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The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is creating an environment that affirms community across all dimensions. We particularly welcome applicants who can contribute to such an environment through their scholarship, teaching, mentoring, and professional service. If an accommodation due to a disability is needed to apply for this position, please call 352-392-2477 or the Florida Relay System at 800-955-8771 (TDD) or visit Accessibility at UF .

This is a 9-month tenure-accruing position, comprising 60% extension responsibilities with the Florida Cooperative Extension Service and 40% research duties with the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station. The position will be based at the Tropical Research and Education Center (TREC) in Homestead, FL, which is part of the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, the University of Florida (UF/IFAS). This assignment may change in accordance with the needs of the Unit. The position will focus on developing an integrated research and extension education program relevant to South Florida to address issues impacting production and marketing of vegetable, fruit, ornamental and agronomic crops. The faculty member in this role will also be responsible for conducting non-market valuations of ecosystem goods and services relevant to South Florida.

The faculty member will be expected to be actively involved in extension education as a member of appropriate state extension teams, including individually and collaboratively publishing educational materials in electronic and other appropriate formats, conducting county agent in-service trainings, and carrying out demonstrations and educational presentations in support of county extension programs. The successful candidate will collaborate with the scientists located at the TREC, and program efforts will be coordinated with Miami-Dade County Extension Faculty and with extension economists located on the main UF campus and at other research and education centers in the state. Tenure will accrue in the Food and Resource Economics Department. The faculty member will participate actively in graduate and undergraduate education, including supervising graduate research, chairing and serving on graduate committees, overseeing thesis and dissertation research, and publishing the results with his/her graduate students. The faculty member will actively seek contract and grant funding to support his/her program. The incumbent must consistently publish scientific publications both in peer-reviewed journals and extension outlets related to his/her assigned duties. Faculty are encouraged to participate in professional development activities.

UF/IFAS is a land-grant institution under which 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 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.  IFAS employs over 4,500 people, which includes approximately 900 salaried faculty and 1,400 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 Senior 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.

The Tropical Research and Education Center (TREC) in Homestead is a branch of UF/IFAS. TREC is a 160-acre center with office, laboratory, greenhouse, teaching, and field plot facilities. Currently, there are 15 faculty members located at the center. TREC is located in Miami-Dade County about 30 miles south of metropolitan Miami. Visit our website for more information about TREC.

Commensurate with Education and Experience

A doctorate (foreign equivalent acceptable) in agricultural, environmental or natural resource economics, or a closely related discipline is required. Candidates should have demonstrated skills in verbal and written communication, interpersonal relationships, and procurement of extramural funding. Demonstrated ability to publish research results in peer-reviewed applied economics and/or multi-disciplinary outlets is highly desirable. Candidates must be supportive of the mission of the Land-Grant system. Candidates must also have a commitment to UF core values of excellence, discovery and innovation, inclusion, freedom and civility, community, and stewardship. 

Postdoctoral experience and fluency in Spanish language are desirable. 

For full consideration, candidates should apply and submit materials by December 11th , 2023.  The position will remain open until a viable applicant pool is determined.

This position is available August 1st, 2024, and will be filled as soon thereafter as an acceptable applicant is available.

Nominations

Nominations are welcome. Nominations need to include the complete name and address of the nominee. This information should be sent to the following:

Please refer to Requisition # 529037

Hayk Khachatryan

Chair, Search and Screen Committee

University of Florida

Food and Resource Economics Department / Mid-Florida Research and Education Center

2725 S. Binion Road, Apopka, FL 32703

Telephone: (407) 410-6951

Facsimile: (407) 814-6186

Electronic Mail: hayk@ufl.edu

Application Information

• Individuals wishing to apply should go online to Careers at UF and submit the following:
• Cover letter that states applicant’s interest in the position and qualifications relative to the credentials listed above
• Curriculum vitae
• Academic writing sample (Extension writing sample is optional)
• Contact information (including email addresses) for 3 individuals willing to write letters of recommendation
• Unofficial transcripts

Selected candidate will be required to provide an official transcript to the hiring department upon hire. A transcript will not be considered “official” if a designation of “Issued to Student” is visible.  Degrees earned from an education institution outside of the United States are required to be evaluated by a professional credentialing service provider approved by National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) .

Hiring is contingent upon eligibility to work in the US. The University of Florida is a public institution and subject to all requirements under Florida Sunshine and Public Record laws.

 The University of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Institution. The University of Florida and the Miami-Dade community enjoy a diversity of cultural events, restaurants, year-round outdoor recreational activities, and social opportunities.