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Assistant/Associate Scientist - Mechanical Engineering

Job no: 540798
Work type: Non-Tenure-Track Faculty
Location: Hillsborough
Categories: Biology/Life Science, Artificial Intelligence, Agricultural Sciences
Department: 60750000 - AG-GCREC - BALM

Classification Title:

Highest degree possible in field or a Master's degree combined with at least ten years of experience; Evidence of pertinent experience for the position and qualities for the academic unit.

This is a 9-month position that will be 70% research (Florida Agricultural Experiment Station) and 30% extension (Florida Cooperative Extension Service), available in the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center (GCREC), Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, at the University of Florida. This assignment may change in accordance with the needs of the unit. This is a non-tenure track position located at GCREC with the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering as the home department. The faculty member will seek contract and grant funding actively to support their program. The faculty member will engage in Extension activities in their program area.

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

This position advances the Center's research mission by designing, developing, and evaluating innovative mechanization and automation solutions that address critical labor challenges facing the specialty crop industry. As a non-tenure-track Mechanical Engineer, the successful candidate 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 successful candidate is expected to collaborate closely with faculty, students, growers, equipment manufacturers, and agricultural technology companies to accelerate the translation of research into commercially viable products and support the successful commercialization and adoption of innovative agricultural technologies.

The successful candidate will participate actively 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.

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. The Center is in Wimauma, approximately 35 minutes from downtown Tampa. GCREC is home to more than 20 faculty whose expertise spans artificial intelligence, automation, engineering, geomatics, horticulture, plant breeding, plant pathology, entomology, horticulture, national resource management, and precision agriculture. The center offers exceptional research infrastructure, including modern laboratories and offices, greenhouses, approximately 500 acres of research farm, 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 is designed to foster innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration, and features newly constructed offices, collaborative research space, advanced engineering and computer science laboratories, fabrication and prototyping shops, and dedicated training facilities. The Agricultural AI Institute provides an exceptional environment for developing transformative technologies while working alongside leading researchers, students, and industry partners to shape the future of agriculture.

The University of Florida's Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineeringis founded on developing, teaching, and applying engineering principles to improve and sustain agricultural and biological systems for current and future generations. Our programmatic expertise on these complex systems ranges from nano to global scales, integrating anthropogenic and sociological aspects to natural and managed systems. The UF/IFAS ABE department continually transcends disciplinary boundaries to create synergy among different knowledge areas for designing, quantifying, assessing, and managing engineering solutions for natural and managed systems.

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.

Commensurate with Experience and Education

A doctorate in Engineering, Ag engineering, or a related field is required.A Masters degree plus at least ten years of experience may be substituted for the doctorate. Candidates should have excellent verbal and written communication skills, and proven ability to participate in collaborative efforts and procurement of external funding. Candidates must be supportive of the mission of the University Land-Grant system. Candidates must also have a commitment to UF core values .

Preferred:

We seek an applied, interdisciplinary engineer with experience with equipment design, prototyping, and field evaluation of agricultural technologies. Experience with horticultural crops, field machinery, sensors, or precision-ag systems is desirable.

Employment Conditions

This position is available immediately and will be filled when an acceptable applicant has been identified. 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:

Selected candidates 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.

Health Assessment Required:

Health Assessment Required: No

Advertised: 31 Jul 2026 Eastern Daylight Time
Applications close: Open until filled

The University of Florida is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.

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