Lecturer

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is creating an environment that affirms community across all dimensions. We particularly welcome applicants who can contribute to such an environment through their scholarship, teaching, mentoring, and professional service. 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 .

This is a 9-month non-tenure-accruing position with the working title Instructional Assistant Professor (Classification title: Lecturer) that will be 100% teaching (College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, available in the Agricultural and Biological Engineering Department, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, at the University of Florida.  This assignment may change in accordance with the needs of the unit. 

Primary responsibilities include teaching undergraduate courses in our Agricultural Operations Management (College of Agricultural and Life Sciences) and Biological Engineering (Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering) curricula and providing experiential learning support at the W.W. Glenn Teaching Building. A hallmark of the ABE teaching programs is the hands-on learning provided in our classrooms with a systems thinking approach. This new teaching space will offer state of the art facilities for our faculty to lead hands-on learning and project maker space central to the Biological Engineering capstone design course series, our applied AOM courses, and support other existing and new courses. Our students, the department, and administration place value on these courses and it is one of the most cited reasons students select and are retained in our major. The position will also provide supervision and support for student clubs/organizations and student competitions.

Other responsibilities will include recruitment and retention activities, supporting accreditation requirements, and supporting the growing online and hybrid course options for the department. The individual will be expected to serve on department, college, and university committees related to undergraduate academic programs and participate in college-level shared governance.

Teaching activities will center around hands-on engineering topics including undergraduate level energy, mechanics, hydraulics, electronics, coding, artificial intelligence, design, and technology applications. Expertise of the successful candidate may vary and will be integrated into the curricula as appropriate. The candidate should have a passion for teaching and student engagement. The candidate will be a leader in demonstrating safe operational practices that align with UF regulations and ensure all safety protocols are practiced by students.

The successful candidate will also engage in scholarly activities related to instruction, including advising and mentoring undergraduate students, participating in curriculum revision and enhancement, seeking funding for the teaching program, supervising undergraduate research and creative work, publishing teaching-related scholarship, producing learning tools, and engaging in professional development activities related to teaching and advising. Faculty are encouraged to support and participate in the CALS Honors Program, distance education, and international education.

Background Information:

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.

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 35 faculty members located on the Gainesville campus, 7 faculty located across the state at research and education centers, and 20 support personnel, and consistently ranks in the top 10 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 climate variability and change, hydrology and water quality, crop modeling, precision agriculture, irrigation and drainage, data analytics and artificial intelligence, biosensors, mechatronics, and coupled natural and human ecosystems.

Commensurate with Education and Experience

A doctorate (foreign equivalent acceptable) in Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related engineering discipline is required. Experience in undergraduate instruction is required. Candidates should have demonstrated skills in verbal and written communication, interpersonal communication, teamwork, and leadership. Candidates must be supportive of the mission of the Land-Grant system. Candidates must also have a commitment to UF core values. 

Preferred: Record of scholarship in teaching and learning, including funding and support of teaching or academic programs. Curriculum development, including designing and implementing online, hybrid, and lab-based courses to enhance student learning and engagement. Involvement in professional societies or other entities related to the discipline. Mentorship experience with undergraduate or graduate students. Experience working with interdisciplinary teams within the college and university, fostering collaboration and integrating multifaceted perspectives to improve educational outcomes.

For full consideration, candidates should apply and submit materials by September 30, 2024.  The position will remain open until a viable applicant pool is determined.

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 # 532696

Dr. J. Adam Watson

Chair, Search and Screen Committee

University of Florida

Agricultural and Biological Engineering

PO Box 110570

Gainesville, FL  32611-0310

Telephone:                               352-294-6740

Facsimile:                                352-392-4092

Electronic Mail:                      jaw7385@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, teaching philosophy 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 of Florida is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. The University is committed to non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations, genetic information, and veteran status in all aspects of employment including recruitment, hiring, promotion, transfers, discipline, terminations, wage and salary administration, benefits, and training. The University and greater Gainesville community enjoy a variety of cultural events, restaurants, year-round outdoor recreational activities, and social opportunities.

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.