Ast/Aso Prof

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.

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 tenure-accruing position that will be 40% research (Florida Agricultural Experiment Station) and 60% Extension (Florida Cooperative Extension Service), available in the North Florida Research and Education Center (NFREC), Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, at the University of Florida. Tenure will accrue in the Agronomy Department. This assignment may change in accordance with the needs of the unit. The NFREC is one of the largest and the most diverse units of UF/IFAS, consisting of research and education campuses in Quincy, Marianna, and Live Oak, Florida. NFREC has faculty members representing 8 academic departments and the School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences, 5 emeritus faculty members and a dynamic population of graduate students, post-doctoral associates, and 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 UF campus and faculty at other Centers around the state.

The incumbent is expected to develop a dynamic integrated research and Extension program focusing on the primary agronomic cropping systems in North Florida including peanut, cotton, corn, and soybean.  This requires integral knowledge of whole plant response to agronomic practices from planting until harvest, as well as developing good understanding of off-season management options. Expertise in variety selection, planting methods and rates, irrigation, and cropping systems are essential for the successful candidate. Activities dealing with optimizing crop management and production, digital agriculture, alternative rotational and emerging crops, winter crops, and integrated crop livestock systems are potential research and Extension avenues. Future-focused skills in the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and/or machine learning to collect and integrate agronomic and environmental data towards specific objectives including the investigation of advanced technologies for optimization of crop inputs and cropping systems are encouraged. The incumbent is expected to develop an internationally recognized program while meeting the specific needs of the region. The successful candidate will develop collaborative projects with supporting UF/IFAS research and Extension faculty located at main campus and across North Florida including agronomists, plant pathologists, entomologists, breeders, economists, and scientists in water quality, soil science, as needed. The faculty member will actively seek contract and grant funding to support his/her program. The significant appointment in Extension means that the incumbent is expected to participate in Florida’s Cooperative Extension Strategic Initiatives and become a strong leader and resource for County Agents and Regional Specialized Agents across Florida’s northern tier who work in agronomic crops, by providing regular In-Service Training, writing Extension documents (EDIS articles), 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 UF/IFAS mission.

The successful candidate will participate actively in undergraduate and graduate education by chairing and serving on graduate student 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 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 Agronomy, Crop Science or a closely related discipline is required.  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 is desirable.
• Previous experience in Extension in a land-grant university setting
• Demonstrated ability to develop a robust educational program for stakeholder groups including the use of traditional and multimedia tools.
• An established network of collaborators in other states in agronomic crop systems.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a multidisciplinary, collaborative team environment.

For full consideration, candidates should apply and submit materials by November 27, 2026. The position will remain open until a viable applicant pool is determined.

Employment Conditions

This position is available February 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. Nominee information should be sent to:

Please refer to Requisition # 541509

Dr. Cheryl Mackowiak

Chair, Search and Screen Committee

University of Florida

North Florida Research and Education Center

155 Research Rd.

Quincy, FL 32351

Telephone:                               850-875-7126

Electronic Mail:                      echo13@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
• Contact information (including email addresses) for three individuals willing to write letters of recommendation from a professional perspective
• 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. NFREC-Quincy is situated about 20-30 minutes’ drive west of Tallahassee, Florida. The area is rich in natural resources, such as state parks, lakes, rivers, and forests. Entertainment and housing options range from rural to metropolitan with many events, restaurants, and social opportunities available. The area is near to some of the Gulf Coast’s best beaches for swimming, fishing and boating.