Assistant/Associate Professor – Forage Agronomy

This is a 12-month tenure-accruing position that will be 60% research and 40% teaching in the Agronomy Department, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Tenure will accrue in the Agronomy Department, and the position is based in Gainesville, Florida. Assignment may change with the needs of the unit.

About the Role

The successful candidate will serve as the Forage Agronomist and is expected to develop a strong applied and/or basic research and education program focused on forage-livestock production systems and their interaction with the environment. The research may include studies on fertilization and irrigation of forages, ecophysiology, grassland ecology, evaluation of new forage cultivars and breeding lines, animal performance and behavior, forage ecology, or other topics of interest to a state, regional, and national audience.

The faculty member is expected to collaborate with stakeholders, especially the Florida Cattlemen’s Association, aligning the research and education programs with the priorities of the allied industry. The faculty member will actively seek external funding to support their program and publish regularly in peer-reviewed journals. Components of the research program are expected to be conducted in collaboration with colleagues on the UF/IFAS Forage Team, as well as with faculty across departments and research and education units throughout the state.

The faculty member will teach three forage-specific courses: one at the undergraduate level and two at the graduate level. They will also actively participate in graduate education by chairing graduate committees, serving on graduate committees, supervising thesis and dissertation research, and publishing results with graduate students.

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.

Requirements

• A doctorate (foreign equivalent acceptable) in Agronomy or a closely related discipline is required.
• Demonstrated skills in verbal and written communication, interpersonal relationships, and procurement of extramural funding.
• Commitment to the mission of the Land-Grant system.
• Commitment to UF core values.

Preferred Qualifications

• Postdoctoral experience in the discipline is desirable.

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 (IFAS) 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. UF/IFAS employs nearly 4,500 people, including approximately 990 salaried faculty and 1,400 permanent support personnel located in Gainesville and throughout the state.

Note: The UF/IFAS Agronomy Department is currently searching for two faculty members focusing on forage management. This position is a 60% research and 40% teaching Assistant/Associate Professor role located in Gainesville. An additional 60% research and 40% extension Assistant Professor position is located at the Range Cattle Research and Education Center in Ona, FL. Candidates whose qualifications align with both positions are encouraged to apply for each.