Ctr Dir & Prof

Candidates for this faculty rank shall be qualified for the rank of associate professor and, in addition, be a recognized national or international authority or an outstanding teacher in their field or specialization. A candidate for this rank must have a distinguished record of achievement beyond the associate professor level.

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is creating an environment that affirms community across all dimensions. 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 12-month 100% (1.0 FTE) administration position. The Director is responsible for the management and coordination of all research, extension and academic programs at the Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory (FMEL), located in Vero Beach, Florida. The Director provides leadership and assistance to the faculty and staff at the center in developing and implementing research, extension, and academic programs and seeks Federal, State, and/or private funds to supplement the budget provided by the Florida Legislature. Other administrative responsibilities include the preparation of budgets, allocation of operating funds to all sections of the Center, evaluation of all FMEL faculty members in conjunction with department chairs, the initiation of tenure and promotion for FMEL faculty members in consultation with appropriate department chairs, and supervision of staff including farm operations, automotive services, custodial/janitorial/maintenance services, and the center’s media specialist. The Director is responsible for communicating all facility needs and maintenance requirements to the appropriate staff and administrators. Close interaction with industry representatives and governmental agencies is expected. The Director strengthens and maintains strong ties and goodwill with stakeholders and support organizations, regulatory agencies, environmental groups, local and statewide governmental agencies, members of urban and rural clientele groups, and the public.

The Director works with faculty and staff to facilitate a multi-disciplinary program related to the FMEL's mission and actively encourages and supports graduate educational programs at the Center. The Director interacts with other research and education center directors, department chairs, faculty, and county extension faculty to foster cooperation and collaboration among faculty members at different administrative units within the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS). The Director must have the necessary skills to recruit and develop faculty and staff that will be responsive to the research and extension educational needs of the FMEL's clientele groups. The Director will report administratively to the Senior Vice President for Agriculture and Natural Resources and programmatically to the deans and directors of the three functions: Research, Academic Programs, and Cooperative Extension.

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.

Background Information: The Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory, part of the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, is located in Vero Beach along the Indian River Lagoon on Florida's subtropical east coast. The Laboratory, established in 1956, has a legislative mandate to: 1) Conduct research in the biology and control of biting insects and other arthropods which are important transmitters of disease or pest annoyances and on the pathogens they transmit, 2) Be a center to train students and personnel from public health, veterinary science, sanitation, mosquito control, urban planning and engineering, wetlands management, and other fields requiring knowledge of medical entomology, and 3)  Integrate international programs into the Center’s research, teaching and extension activities. Our mission is to conduct cutting edge research in medical entomology that includes vectors, pathogens and their interactions and management utilizing a global and environmentally-sound approach; extend and apply resulting knowledge and innovations locally and globally for the benefit of Florida and the global community; and translate faculty expertise and insights into an effective program for training and instruction of current and future researchers, teachers, public health workers, and the general public. FMEL strives to be a globally recognized medical entomology and public health research and education center serving as a nexus of international collaborative research on vector-borne diseases.

Today, the FMEL is one of the world's largest research institutions devoted to the understanding and control of medically important and biting insects. Modern laboratory and support facilities and easy access to natural habitats offer an environment conducive to scientific investigation. The FMEL Extension programs provide information gained through research on biting insects and other arthropods that transmit disease to mosquito control and public health professionals, UF/IFAS Extension faculty, and the public. FMEL’s Extension programs also provide training in medical entomology to public health and mosquito control professionals within Florida as well as internationally.

The FMEL staff includes 11 faculty in the University of Florida's Entomology and Nematology Department as well as post-doctoral fellows, graduate and undergraduate students, and visiting scientists.  Research support is provided by appropriate technical, clerical, administrative, and maintenance personnel. The laboratories, administrative building, graduate student building, maintenance building and other infrastructure of FMEL are nestled among 38 acres of coastal forest habitats. More information on the FMEL, UF/IFAS, and the region is at can be found here.

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.

Commensurate with Education and Experience

Candidates should have a Ph.D. (foreign equivalent acceptable) in Entomology, Biology, Ecology, Epidemiology, Public Health or closely related fields relevant to the mission of FMEL and experience in conducting major research and/or extension education programs. The candidate must have academic credentials that merit appointment at the rank of a tenured Professor in the appropriate academic department within IFAS. The candidate should have strong professional leadership, verbal and written communication, interpersonal, and administrative skills. Experience in obtaining and managing extramural support from industry, governmental, and/or regulatory agencies is required. Candidates must be supportive of the mission of the land-grant system and must also have a commitment to UF core values. 

Previous administrative experience is desirable.

For full consideration, candidates should apply and submit materials by 15 February 2026.  The position will remain open until a viable applicant pool is determined.

Nominations

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

Please refer to Requisition # 538179

Samira Daroub

Chair, Search and Screen Committee

University of Florida/IFAS

Everglades Research and Education Center| 

3200 E. Palm Beach Rd.,

Belle Glade, FL 33430

Telephone:                               (561) 914-1618

Electronic Mail:                      sdaroub@ufl.edu

Application Information

• 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
• Contact information (including email addresses) for 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). 

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.