Assistant/Associate Scientist - Mechanical Engineering

This is a 9-month, non-tenure track position located at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center (GCREC) with the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering as the home department. The role is 70% research (Florida Agricultural Experiment Station) and 30% extension (Florida Cooperative Extension Service). This assignment may change in accordance with the needs of the unit.

About the Role

This position is part of a cohort of new hires for the GCREC Agricultural AI Institute, focusing on advancing artificial intelligence, automation, and robotics for specialty crop production. The successful candidate will work within a highly collaborative, interdisciplinary environment, joining engineers, computer scientists, horticultural scientists, and AI researchers to develop innovative technologies that improve the productivity, sustainability, and competitiveness of specialty crop agriculture.

The faculty member will lead the engineering design, fabrication, and field evaluation of agricultural equipment and robotic systems, including transplanters, crop management tools, mechanical harvesting technologies, harvest aids, and human-machine interactive systems. The role involves close collaboration with faculty, students, growers, equipment manufacturers, and agricultural technology companies to accelerate the translation of research into commercially viable products.

The successful candidate will actively participate 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 and may teach courses and seminars.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and evaluate innovative mechanization and automation solutions addressing critical labor challenges in the specialty crop industry.
• Lead engineering design, fabrication, and field evaluation of agricultural equipment and robotic systems.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams, including engineers, computer scientists, horticultural scientists, and AI researchers.
• Engage with growers, equipment manufacturers, and agricultural technology companies to support commercialization and adoption of innovative technologies.
• Actively seek contract and grant funding to support the program.
• Participate in Extension activities within the program area.
• Chair and serve on graduate committees, supervise thesis, dissertation, and undergraduate research, and publish research results with students.
• Participate in professional development activities related to teaching and advising; may teach courses and seminars.

Requirements

• A doctorate in Engineering, Agricultural Engineering, or a related field is required. A Master’s degree plus at least ten years of experience may be substituted for the doctorate.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Proven ability to participate in collaborative efforts and procure external funding.
• Supportive of the mission of the University Land-Grant system.
• Commitment to UF core values.

Preferred Qualifications

• Applied, interdisciplinary engineering experience with equipment design, prototyping, and field evaluation of agricultural technologies.
• Experience with horticultural crops, field machinery, sensors, or precision-agriculture systems.

About the Workplace

The University of Florida's Gulf Coast Research and Education Center (GCREC) is a nationally recognized hub for interdisciplinary research, Extension, and graduate education supporting Florida's specialty crop industries. Located in Wimauma, approximately 35 minutes from downtown Tampa, GCREC is home to over 20 faculty with expertise spanning artificial intelligence, automation, engineering, geomatics, horticulture, plant breeding, plant pathology, entomology, and precision agriculture.

The center offers exceptional research infrastructure, including modern laboratories, greenhouses, approximately 500 acres of research farmland, and housing for up to 34 graduate students. This position will be housed in the new Agricultural AI Institute, a state-of-the-art research facility dedicated to advancing artificial intelligence, robotics, automation, and precision agriculture for specialty crop production. The Institute features newly constructed offices, collaborative research spaces, advanced engineering and computer science laboratories, fabrication and prototyping shops, and dedicated training facilities.

The University of Florida's Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering focuses on developing, teaching, and applying engineering principles to improve and sustain agricultural and biological systems. The department integrates knowledge across disciplines to design, quantify, assess, and manage engineering solutions for natural and managed systems.

The University of Florida is a Land-Grant, Sea-Grant, and Space-Grant institution with enrollment exceeding 56,000 students. UF/IFAS includes the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station, the Florida Cooperative Extension Service, and 16 on-campus academic departments, 12 Research and Educational Centers (RECs), and Extension offices in all 67 Florida counties.