Assistant/Associate Professor of Agronomy: Extension Invasive Plant Management Specialist
Please direct questions about this position to search committee chair: Jason Ferrell, [email protected] Job Description: This is a 12-month tenure-accruing position, appointed as 60% extension (Florida Cooperative Extension Service) and 40% research (Florida Agricultural Experiment Station), available in the Agronomy Department, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, at the University of Florida. The assignment may change in accordance with the needs of the unit. Tenure will accrue in the Agronomy Department. The extension component of this position (60%) includes development of methods for the integrated management of invasive plants in aquatic, wetland, and upland natural area habitats and dissemination of information and training for county extension faculty, state and federal agency personnel, commercial herbicide applicators, and individuals in the private sector who have an interest in the control of invasive plants. The position will be located at the Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants (CAIP) in Gainesville, FL with access to extensive laboratory and field facilities as well as the CAIP Aquatic and Invasive Plants Information Office (http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu). The incumbent will maintain close liaison with state, federal, county and municipal land management programs such as the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida’s five Water Management Districts, and Cooperative Invasive Species Management Areas (CISMAS). Of particular importance will be the recognition of agency needs for information and training and providing assistance as necessary. The training component will include development of short courses, workshops, and writing EDIS publications (extension bulletins), newsletters, and information sheets as necessary. The incumbent, in cooperation with the Pesticide Information Office, will maintain updated training manuals, exam questions, and other information needed for Restricted Use Pesticide Applicator certification/recertification training and provide training opportunities in cooperation with County Extension Offices. The incumbent has the opportunity to cooperate with educational programs developed by the CAIP Information Office and with established programs in other departments, such as Florida Master Gardeners and Florida Friendly Yards. This position requires close coordination of research and extension programs with faculty in several other disciplines including Fisheries, Forestry, Entomology and Horticulture as well as with research/extension staff at Research and Education Centers throughout the state. The research component of this position (40%) will focus on relevant independent research on invasive plant management in aquatic, wetland and upland habitats and cooperative research with other faculty working on invasive plant management. Research will be, predominantly, of an applied nature aimed at solving practical invasive plant problems faced by aquatic and natural areas managers. The focus will be on developing management options – including herbicide recommendations and application techniques – that can be integrated into invasive plant management programs. In addition to applied research, more fundamental studies on the biology, physiology, or ecology of invasive plants may be conducted. The incumbent is expected to obtain extramural funding, direct graduate student research, and publish research findings in the scientific literature. 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. The Agronomy Department of the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) has faculty working in all aspects of the discipline including invasive plant management, plant biology, physiology and ecology. The Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants (CAIP) maintains close relationships with all faculty working on invasive plants including those in Entomology and Nematology (biological control), Horticultural Sciences, Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, and Forestry which provide extensive opportunities for multi-disciplinary projects. Florida state agencies, water management districts, counties and other public entities spend over $50 million annually for control of invasive plants in Florida and rely heavily on IFAS faculty and staff for development of control methods and educational opportunities. Minimum Requirements: Doctor of Philosophy degree (foreign equivalent acceptable) with emphasis in weed science, natural resource management, forest science, plant ecology, horticulture or related plant science discipline with knowledge of aquatic and/or upland invasive plant management. Candidates must possess the ability to communicate, organize, and motivate people and promote learning as well as being able to establish good relationships among diverse groups. Preferred Qualifications: Post-doctoral experience is desired but not necessary. Prior experience in invasive plant management, plant identification, and plant ecology is desirable.
