Res Ast Sctst

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 faculty member will join the Sweet Corn and Potato Breeding and Genomics Lab, conducting quantitative genetics/ genomics research applied to plant breeding. The faculty member will lead genomic selection initiatives focusing on predictive modeling for optimal selection of parents, progeny, and hybrids and germplasm management. The faculty member will also influence the adoption and integration of genomic prediction methods within our breeding processes, continuously improving training sets and early-stage processes.

The Sweet Corn and Potato Breeding and Genomics Lab is led by Dr. Marcio Resende and focuses on the genetic improvement of sweet corn. The overall research goals of our lab are to characterize and understand the genetic mechanisms underlying traits relevant to sweet corn production, and to identify DNA variants that can be introduced into elite inbred lines to improve these traits.    

The Horticultural Sciences Department is a unit within IFAS at the University of Florida and has diverse 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.

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 Education and Experience

A doctorate (foreign equivalent acceptable) in Quantitative Genetics, Statistical Genetics, Genetics and Plant Breeding, 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 UF core values. 

• Experience working with genomic/genetic analyses, such as genomic selection, GWAS, marker imputation, and mate allocation of breeding crosses using genomic markers.
• Advanced data and analytical capabilities applied to genetics and plant breeding, such as spatial data analyses, mixed models’ methodology, Bayesian models, genetic data evaluation, and models for dealing with G×E interactions in breeding programs.
• Strong background in breeding program simulations, coupling the theoretical knowledge with practical experience aiming for genetic improvement of breeding programs.
• Experience in the genetic analysis of diploid and polyploid crops, as well as the experience in the use of environmental data and phenomic data to predict individuals' performance.
• Experience with tools broadly used in the field of quantitative genetics, such as R packages for solving mixed models (ASREML, lme4, sommer), blupf90, BEAGLE, VCFtools/BCFtools, and parallel computing.
• Experience developing R packages is preferred. Experience in R language (advanced) and shell/bash (moderated). Some knowledge of C++ and Python will be a plus.

For full consideration, candidates should apply and submit materials by April 16^th, 2025.  The 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:

Please refer to Requisition # 535302

Dr. Lincoln Zotarelli

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:                      lzota@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 three 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. The 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.