The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is committed to creating an environment that affirms diversity across a variety of dimensions, including ability, class, ethnicity/race, gender identity and expression. We particularly welcome applicants who can contribute to such an environment through their scholarship, teaching, mentoring, and professional service. We strongly encourage historically underrepresented groups to apply.

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 that will be 60% Teaching (College of Agricultural & Life Sciences, CALS) and 40% Research (Florida Agricultural Experiment Station), available in the West Florida Research and Education Center (WFREC), Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS), at the University of Florida, with tenure accruing in the School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences (SFFGS). This assignment may be changed in accordance with the needs of SFFGS and WFREC. 

This position will focus on diverse forestry and natural resource management issues. The individual is expected to assume teaching duties in a dynamic on-going natural resource conservation program at WFREC. The successful candidate will teach undergraduate courses in Fire Ecology and Forest Mensuration, as well as additional courses that could include Foundations in Natural Resources and Conservation, Professional Development, Global Forests, or Society and Natural Resources, depending on candidate’s experience and interests. The faculty member will support both undergraduate and graduate education, including chairing graduate student committees, serving on graduate committees, supervising thesis, and dissertation research, supervising undergraduate research, and publishing the results with their graduate students. 

The selected applicant is expected to develop a recognized, externally-funded research program in forestry related issues that can serve the diverse stakeholders of Florida.  Priority areas of research include wildfire, prescribed fire, hurricane, pest, or disease effects on timber supply or ecosystem function.  Research experience involving the use of geospatial, remote sensing, large datasets, or quantitative methods is desirable. West Florida Research and Education Center is a multidisciplinary center and leads research in north Florida ecosystems and the unique needs of crops grown in the region. Candidates should have the ability and desire to participate in interdisciplinary collaboration with colleagues.  The successful candidate will engage in scholarly activities related to instruction, including teaching undergraduate and graduate courses, advising and mentoring undergraduate and graduate students, participating in curriculum revision and enhancement, seeking funding for the teaching program, supervising undergraduate and graduate research and creative work, publishing teaching-related scholarship, producing learning tools, and engaging in professional development activities related to teaching and advising. 

Faculty are encouraged to support and participate in the CALS Honors Program, distance education, and international education. 

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.

This position is part of an off-campus teaching program, established at the WFREC (http://wfrec.ifas.ufl.edu) and is a collaborative effort between the University of Florida, Pensacola State College (PSC), and the University of West Florida. This unique teaching program, located at the PSC Milton campus approximately 20 miles northeast of the coastal city of Pensacola, FL, and the Gulf of Mexico, allows students to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree majoring in Natural Resource Conservation or Plant Science. In addition to excellent facilities at the Milton campus, a 640-acre research and demonstration farm is located about 12 miles north of Milton in Jay, FL. The program at PSC-Milton campus is one of a select few academic programs offered at locations outside Gainesville.

Florida has 16 million acres of forestland (approximately half the state), comprising a diversity of ecosystems ranging from cypress swamps to mesic hardwoods, pine flatwoods and xeric sandhill oak/pine forests. Nearly half of the forestland of the state is owned by private, nonindustrial landowners; one third by forest industries, and the remainder by public agencies. Management of these forestlands poses challenges and opportunities due to their unique flora and fauna, rapid urbanization, access to international markets, a favorable environment for plant growth, and a strong demand for the economic, environmental, and social products of Florida's forests. Florida lumber, wood products, and paper industries employ over 40,000, many of whom work in northwest Florida.

WFREC provides a diverse and inclusive setting for teaching, research, and mentoring graduate students and postdocs in a collaborative environment. Its nine faculty and staff are dedicated to interdisciplinary research, extension, and teaching programs that meet the needs of local clientele with statewide, nationwide as well as global impacts. The location of WFREC allows families to enjoy the advantages of rural living while being within minutes of Pensacola, one of Florida's major cities, Gulf of Mexico beaches, and extensive public forest lands. The area has a vibrant and diverse community. The beaches are known worldwide for their sugar-white sand and emerald green waters (https://www.visitpensacola.com/ )

A doctorate (foreign equivalent acceptable) in forestry or closely related discipline. Research interests related to applied questions in forest management. Postdoctoral experience is desirable. Candidates should have strong teaching and research background, constructive professional relationships, ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing with scientific, producer, and student audiences, and ability to procure extramural funding. Candidates must be supportive of the mission of the Land-Grant system. Candidates must also have a commitment to IFAS’s core values of excellence, diversity and equity, global involvement, and accountability. 

To ensure full consideration please apply online and submit additional materials by May 7, 2021. Position will remain open until a viable applicant pool is determined.

Nominations:

Nominations are welcome. Nominations need to include the complete name and address of the nominee. This information should be sent to the Chair, Search and Screen Committee at the address shown below.

Application Information:

Individuals wishing to apply should go online to http://apply.interfolio.com/85419 and submit:

• Cover letter – providing a statement of applicant’s interest in the position and high-level description of how their qualifications and experience satisfy the needs and credentials listed above
• Curriculum vitae
• Teaching philosophy – a description of the applicant’s teaching philosophy, approaches, and experience
• Research statement – a description of the applicant’s research program and future plans
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion statement – A description of how the applicant’s research, teaching, mentoring, and service efforts will contribute to the IFAS’s core values of diversity, equity, and inclusion. This may include a statement of values, examples of experience, and future plans.
• A list of three references with contact information

Questions about the search should be addressed to:

Dr. Debbie Miller
Chair, Search and Screen Committee
UF/IFAS WFREC
5988 Highway 90
Building 4900
Milton, Florida 32583
Telephone: 850-983-7128
Facsimile: 850-983-5774
Electronic Mail: dlmi@ufl.edu

(Please refer to Requisition # 71755)

Final candidate will be required to provide 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), which can be found at http://www.naces.org/.

The University of Florida is an equal opportunity institution dedicated to building a broadly diverse and inclusive faculty and staff.

The University of Florida is An Equal Employment Opportunity Institution. 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). Hiring is contingent upon eligibility to work in the US. Searches are conducted in accordance with Florida's Sunshine Law.

#category=64