Assistant/associate Professor of Tropical Fruit Crops

**JOB NO**:
538180

**WORK TYPE**:
Tenure-Track Faculty

**LOCATION**:
Dade

**CATEGORIES**:
Biology/Life Science, Agricultural Sciences

**DEPARTMENT**:
60790000 - AG-TREC-HOMESTEAD

**CLASSIFICATION TITLE**:
Ast/Aso Prof

**CLASSIFICATION MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS**:
**JOB DESCRIPTION**:
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 Tropical Research and Education Center (TREC) of the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is located in Homestead, Florida about 30 miles south of Miami. The Center was established in 1929 by an act of the state legislature in what is now Miami-Dade County. Research, teaching, and extension programs focus on tropical and subtropical fruit crops, tropical and temperate vegetable crops, ornamental crops, and natural resources of southern Florida. The agricultural industry served by the center has an annual farm gate value of $1.13 billion. Multiplier effects make agriculture's impact on the local economy worth over $1.5 billion annually. TREC is the only state university research center in the continental United States focusing on a large number of tropical and subtropical crops. The area is characterized by a marine humid subtropical climate and unique oolitic limestone based soil. In addition, the center addresses water, and environmental issues that impact crop production over a shallow aquifer and in proximity to Everglades National Park, Biscayne National Marine Park, Florida Bay and major well fields which provide drinking water to the several million people in neighboring urban areas. The center's 160 acres consist of offices, laboratories, greenhouses, vegetable fields, and fruit orchards.

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 at research and education centers. 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. The Institute for Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) has strong programs in Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology and Plant Breeding and Genetics, as well as expertise in plant biochemistry, molecular genetics, and genomics. Emphasis is placed on the developing cultivars adapted to subtropical climates.

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 Education and Experience

**REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS**:
**PREFERRED**:
Postdoctoral experience and knowledge of subtropical and tropical fruit crop botany and production is preferred.

**SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANTS**:
**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 # 538180

Dr. Bruce Schaffer

Chair, Search and Screen Committee

University of Florida

Tropical Research and Education Center

18905 SW 280th Street

Homestead, FL 33031

Telephone: 786-217-9265

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