Assistant Professor – Soil Microbial Ecologist
University of Florida
Soil and Water Science Department
Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS)
Gainesville, Florida,
U.S.A.
Duties and Responsibilities:
This is a 12-month tenure-accruing position that will be 30% teaching (College of Agricultural and Life Sciences), 70% research (Florida Agricultural Experiment Station) and 0% extension (Florida Cooperative Extension Service), available in the Soil and Water 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. This position requires specialization in soil microbial ecology with a research focus on characterization of interactions and communication among prokaryotes, and between prokaryotes and eukaryotes, in the soil. The successful candidate will establish a strong well-funded collaborative research and education program at the intersection of microbiology, genomics, and bioinformatics, and analytical and physical chemistry within soil-water-plant systems.
Examples of research questions and approaches that may include; communication between microorganisms at the molecular level is critical to controlling the structures and functions of microbial communities, and is essential to such functions as rhizosphere processes, biodegradation, and biogeochemical cycling. Of particular interest are the molecular factors that control the coordinated assembly and activities between microorganisms, including prokaryotes and fungi, and the roots of plants of agronomic and ecological interest. Activities of potential interest include the cycling and transfer of nutrients, suppression of plant pathogens, production of and resistance to antibiotics, human pathogens, and biodegradation of contaminants.
Tenure will accrue in the Soil and Water Sciences Department. The faculty member will actively participate in undergraduate and graduate education by chairing graduate committees, serving on graduate committees, supervising thesis and dissertation research, supervising undergraduate research, and publishing the results with his/her graduate students. The faculty member will seek contract and grant funding actively to support his/her program. The faculty member will engage in Extension activities in his or her program area.
The incumbent is expected to teach on-campus and distance education graduate and undergraduate courses such as ecology of water-borne pathogens, and soil and water microbial ecology and/or related topics as assigned by the Department Chair. The successful candidate will engage in scholarly activities related to instruction, including teaching undergraduate and/or 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 members 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.
Qualifications:
Required:
A doctorate (foreign equivalent acceptable) in soil and water sciences with specialization in microbiology, biochemistry, molecular biology, or a closely related discipline is required. 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 IFAS core values of excellence, diversity, global involvement, and accountability.
Preferred:
Postdoctoral experience is desirable. A strong background in bioinformatics and proficiency with the application of genomic tools are preferred. Training and post-doctoral experience in working with interdisciplinary teams and in the use of state-of-art-techniques and instrumentation are highly desirable. Candidates should have the demonstrated ability or potential to develop integrated teaching, research and/or extension programs in the discipline.
Nominations:
Nominations are welcome. Nominations need to include the complete name and address of the nominee. Please refer to Position Number: 00013314 and Requisition Number: 504793
This information should be sent to:
Dr. Andrew Ogram
Chair, Search and Screen Committee
University of Florida
Soil and Water Sciences Department
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL 32611,
U.S.A.
Electronic Mail: aogram [-at-] ufl.edu
Application Information:
Individuals wishing to apply should go online to http://explore.jobs.ufl.edu/cw/enus/job/502333 and submit:
- Application
- 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 four individuals willing to write letters of recommendation
- Unofficial transcripts
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/ .
To ensure full consideration please apply online and submit additional materials by January 15, 2018. Position will open until a viable applicant pool is determined.
More information available at:
- http://www.ufl.edu/
- http://soils.ifas.ufl.edu/
- http://ifas.ufl.edu/
- http://explore.jobs.ufl.edu/cw/enus/
- http://explore.jobs.ufl.edu/cw/enus/job/502333
Posted: November 12, 2017.