Assistant/Associate Professor: Applied Artificial Intelligence

About the role

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences seeks an applied, interdisciplinary scientist to lead research and extension efforts focused on artificial intelligence (AI) in agriculture. The position is part of the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center (GCREC) within the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences at the University of Florida.

Responsibilities

• Develop and validate AI models for crop production challenges such as weed, disease, and insect detection, nutrient deficiency identification, crop characterization, and yield estimation.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary faculty, growers, equipment manufacturers, and agricultural technology companies to deploy and evaluate AI-enabled systems.
• Coordinate field demonstrations, provide technical expertise during implementation, collect engineering and performance feedback, and support the refinement of technologies.
• Develop and adapt AI models into production systems for targeted spraying, precision mapping, spatial analysis, sensor-based automation, and other advanced agricultural uses.
• Provide technical expertise and support for the development, adaptation, and integration of AI models into production systems.
• Collect engineering and performance feedback to refine and improve AI-enabled systems.
• Support the refinement of technologies as they progress toward commercial readiness.
• Develop and deliver educational programs to accelerate commercial adoption and evaluation of AI-based agricultural technologies.
• Accelerate commercial adoption and evaluation of AI-based agricultural technologies with the goal of improving the profitability and environmental sustainability of Florida’s fruit and vegetable industry.

Requirements

• A doctorate (foreign equivalent acceptable) in Engineering, Computer Science, Horticultural Sciences, or a closely related discipline.
• Demonstrated excellence in verbal and written communication skills.
• Proven ability to participate in collaborative efforts and procure external funding.
• Experience with machine learning, computer vision, and/or experience with AI deployment in agricultural systems.
• Commitment to the mission of the University Land-Grant system.
• Experience with horticultural crops, agricultural technology for horticultural crops, sensors, or precision-ag systems is preferred.
• Proven experience training AI models and creation of synthetic imagery.
• Familiarity with Python, PyTorch/TensorFlow, ROS, edge AI platforms, remote sensing tools, and field-ready hardware integration is an advantage.

Qualifications

• Doctorate (foreign equivalent acceptable).
• Excellence in verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to participate in collaborative efforts and procure external funding.
• Experience with machine learning, computer vision, and/or AI deployment in agricultural systems.
• Commitment to the mission of the University Land-Grant system.
• Experience with horticultural crops, agricultural technology for horticultural crops, sensors, or precision-ag systems.
• Proven experience training AI models and creation of synthetic imagery.
• Familiarity with Python, PyTorch/TensorFlow, ROS, edge AI platforms, remote sensing tools, and field-ready hardware integration.

Skills

• Machine learning
• Computer vision
• AI deployment in agricultural systems
• Collaboration with multidisciplinary teams
• Procurement of external funding
• Training AI models
• Creation of synthetic imagery
• Python, PyTorch/TensorFlow, ROS, edge AI platforms, remote sensing tools, and field-ready hardware integration

Benefits

The position is a 9-month tenure-accruing position that will be 70% research (Florida Agricultural Experiment Station) and 30% extension (Florida Cooperative Extension Service), based at the Agricultural AI Institute within the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center (GCREC), Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, at the University of Florida.

Pay

Commensurate with Experience and Education

Schedule

9-month tenure-accruing position