Description
This is a 12-month, tenure-accruing position at the Assistant/Associate Professor level that will be 30% Teaching (College of Agricultural and Life Sciences) and 70% Research (Florida Agricultural Experiment Station), available in the Horticultural Sciences Department, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, at the University of Florida. This assignment may change in accordance with the needs of the unit. Tenure will accrue in the Horticultural Sciences Department. The faculty member will actively seek contract and grant funding to support their program. The faculty member will also engage in Extension activities in their program area.
The successful candidate will develop an extramurally funded, nationally recognized research and teaching program in postharvest biology and biochemistry. The incumbent will engage in scholarly activities related to instruction in the teaching program (30% FTE), including the following components: a) co-teaching a joint undergraduate/graduate course, b) developing a new graduate-level course in postharvest instrumentation, c) contributing to a team-taught plant biochemistry course and, d) guest lecturing in related courses. Activity will include mentoring undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral associates, and visiting scientists/scholars. This program will demonstrate teaching-related scholarship via the production of learning tools, and engaging in professional development activities related to teaching and advising. Faculty are encouraged to support and participate in the UF CALS Honors Program, distance education, and international education.
The research program (70% FTE) emphasizes development of new information related to postharvest physiology of fresh fruits and vegetables grown in Florida. This position offers opportunities to explore the fundamental physiological and biochemical processes that regulate how fruits and vegetables from different production systems respond to their postharvest environment and treatments, influencing postharvest quality and shelf life. Research from preharvest practices through harvest and postharvest operations will study the physiological and metabolic processes related to the development, maturation, and senescence of horticultural crops. It will involve evaluating the quality of harvested plant products and developing technological solutions (including AI) to enhance postharvest quality maintenance throughout the supply chain. This program collaborates with current HOS research programs in postharvest genomics/genetics/technology, plant biochemistry, and with other disciplines such as plant pathology, food science and human nutrition, agricultural and biological engineering, and food and resource economics. These foci thereby enhance sustainability, reduce waste and losses in the postharvest value chain, and improve economic returns to industry stakeholders and affected communities in general.
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 this position description. The Extension program complements existing postharvest Extension programs based on the main campus and at the Indian River Research and Education Center for fresh fruit and vegetable crops with collaboration with county Extension agents in relevant field days, in-service trainings and authoring Extension (EDIS) publications.
Requirements
Required:
A doctorate (foreign equivalent acceptable) in horticultural science, plant physiology or a closely related discipline is required. Candidates should have a strong record of publishing in refereed journals, demonstrated skills in verbal and written communication, interpersonal relationships, and procurement of extramural funding. Candidates must be supportive of the mission of the Land-Grant system and have a commitment to UF core values.
Preferred:
Postdoctoral experience in postharvest physiology and biochemistry is desirable.