| Job Description: |
The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is creating an environment that affirms community across all dimensions. 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 tenured or tenure-accruing position that will be 70% research (Florida Agricultural Experiment Station) and 30% Extension (Florida Cooperative Extension Service), available in the Entomology and Nematology Department, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, at the University of Florida based in Gainesville. This assignment may change in accordance with the needs of the unit. Tenure will accrue in the Entomology and Nematology 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.
Expected Duties
Assigned research responsibilities include developing an internationally recognized, collaborative research program focused on honey bees that integrates basic and applied research to address critical challenges facing apiculture and deliver practical solutions that benefit the beekeeping industry. The successful candidate is expected to establish a strong, extramurally funded research program and disseminate findings through publications in high-impact, peer-reviewed journals. Research areas may include, but are not limited to, honey bee husbandry, nutrition, queen health and resilience, pests and pathogens, epidemiology, environmental stressors, behavior, and other aspects of honey bee biology, health, and management.
Extension responsibilities will be the development of a targeted Extension program related to the appropriate field of expertise. This will include 1) conducting need assessments of specific target audiences (beekeepers, government entities etc.) and using the information gathered to develop learning tools, and activities that meet the identified needs; 2) evaluation of the impacts of the Extension programs to facilitate program adjustment and satisfy reporting requirements. Cooperation with beekeeping organizations, county Extension faculty, Florida agricultural industries, and the Florida Department of Agriculture is expected.
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.
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.
Background Information:
The successful candidate will be housed in the Honey Bee Research and Extension Laboratory (HBREL), adjacent to Steinmetz Hall, home to the University of Florida Entomology and Nematology Department. HBREL is comprised of dedicated facilities totaling over 16,000 sq. ft. that include the main building (office space for 25, dedicated instructional laboratory, extension wing, containment facility for in vitro rearing of honey bees on royal jelly), a support facility, honey house, teaching pavilion and apiary. Programs coordinated by HBREL include UF/IFAS Bee College, the UF/IFAS Master Beekeeper Program, and Two Bees in a Podcast.
The Entomology & Nematology Department has 73 faculty with locations in Gainesville FL and around the state at Research and Education Centers. Our undergraduate and graduate entomology programs are both among the largest in the country with a variety of subject areas and include numerous apiculture-related courses . Non-thesis distance M.S. and on-line certificate programs are also an important component of our teaching efforts. Course offerings attract students in a variety of majors from across colleges within the university.
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.
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| Special Instructions to Applicants: |
For full consideration, candidates should apply and submit materials by September 14, 2026. Applications may be reviewed as they are received. The position will remain open until a viable applicant pool is determined.
Employment Conditions
This position is available July 1, 2027 and will be filled as soon thereafter as an acceptable applicant is available. 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:
Please refer to Requisition # 540759
Dr. Bryony Bonning
Chair, Search and Screen Committee
University of Florida, IFAS
Entomology and Nematology Department
1881 Natural Area Drive
Gainesville, FL 32611-0620
Telephone: 352-273-3984
Facsimile: 352-392-0190
Electronic Mail: bbonning@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, background, and qualifications relative to the duties, responsibilities and qualifications listed above (2-page limit)
- Curriculum vitae
- Statement of research activities and interests relative to the duties and responsibilities above (2-page limit)
- Statement of Extension philosophy and experience (1-page limit)
- Contact information (including email addresses) for 3 individuals willing to write letters of recommendation
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 and greater Gainesville community enjoy a variety of cultural events, restaurants, year-round outdoor recreational activities, and social opportunities.
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