Assistant Professor in Risk Analysis, Health and Safety of Agricultural Systems

Duties and Responsibilities

This is a 12-month tenure-accruing position that will be 0% teaching (College of Agricultural and Life Sciences), 50% research (Florida Agricultural Experiment Station) and 50% extension (Florida Cooperative Extension Service), available in the Agricultural and Biological Engineering Department (ABE), Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, at the University of Florida.  This assignment may change in accordance with the needs of the unit. 

Duties will include building a program in risk analysis, safety and health challenges using new technologies (e.g., smart sensors, wearables, connected technology, etc.) that will address the agriculture, forestry, and fisheries (AFF) system in Florida, with an integrated view encompassing jobs in the field (planting, maintenance, harvesting, etc.) through postharvest activities (packing, processing, shipping and handling, etc.). This position will develop partnerships with growers, farm worker groups, processors, equipment manufacturers, and various agencies to assist the AFF industry in maintaining safe and healthy working environments and practices. An interest/background and close collaboration in the social sciences is necessary to address interactions with industry on sensitive safety and health issues, the public health component, understanding adoption, etc. As such it is expected that this faculty member will maintain an active affiliate faculty status with the Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, including participating in projects, meetings and graduate supervisory committees. The faculty will be responsible for building an interdisciplinary program in worker safety and health in agriculture, forestry, and fisheries systems (e.g., heat illness and agrochemicals exposure), technology and equipment assessment for safety and health hazards mitigation, and safety of existing and newly developed mechanized systems and operations. The candidate is expected to bring a systems approach to agricultural safety and health including leadership in the development of a web portal with extension tools addressing safely, risk and health in agriculture, forestry and fisheries.

The successful candidate will be expected to collaborate with other state and county extension

faculty who offer existing programs in agricultural safety and health, as well as conduct in-service trainings and participate in field days and other client-focused Extension programs, workshops and events. In addition, the candidate will create/develop new decision support tools and/or sensors to support these programs. This position is also expected to work closely with Faculty in Family, Youth and Community Sciences (FYCS), Animal Science, Agronomy, Entomology, Horticulture as well as collaborate with the UF Health Center to coordinate and enhance various safety and health-related outreach activities and identify needs for research in this area. Key clientele groups will include growers and their associations such as the Florida Farm Bureau, Florida Fertilizer and Agricultural Chemicals Association, equipment manufacturers and dealers, farm labor groups as well as Florida food processing and manufacturing companies and their associations. A participation in the national agricultural safety group and familiarity with the National Agriculture Safety Database (nasdonline.org) are required as a part of this position. The successful candidate is expected to create an innovative research program in the development of computer-based decision support systems/tools and/or sensors that can improve agricultural safety of Florida farm workers and the agricultural enterprise. A strong nationally and internationally recognized research program supported by a research group including a strong graduate program and extramural funding from state and federal agency is expected. The candidate is expected to promote his/her research activity and leadership in professional societies, supported by sustained publication activity in top scientific journals. The candidate will have the opportunity to collaborate with other faculty and research partners, creating synergy both inside and outside of the University of Florida. The candidate will be also expected to participate in all activities of departmental academic life such as research groups, mentorship of undergraduate and graduate students, and academic service activities; and work closely with other faculty in IFAS, the College of Engineering, the Emerging Pathogens Institute, the UF Water Institute and Florida Climate Institute.

The faculty member will participate actively in undergraduate education and graduate education by chairing graduate committees, serving on graduate committees, supervising thesis and dissertation research, supervising undergraduate research, and publishing the results with his/her graduate students.  The faculty member will seek contract and grant funding actively to support his/her program.  The faculty member will engage in Extension activities in his or her program area.  

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

Background Information:

The Agricultural and Biological Engineering Department is a unit in the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) at the University of Florida and has diverse teaching, research and extension education programs. The Department is comprised of 27 faculty members located on the Gainesville campus, 5 faculty located across the state at research and education centers, 10 courtesy faculty and 20 support personnel (see website http://abe.ufl.edu), and consistently ranks in the top 5 Agricultural and Biological Engineering programs nationwide. Instilling excellence in research, leadership, innovation, and entrepreneurship are ABE's highest priorities. At ABE, the candidate will join a dynamic, cross-disciplinary group of researchers, and will enjoy broad opportunities for collaborations with existing teams, including those studying biofilm systems and biosensors, biofuels, coupled natural and human ecosystems, nanotechnology and nanomaterials, climate variability and change, crop modeling, hydrology and water quality.

The University of Florida (http://www.ufl.edu) is a Land-Grant, Sea-Grant, and Space-Grant institution, encompassing virtually all academic and professional disciplines, with an enrollment of more than 54,000 students.  UF is a member of The Association of American Universities.  The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (http://ifas.ufl.edu) includes the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (http://cals.ufl.edu), the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station (http://research.ifas.ufl.edu), the Florida Cooperative Extension Service (http://extension.ifas.ufl.edu), the College of Veterinary Medicine (http://www.vetmed.ufl.edu), the Florida Sea Grant program (http://www.flseagrant.org/ ), 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.  IFAS employs over 2500 people, which includes approximately 900 faculty and 1200 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 Senior 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.

Employment Conditions This position is available August 2, 2019 and will be filled as soon thereafter as an acceptable applicant is available.  Compensation is commensurate with the education, experience, and qualifications of the selected applicant.

Nominations

Nominations are welcome.  Nominations need to include the complete name and address of the nominee. This information should be sent to:

Please refer to Requisition # 48176

Won Suk Lee

Chair, Search and Screen Committee

University of Florida

Agricultural & Biological Engineering

P.O. Box 110570

Gainesville, FL 32611

Telephone:                              352-294-6721

Facsimile:                               352-392-4092

Electronic Mail:                      wslee@ufl.edu

Application Information

• Individuals wishing to apply should go online to http://apply.interfolio.com/64360 and submit:
• Cover letter that states applicant’s interest in the position and qualifications relative to the credentials listed above
• Curriculum vitae
• Contact information (including email addresses) for Three (3) individuals willing to write letters of recommendation
• Unofficial transcripts

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).

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). 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. 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. The University and greater Gainesville community enjoy a diversity of cultural events, restaurants, year-round outdoor recreational activities, and social opportunities.