Post-Doctoral of Agricultural Engineering; Decision Support, Agrometeorology

Post-Doctoral Research Associate

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is creating an environment that affirms community across all dimensions. The Agricultural and Biological Engineering Department is seeking a highly motivated individual to join the Agro Climate group as a post-doctoral research associate under the supervision of Dr. Clyde W. Fraisse. The successful candidate will conduct computational research on agricultural spatio-temporal analysis to identify, measure, and monitor the effects of climate variability and extreme weather events on crop growth and development.

Primary responsibilities (70%) include investigating and quantifying crop production risk associated with climate anomalies under a project funded by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Demonstrated experience working with climate datasets and remote sensing products (e.g., satellite-derived indices, geospatial data analysis) is highly desirable. The selected candidate will also provide support (30%) to a second project focusing on strawberry disease risk assessment at the national level using weather stations and gridded weather products.

This is a 12-month, grant-funded, non-tenure-accruing position in the Agricultural and Biological Engineering Department, with the possibility of extension contingent upon the availability of funding. 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.

Expected Salary:
Commensurate with Education and Experience

Required Qualifications:

A Ph.D. (foreign equivalent acceptable) in Agricultural Engineering, Agronomy, Geography, Meteorology or closely related field with background in geospatial analysis is required. Candidates must be supportive of the mission of the Land-Grant system. Candidates must also have a commitment to UF core values.

Preferred:
Experience with R/Python programming languages is desirable.

Special Instructions to Applicants:
Application must be submitted by 11:55 p.m. (ET) of the posting end date. Individuals wishing to apply should go online to Careers at UF and submit: cover letter that states applicant's interest in the position and qualifications relative to the credentials listed above, curriculum vitae, list of publications, contact information (including email addresses) for 3 individuals willing to write letters of recommendation, unofficial transcripts.

Contact information:
Questions regarding the position may be directed to:
Dr. Clyde W. Fraisse Agricultural & Biological Engineering University of Florida, P.O. Box 110570 Gainesville, FL  Email: cfraisse 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.