Assistant/Associate Professor - Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences; Nutrient Management Specialist

Assistant/Associate Professor

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is creating an environment that affirms community across all dimensions. This is a 12-month tenure-accruing position that will be 40% research (Florida Agricultural Experiment Station) and 60% extension (Florida Cooperative Extension Service), available at the Range Cattle Research and Education Center (RCREC), Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, at the University of Florida. This assignment may change in accordance with the needs of the unit. Tenure will accrue in the Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences Department.

The faculty member will develop efficient and economical land use and nutrient management practices to improve forage growth and quality for beef and dairy systems in central and south Florida. Research responsibilities include field and laboratory studies on nutrient requirements of forage crops grown for hay or in multiforage grazing systems, and establishing relationships among forage nutrient needs, soil tests, and plant tissue analyses aligned with the 4Rs of fertilizer management. Additional research may address nutrient cycling, soil health, and minimizing nutrient losses, as well as integrating AI and/or precision agriculture. The position requires close collaboration with hydrology and water quality, agronomy, and animal science faculty at RCREC and other UF/IFAS units, as well as engagement with stakeholders such as the Florida Cattlemen's Association, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Office of Agricultural Water Policy, and Water Management Districts to ensure programs align with industry priorities. Extension duties include supporting county faculty in implementing best management practices for forage production, soil health, and water quality. The faculty member will set research and extension priorities; conduct experiments and demonstrations; publish refereed and extension materials; deliver presentations to a variety of audiences; and seek extramural funding.

The successful candidate will participate actively in undergraduate and graduate education by chairing and serving on graduate committees, supervising dissertation, thesis, and undergraduate research, and publishing research results with students. Faculty are encouraged to participate in professional development activities related to teaching and advising. Faculty may also teach courses and guest lecture.

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 will reside at the Range Cattle Research and Education Center, which is a unit of the University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS), and is located on a 2840-acre site eight miles south of Ona, FL. Ona is located, 45 miles east of the Bradenton/Sarasota area and 170 miles south of the University of Florida main campus at Gainesville. The Center is located in an agricultural region where beef and dairy cattle, citrus, vegetables, and ornamental horticulture are major industries. Nearly 80% of Florida's 1 million beef cows are located within 150 miles of the Center. Currently, the Center has four faculty programs and 16 support staff. The center is approximately 90 miles southwest of the recently acquired DeLuca Preserve, 27,000 acres of grazinglands comprised of a mosaic of improved pasture, semi-native and native pasture, dry and wet prairie, wetlands, and upland forests.

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 (RECs) 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.

Expected Salary: Commensurate with Experience and Education

Required Qualifications: A doctorate (foreign equivalent acceptable) in Soil, Water, and/or Ecosystem Sciences, Agronomy, 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.

Preferred: Postdoctoral experience and evidence of developing an independent research program are desirable. Working effectively with local clientele will be a large component of this position.

For full consideration, candidates should apply and submit materials by June 8, 2026. The position will remain open until a viable applicant pool is determined.