Assistant/Associate Professor

Assistant/Associate Professor, Arbovirus systems genetics, genomics, or engineering

Salary: commensurate with experience

Review date: review of applications will begin June 1, 2021 and applications should be completed at that point for full consideration.  The position will remain open a viable applicant pool is determined.

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 .

Duties and Responsibilities:

This is a 9-month tenure-accruing position that will be 85% research (Florida Agricultural Experiment Station) and 15% teaching (College of Agriculture and Life Sciences), available at the Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory (FMEL), Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, at the University of Florida. Appointment at the Associate Professor level will be considered for individuals with special qualifications and experience and/or demonstrable research productivity and funding record.  Research duties focus on arthropod vectors of disease, particularly mosquitoes and ticks, and the pathogens they transmit with emphasis on using modern genetic engineering tools and developing and evaluating new information and tools relevant to arbovirus system management. Tenure will accrue in the appropriate department in UF-IFAS.   

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.  

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, engaging in professional development activities related to teaching and advising, and other activities.  Faculty are encouraged to support and participate in the CALS Honors Program, distance education, and international education. The incumbent will be expected to develop and teach an undergraduate/graduate course on arbovirus systems genetics, genomics, engineering, and/or other relevant molecular methods for medical entomology and public health in collaboration with other FMEL faculty.  Incumbent will also be expected to contribute to FMEL team taught courses.  

The faculty member will actively seek external funding to support their program and will engage in Extension activities in their program area.  The FMEL seeks candidates who demonstrate research interests complementary to those of current FMEL faculty and that will promote intra- and extramural research collaborations, including international programs.  

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 a relevant biological science 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. Special consideration will be given to candidates with previous experience with genetic engineering work in arboviral disease systems (vectors, pathogens, and their interactions with the environment), including field fitness/implementation and ecological impacts. Demonstrated experience using modern approaches and techniques in other disciplines including, but not limited to molecular biology and evolution, chemical ecology, toxicology, population biology, ecosystem ecology, gene drive systems, and epidemiology of mosquito-borne diseases is also advantageous.  Integrative and cross-disciplinary research is strongly encouraged.  

The Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory (http://fmel.ifas.ufl.edu) is located on a 38-acre campus, much of which is comprised of native Florida coastal hammock habitat, 5 miles south of downtown Vero Beach, Florida. Facilities include biosafety levels 2 and 3 laboratories, arthropod containment levels 2 and 3 laboratories,  mechanical shop facilities, an animal holding and rearing facility, and mosquito rearing facilities.

Application Information 

Individuals wishing to apply should go online to http://apply.interfolio.com/84958  to submit: 

Cover letter that states applicant’s interest in the position and qualifications relative to the credentials listed above. 

Statement of research interests. 

Statement of teaching philosophy 

Curriculum vitae

Three letters of recommendation 

Unofficial transcripts

All applications must be submitted online.  This position is available August 1, 2021 and will be filled as soon thereafter as the applicant is available.

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 Opportunity Institution dedicated to building a broadly diverse and inclusive faculty and staff.