Assistant/Associate Professor – Forage Breeding/Genetics

Job Description

Classification Title: Ast/Aso Prof

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, tenure-accruing position that is 70% research (Florida Agricultural Experiment Station) and 30% Extension (Florida Cooperative Extension Service), available at the North Florida Research and Education Center - Marianna, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. 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 7 academic departments and the School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences, 3 emeritus faculty members (still active in research at NFREC) 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 UF campus and with faculty at other Centers around the state. Tenure will accrue in the Agronomy Department. This assignment may change in accordance with the needs of the unit. The UF IFAS Forage Team, considered one of the best nationwide, is an integrated research, teaching, and Extension group of Agronomy faculty with collaborative efforts extending across IFAS units.

Responsibilities in this position will include the development of a forage breeding program to develop and release forage species and cultivars that help address biotic and abiotic stresses, seasonal distribution of forage production, biological dinitrogen fixation, seed production, and overall fitness of forage germplasm for Florida and the Southeast U.S. production and livestock systems. The program should include laboratory and field activities using novel breeding technologies. The faculty member will actively seek external funding to support their program. The faculty member will develop an Extension program within their expertise, including efforts aimed at enhancing producer adoption of new and existing forage cultivars within the scope of best management practices that protect natural resources. The faculty member is expected to collaborate with stakeholders, especially those in the Florida Cattlemen's Association, aligning the research and Extension programs with the priorities of the allied industry. This program should also collaborate with the cropping systems/agronomy/integrated crop-livestock systems program at UF.

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, as well as may teach courses and seminars on a limited basis.

As a land-grant institution, all IFAS 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 (RECs) 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

Required Qualifications:

A doctorate (foreign equivalent acceptable) in Plant Breeding or a closely related discipline with emphasis on field-based crop improvement/plant breeding/cultivar development 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.

Preferred:

Demonstrated experience in field-based plant breeding research, securing extramural funding, and mentoring graduate students. Postdoctoral or industry experience in the development/or application of novel methods targeting cultivar development is desirable.

Special Instructions to Applicants:

For full consideration, candidates should apply and submit materials by June 15th, 2026. The position will remain open until a viable applicant pool is determined.

Employment Conditions

This position is available as soon 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 nominee's full name and address. This information should be sent to:

Please refer to Requisition # 539550
Dr. Jose Dubeux
Chair, Search and Screen Committee
University of Florida
North Florida Research and Education Center
3925 Highway 71
Marianna, FL, 32446
Telephone: 850.526.1618
Electronic Mail: dubeux@ufl.edu

Application Information

• Individuals wishing to apply should go online to Careers at UF and submit:
• Cover letter that states the applicant's interest in the position and qualifications relative to the credentials listed above
• Curriculum vitae
• Contact information (including email addresses) for 3 individuals willing to write letters of recommendation
• Unofficial transcripts

The 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 educational institution outside the United States must be evaluated by a professional credentialing service provider approved by the 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.

Health Assessment Required: No

To apply, visit https://explore.jobs.ufl.edu/en-us/job/539550

Our Commitment: The University of Florida is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.

Hiring is contingent on eligibility to work in the U.S. The University of Florida is a public institution and is subject to all requirements under Florida Sunshine and Public Record laws. 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.