Lecturer/Senior Lecturer (Instructional Assistant/Associate Professor)

This is a 12-month, non-tenure-accruing faculty position with a 100% teaching appointment in the Department of Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences (SWES), Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS), at the University of Florida's main campus in Gainesville, Florida. Faculty assignments may be adjusted based on departmental and college priorities.

About the Role

The successful candidate will contribute to the department's instructional mission by providing innovative, student-centered teaching and mentoring while advancing experiential learning and integrating emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and data science. This position will contribute to a cohort of teaching-centered faculty within the department. Ideal candidates will have experience in at least two of the three department focus areas (soil, water, and ecosystems) and a commitment to Scholarship of Teaching and Learning.

Responsibilities

Teaching

• Teach undergraduate and graduate courses in face-to-face, hybrid, and/or distance education (DE) formats, depending on programmatic needs.
• Revise and assume responsibility for teaching one or more existing courses depending on interests and expertise (examples below).
• Develop new courses focused on emerging needs and candidate’s interests, particularly in environmental sciences (e.g., soil and water chemistry, quality, remediation, management, watersheds) and ecosystem sciences (e.g., ecosystem restoration, services, management).

Existing Courses for Consideration

• Soil, Water, and Land Use (SWS 4231C)
• Environmental Soil, Water, and Land Use (SWS 5234)
• Urban Soil and Water Systems (SWS 4204/SWS 6209)
• Professional development courses
• Communicating in Academia, 3-credit hour 5000 level course (DE and in-person formats)
• Math for Environmental Professionals, 2-credit hour 5000 level course (DE and in-person formats)

Student Mentoring and Program Support

• Mentor and supervise undergraduate student research, creative works, internships, and independent study projects.
• Advise students in the non-thesis Master of Science program and serve on M.S. and Ph.D. supervisory committees as appropriate.
• Incorporate the SWES Experiential Learning Laboratory (ELL) into course learning activities and student mentoring.
• Provide support, promote, and help develop the SWES Experiential Learning Laboratory (ELL).
• Collaborate with SWES faculty, the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS), and colleagues across the university to pursue internal and external funding opportunities supporting undergraduate research and experiential learning.
• Participate in and comply with UF QUEST and other related CALS/UF curriculum requirements.
• Work with the departmental Honors Coordinator to facilitate and track undergraduate Honors Thesis research.
• Support student recruitment, retention, and academic success initiatives.

Service and Professional Development

• Participate in departmental, college, and university committees, particularly those related to teaching and student success.
• Engage in professional development opportunities focused on Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, teaching excellence, and instructional innovation.
• Pursue and disseminate scholarship related to teaching and learning, as appropriate for the position.
• Contribute to curriculum assessment, revision, and enhancement efforts.

Requirements

• A doctorate or master’s degree (foreign equivalents acceptable) in the life sciences or a closely related discipline with a strong background in any aspect of soil sciences, ecosystem ecology, and/or water sciences (a doctorate is required for the use of the ‘Instructional Assistant/Associate Professor’ working title).
• Demonstrated skills in verbal and written communication, interpersonal relationships, and procurement of extramural funding.
• Commitment to the mission of the Land-Grant system and UF core values.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous teaching experience (including in-person and distance education formats) and course management.
• Record of scholarship in teaching and learning, including support of teaching or academic programs.
• Experience supervising undergraduate research.
• Experience with experiential learning, artificial intelligence, data science, and evidence-based instructional practices.

Background Information

The SWES Department is a leader in teaching, research, and extension/outreach programs in management, protection, and monitoring of soil and water resources. The department includes 37 tenured or tenure-track faculty, 6 non-tenure track lecturers/research faculty, 54 PhD students, 103 MS students, and 114 undergraduate students. The interdisciplinary nature of SWES programs results in research at multiple scales (molecular to landscape) to manage and protect land and water resources and solve environmental problems. Teaching faculty are encouraged to participate in extension and research activities that contribute to their continuing education.

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, 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.