Assistant Professor of Specialty Crop and Ornamental Plant Breeding

Assistant Professor of Specialty Crop and Ornamental Plant Breeding

Job no : 536523

Work type : Tenure-Track Faculty

Location : Orange

Categories : Biology / Life Science, Agricultural Sciences

Department : 60870000 - AG-MREC-APOPKA

Classification Title : Ast 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.

Overview

This is a 12-month tenure-accruing position that will be 80% Research (Florida Agricultural Experiment Station) and 20% Extension (UF / IFAS), at the Mid-Florida 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. Tenure will accrue in the Department of Horticultural Sciences.

Responsibilities

• Develop an extramurally funded, nationally-recognized research and extension program emphasizing breeding of specialty and ornamental crops. The program will use both traditional and advanced methods for improving quality traits, abiotic and biotic stress resistance, and improving aesthetic quality of crops through consumer-friendly precision breeding and / or other similar genetic techniques. The program will focus on developing specialty crops that can be grown in greenhouse or other types of protected culture. As appropriate, the incumbent may also work on fruit crops.
• Integrate into the existing genetic program emphasizing precision breeding and environmental crop tissue and cell culture programs and be expected to work in partnership with other inter- and intradepartmental faculty members as well as lead industry groups to develop a competitive research program. The incumbent is expected to collaborate with horticulturists, entomologists, plant pathologists, geneticists and plant breeders, to develop horticulturally desirable end-products for consumers.
• Obtain extramurally funded support for the breeding program and graduate students. This faculty member will participate in UF / IFAS Extension programming through the development and teaching of extension materials for outreach to Florida stakeholders. The faculty member is expected to publish research and extension results in national and international refereed and non-refereed journals.
• Participate actively in graduate education by chairing and serving on graduate committees, supervising thesis and dissertation research, and publishing results with students. The faculty member will actively seek contract and grant funding to support the program. Involvement in national and international professional societies 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 specified in the position description.

Background at UF / IFAS

The UF / IFAS Mid-Florida Research and Education Center (MREC) in Apopka, Florida is one of 12 UF / IFAS Research and Education Centers. Located in the heart of Florida (just north of Orlando), the MREC is a center for research, teaching, and extension programs. The Horticultural Sciences Department at the University of Florida has a variety of research, teaching, and extension programs located at the Gainesville campus and across the state. Program focus areas within the department include : Plant Physiology and Biochemistry; Plant Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology; Crop Production and Management; Postharvest Biology and Technology; Organic and Sustainable Horticulture; and Weed Science.

Commensurate with Education and Experience

Required Qualifications

Special Instructions to Applicants

For full consideration, candidates should apply and submit materials by September 5, 2025. 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 :

Chair, Search and Screen Committee

University of Florida

Mid-Florida REC

Phone : (407) 884-2034

Fax : (407) 814-6186

Please refer to Requisition # 536523

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 of Florida is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.

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.

Health Assessment Required : No

Advertised : 22 Jul 2025 Eastern Daylight Time

Applications close : Open until filled

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