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Title: Assistant/Associate Professor of Tropical Fruit Crops

Location: Tropical Research and Education Center,University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS),Homestead, Florida

Salary: Commensurate with Qualifications and Experience

Review Date: For full consideration, candidates should apply and submit materials by March 15, 2026. The position will remain open until a viable applicant pool is determined.

Duties and Responsibilities
The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is creating an environment that affirms community across all dimensions. 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 12-month tenure-accruing faculty position, 25% research (Florida Agricultural Experiment Station) and 75% Extension (Florida Cooperative Extension Service), available in the Department of Horticultural Sciences, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS), University of Florida; located at the Tropical Research and Education Center in Homestead, FL. The incumbent will assume leadership of a state-wide extension program to increase the knowledge and skills of extension agents and industry representatives (e.g., producers, packinghouses, etc.) in the area of tropical and subtropical fruit production. The primary responsibility will be developing an educational program in production of tropical fruit crops grown commercially in the state. The program of work shall include publications, multi-media news releases, workshops, field days, meetings, and other activities. In cooperation with county extension personnel, participate in consultations with established commercial growers and nurserymen in commercial tropical and subtropical fruit production. The individual will be expected to collaborate with colleagues at the Center and beyond in an applied research program pertinent to the problems of the industry. This includes participating in the IR-4 Minor Use Pesticide Registration Program at the research center. The successful candidate will also advise the research center’s field manager on proper maintenance and care of the centers subtropical and tropical fruit orchards and germplasm collection. Instructional opportunities include teaching a 1/2 term Summer-term course in tropical fruit production. This is a 5000-level course designed for graduate and advanced undergraduate students, and qualified industry participants and is offered in alternate years.

The successful candidate will participate actively in undergraduate and graduate education by chairing and serving on graduate committees, supervising theses, and dissertation, and publishing research results with students. Faculty are encouraged to participate in professional development activities related to teaching and advising.

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.

Qualifications
Required:
A doctorate (foreign equivalent acceptable) in Horticultural Science or a closely related discipline is required. The candidate should be familiar with basic horticultural practices such as tree canopy management, irrigation and nutrient management, and insect pest and disease management for tree crops. The candidate should be familiar with whole-plant physiology and molecular and traditional plant breeding techniques. Candidates should have 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. Candidates must also have a commitment to UF core values.

Preferred:
Postdoctoral experience and knowledge of subtropical and tropical fruit crop botany and production is preferred.

Background Information:
The Tropical Research and Education Center (TREC) of the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is located in Homestead, Florida about 30 miles south of Miami. The Center was established in 1929 by an act of the state legislature in what is now Miami-Dade County. Research, teaching, and extension programs focus on tropical and subtropical fruit crops, tropical and temperate vegetable crops, ornamental crops, and natural resources of southern Florida. The agricultural industry served by the center has an annual farm gate value of $1.13 billion. Multiplier effects make agriculture’s impact on the local economy worth over $1.5 billion annually. TREC is the only state university research center in the continental United States focusing on a large number of tropical and subtropical crops. The area is characterized by a marine humid subtropical climate and unique oolitic limestone based soil. In addition, the center addresses water, and environmental issues that impact crop production over a shallow aquifer and in proximity to Everglades National Park, Biscayne National Marine Park, Florida Bay and major well fields which provide drinking water to the several million people in neighboring urban areas. The center’s 160 acres consist of offices, laboratories, greenhouses, vegetable fields, and fruit orchards.

The Horticultural Sciences Department at the University of Florida has a variety of research, teaching, and extension programs located at the Gainesville campus and across the state at research and education centers. Program focus areas within the department include Plant Physiology and Biochemistry; Plant Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology; Crop Production and Management; Postharvest Biology and Technology; Organic and Sustainable Horticulture; and Weed Science. The Institute for Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) has strong programs in Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology and Plant Breeding and Genetics, as well as expertise in plant biochemistry, molecular genetics, and genomics. Emphasis is placed on the developing cultivars adapted to subtropical climates.

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. UF/IFAS employs nearly 4,500 people, which includes approximately 990 salaried faculty and 1,400 permanent 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 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.

Employment Conditions
This position is available August 2026 and will be filled as soon thereafter as an acceptable applicant is available. Compensation is commensurate with the education, experience, and qualifications of the selected applicant.

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

Please refer to Requisition # 538180
Dr. Bruce Schaffer
Chair, Search and Screen Committee
University of Florida
Tropical Research and Education Center
18905 SW 280th Street
Homestead, FL 33031

Telephone: (1)786-217-9265
Facsimile: (1)305-246-7003
Electronic Mail: bas56@ufl.edu

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 and greater Gainesville community enjoy a variety of cultural events, restaurants, year-round outdoor recreational activities, and social opportunities.