment, the successful candidate will be responsible for teaching NEM 5707 Plant Nematology as a distance course, and to develop and teach another course TBD based on the center and department’s needs and the candidates expertise.

The successful candidate will engage in scholarly activities related to instruction, including teaching undergraduate and/or graduate Plant Nematology, advising and mentoring undergraduate and graduate students, participating in curriculum revision and enhancement, seeking funding for the teaching program, supervising undergraduate and graduate research and creative work, publishing teaching-related scholarship, producing learning tools, and engaging in professional development activities related to teaching and advising.  Faculty are encouraged to support and participate in the CALS Honors Program, distance education, and international education.

The position will be located at the Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center, Institute of Food and Agriculture Sciences (IF AS), University of Florida, Davie, Florida. Tenure will accrue in the Entomology & Nematology Department.

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 Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center is a unit in the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) at the University of Florida and has diverse teaching, research and extension education programs with 13 faculty (http://flrec.ifas.ufl.edu).  Undergraduate and graduate degree programs are available at the Center.  The Center is a member of, and located in, the South Florida Education Center, a group of educational institutions consisting of county public schools, a public community college, public universities, and a private university.  Other agencies represented at the Center are the USDA-ARS Invasive Plant Research Laboratory, US Geological Survey, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and US Fish and Wildlife Service.  The Center is located in central Broward County, providing rich and diverse cultural opportunities, while also being minutes from the Everglades Ecosystem and the Atlantic Ocean.  The Department of Entomology and Nematology (http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/) has diverse teaching, research, and extension programs with 32 faculty members located on main campus in Gainesville (including 4 nematologists) and 38 faculty located at 12 Research and Education Centers throughout the state (with an additional 2 nematologists). 

JOB QUALIFICATIONS

Required - A doctorate (foreign equivalent acceptable) in nematology, plant pathology, or a closely related discipline. Candidates must demonstrate 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. Technical knowledge and skills in modern molecular techniques.

Preferred qualifications – teaching experience, experience with distance education technologies, postdoctoral experience.

INSTRUCTIONS

For full consideration, candidates should apply and submit additional materials by May 1st, 2021. 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 # 72157
Dr. Brian W. Bahder
Chair, Plant Nematologist Search and Screen Committee
University of Florida
Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center
3205 College Avenue
Davie, FL 33314

Telephone:                                 954.577.6300
Facsimile:                                   954.475.4125
Electronic Mail:                         bbahder@ufl.edu  

Application Information

Individuals wishing to apply should go online to http://apply.interfolio.com/85813  and submit:

• Cover letter that states applicant’s interest in the position and qualifications relative to the credentials listed above
• Statement of research plans
• Teaching and mentoring philosophy
• Diversity statement indicating how you will contribute to an inclusive institutional culture
• Curriculum vitae
• Names and contact information (email address and phone number) of three individuals who may be contacted to provide letters of recommendation

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.

Location:
Entomology & Nematology Department
University of Florida
Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS)
Gainesville, Florida 32611

Salary:
Commensurate with Qualifications and Experience

Review Date:
For full consideration, candidates should apply and submit additional materials by June 15, 2021.  The position will remain open until a viable applicant pool is determined.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences 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 12-month, permanent, lecture-track faculty position (non-tenure accruing) that will be 100% teaching in the Entomology and Nematology Department in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) within the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) at the University of Florida (UF) in Gainesville, Florida. The position will be academically housed in the Entomology and Nematology Department within IFAS and the nature of assignment may change in accordance with the evolving needs of the Department and IFAS.

The primary focus of this position will be to support a growing distance education program in Entomology and/or Nematology. The successful candidate will serve as primary contact for all successful applicants and major academic advisor for students enrolled in our on-line, non-thesis M.S. program and on-line graduate and undergraduate certificate programs. Advising non-thesis M.S. student in their capstone experiences is expected. The second, but equally important focus of the position will be teaching courses (two courses per year) that are core-requirements for our program in an on-line format. The successful candidate will enthusiastically develop and adopt innovative approaches to deliver meaningful experiential learning opportunities to on-line students and serve as a resource for other faculty delivering similar courses.

As part of their successful program, the successful candidate is encouraged to participate in scholarly activities related to instruction, including teaching undergraduate and/or graduate courses, participating in curriculum revision and enhancement, seeking funding for the teaching program, supervising undergraduate and graduate research and creative work, conducting and publishing teaching-related scholarship, producing learning tools, and engaging in professional development activities related to teaching and advising. The successful candidate will be expected to be entrepreneurial to facilitate the growth of the online programs, such as coordinating marketing efforts, streamlining student registrations, improving the online student experience, etc. 

UF/IFAS is a land-grant institution under which 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. 

Qualifications
Required:
A M.S. or Ph.D. degree (foreign equivalent acceptable) in entomology, nematology, biology, or a closely related discipline is required. Candidates should have demonstrated skills in verbal and written communication, and interpersonal relationships.  Meaningful teaching experience, ideally including experience with distance education is also required. Demonstrated commitment to working with and supporting a diverse students, either on-line, in person, or both. 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:
Preference will be given to individuals with one or more of the following: (1) online teaching experience, (2) student mentorship, leadership or advising potential, (3) experience in curriculum development, and/or (4) program evaluation. 

Background Information:
The Entomology & Nematology Department (http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/) is housed in the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (http://ifas.ufl.edu) with locations in Gainesville FL and around the state at Research and Education Centers. Our substantial undergraduate entomology program is dedicated to excellence in science education. Our graduate entomology program is one of the largest in the country with a variety of subject areas.  Non-thesis distance M.S. and on-line certificate programs are also an important component of our teaching efforts. Course offerings attract students in diverse majors from across colleges within the university.

 The University of Florida (http://www.ufl.edu) 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 (http://ifas.ufl.edu) includes the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (http://cals.ufl.edu), the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station (http://research.ifas.ufl.edu), the Florida Cooperative Extension Service (http://extension.ifas.ufl.edu), the College of Veterinary Medicine (http://www.vetmed.ufl.edu), the Florida Sea Grant program (http://www.flseagrant.org/ ), 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.

Employment Conditions
This position is available July 1, 2021, 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 # 7380
Dr. Jennifer Weeks
Chair, Search and Screen Committee
University of Florida
Entomology & Nematology Department
PO Box 110620
Gainesville, FL   32611
Telephone:                            352-273-3955
Facsimile:                             352-392-0190
Electronic Mail:                      jenweeks1@ufl.edu

Application Information
Individuals wishing to apply should go online to http://apply.interfolio.com/87161 and submit:

• Cover letter that states applicant’s interest in the position and qualifications relative to the credentials listed above
• Curriculum vitae
• A teaching/advising philosophy statement that describes previous in-person and online teaching and mentoring experience as well as specific teaching strengths and interests.
• A diversity statement indicating how previous experiences have prepared you to contribute to an inclusive institutional culture
• Contact information (including email addresses) for three individuals willing to write letters of recommendation
• Unofficial graduate 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.