Director & Senior​/Master Lecturer - Space Life Sciences

Classification Minimum Requirements

Candidates shall have received the academic degree appropriate to the assignment of duties.

Dir & Sr/Master Lecturer

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This is a 12-month non-tenure-accruing faculty position at the rank of Senior Lecturer/Master Lecturer (working title: Associate/Full Instructional Professor) for the Space Life Sciences Program. The position is 10% academic administration as Director of the Space Life Sciences program and 90% teaching in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS), Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, at the University of Florida.

This assignment may change in accordance with the needs of the college. The Space Life Sciences program will prepare students to enter the growing space sector supporting sustained human exploration beyond Earth. The candidate will direct and advise students in a new undergraduate degree program that is being submitted this year (2026) for approval. This program has great potential with interest across UF as well as with industries and federal partners.

The Director will need to be innovative and entrepreneurial to grow and expand this program to meet its potential. The candidate, with assistance from the CALS Dean’s office, will assume all duties to navigate necessary approvals to expedite the launch of this program once hired.

The candidate will serve as the undergraduate coordinator and academic advisor for the Space Life Sciences Program. The administrative appointment responsibilities are to conduct any supervision or reporting of the program’s operation required from external or internal entities, such as accreditation reporting and new requirements in undergraduate curriculum as well as to manage the program’s budget. This program is interdisciplinary with core CALS departments being Microbiology and Cell Science, Plant Pathology, Horticultural Sciences, Agricultural and Biological Engineering, and Food Science and Human Nutrition.

The academic home will be in CALS. The position will report to the Associate Dean in CALS that oversees the undergraduate programs. Recruitment efforts will initially be at the forefront of goals for this position to increase awareness and enrollment in the major. Awareness and recruitment efforts will receive additional support from CALS and IFAS Communication Services as appropriate.

Duties will include teaching one to two courses annually in the Space Life Sciences major, depending on the candidate’s expertise with preference given to larger enrolled courses that are part of the core curriculum. The successful candidate will engage in scholarly activities related to instruction and advising and mentoring undergraduate students. This position is also expected to provide leadership in curriculum revision and enhancement, publish teaching-related articles, produce learning tools, and engage in professional development activities related to teaching and advising.

All faculty are encouraged to support and participate in the CALS Honors Scholars Certificate Program, distance education, and international education.

Other duties and responsibilities related to leadership and administration will include academic advisement of undergraduate students in the major and budgetary oversight of the program. Future responsibilities may include advising students to complete an undergraduate minor or certificate in the Space Life Sciences program should they be developed. The successful candidate will develop and maintain industry and alumni contacts for program support and internship opportunities.

Recruitment and retention of students within the program is key. This position will lead the Space Life Science Steering Committee and work closely with faculty mentors, unit leaders and upper administration to achieve program goals and learning objectives. This person will actively promote…