Research Assistant Scientist

Classification Title:

Res Ast Sctst

Classification Minimum Requirements:

Highest degree possible in field; Evidence of pertinent experience for the position and qualities for the academic unit.

Job Description:

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 12-month non-tenure-track position that will be 100% 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. 

The selected candidate will join the Potato Management Lab, leading research efforts to address major challenges within Florida’s vegetable production systems. The faculty member will establish a extramural funded research program focus on the integrating precision agriculture technologies to enhance productivity, sustainability and decision-making of vegetable production system. The key responsibilities are: 1) improve nutrient management, irrigation, subsurface drainage, and water table management by leveraging  the latest technologies, artificial intelligence (AI), crop modeling, and data science applications; 2) develop remote sensing-based solutions by advancing crop growth models and machine learning techniques to reduce reliance on in-field soil and plant destructive sampling promoting long-term efficiency and sustainability, and 3) develop and deploy advanced web-based decision support tools for vegetable production systems by designing and implementing advanced, data-driven models to support growers, extension agents, and other stakeholders in adopting site-specific best management practices.

The faculty member will collaborate with other faculties, postdocs, graduate and undergraduate students at various departments at UF. The faculty member will seek contract and grant funding actively to support their program.

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.  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.

The Horticultural Sciences Department is a unit within IFAS at the University of Florida and has a variety of teaching, research, and extension education programs with 34 faculty in Gainesville and 26 faculty at various Research and Education Centers throughout the state. The Horticultural Sciences Department is currently ranked top 9 in the center for world university rankings.

Expected Salary:

Commensurate with Education and Experience

Required Qualifications:

A doctorate (foreign equivalent acceptable) in agricultural and biological engineering or a closely related discipline is required.  Candidate should have demonstrated ability to develop the crop model-guided artificial intelligence models for predicting components of agricultural systems, ability to analyze large datasets using Python, R, or other programming languages, and working knowledge of high-performance computational systems. 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
• Familiarity with crop physiology, soil nutrient and water dynamics, and plant breeding
• Working knowledge of crop-climate modeling e.g., DSSAT
• Advanced remote sensing and geospatial data analytical capabilities
• Experience implementing, training and evaluating deep learning architectures
• Experience with computer vision and AI-based object detection and segmentation models such as YOLO, SAM, etc.

Special Instructions to Applicants:

Application must be submitted by 11:55 p.m. (ET) of the posting end date.

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 # 536023

Dr. Marcio Resende

Chair, Search and Screen Committee

University of Florida

Horticultural Sciences Department

2550 Hull Road 1241 Fifield Hall

Gainesville, Florida 32611

Telephone:                              352-392-1928

Facsimile:                               352-392-6479

Electronic Mail:                      mresende@ufl.edu

Application Information

• Individuals wishing to apply should go online to Careers at UF and submit:
• Cover letter that states applicant’s interest in the position and qualifications relative to the credentials listed above
• Curriculum vitae
• 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 Employment Opportunity Employer.  University and greater Gainesville community enjoy a variety of cultural events, restaurants, year-round outdoor recreational activities, and social opportunities.

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.

Health Assessment Required: No