Chair & 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. 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 .

DEPARTMENTAL OVERVIEW:

The UF/IFAS Department of Animal Sciences is dedicated to advancing teaching, research, and extension in livestock species including beef, dairy, poultry, swine, and equine, by integrating modern technologies with strong hands-on training. The department of ~37 faculty serves approximately 80 graduate students and 560 undergraduate students across its four major specialization tracks: Animal Biology, Equine, Food Animal, and Integrative Animal Sciences. Students benefit from extensive research, extension, and teaching resources, preparing them for impactful careers in academia, industry, and allied animal and agricultural sciences.  The UF/IFAS Department of Animal Sciences operates across multiple locations, including its Gainesville main campus facilities (Animal Sciences Building, Beef, Dairy, Horse, and Sheep Units) and several statewide Research and Education Centers (NFREC in Marianna and Range Cattle REC in Ona) to support our land-grant mission throughout Florida.

Animal Facilities: The Department of Animal Sciences oversees a wide range of teaching and research units encompassing more than 5,000 acres across beef, dairy, equine, and small ruminant enterprises. Key resources include cow-calf, feedlot, purebred Brahman, and multibreed beef herds totaling over 900 head; a dairy unit milking approximately 425 cows; a quarter horse production herd of 80–100 head; and a sheep unit supporting around 100 head with seasonal expansion. Forage production is extensive, with more than 900 acres in hay and silage and 400-600 acres in corn annually (on- and off-site). These facilities provide critical infrastructure to support nationally recognized programs in teaching, research, and Extension.

Strategic Plan and Mission:

Mission: The Department of Animal Sciences mission is to provide the highest level of education, create transformative knowledge, and deliver solutions to stakeholders in Florida and globally.

Vision: To be the global leader in Animal Sciences, enabling our faculty, students, and stakeholders to lead and shape the future of animal agriculture.

Values:  Excellence, integrity, collaboration, passion, and innovation.

Research: 1) Facilitate the Research Process: Improve success in grant awards and efficiency in the research process. 2) Improved Research Infrastructure: Create a technologically modern infrastructure that facilitates industry leading research.

Teaching: 1) Engagement: Engage our stakeholders and animal science’s industry to provide critical evaluation and input of current and pending curriculum. 2) Facilities: Establish and maintain a technologically advanced, modern and attractive teaching infrastructure.

Extension: 1) Assess Focus: Define our extension program focus and direction. 2) Improve Extension Program Delivery.      

Overall: 1) Student Recruitment and Retention. 2) Recruit, Hire and Retain Synergizing Faculty. 3) Development.

Metrics: According to US News and World Report, the UF/IFAS Animal Sciences Department ranks 4th nationally and 14th globally.  In 2023, 71.7% and 9.7% of the department's publications were published in top 25% and top 5% journals, respectively. The department is currently training 563 Animal Sciences undergraduate majors, 30 MS students, and 53 PhD students. 

Duties and Responsibilities of Chair Position:

• Cultivate stakeholder engagement and alignment with the department’s mission and program priorities.
• Engage and consult with an external advisory board and stakeholders in beef, dairy, equine, swine, poultry, small ruminants, meat science, and allied industries to guide program development and impact.
• Provide vision, support, and coordination in planning, developing, and implementing departmental programs in Teaching, Research, and extension in accord with the Land-Grant mission.
• Encourage proactive development of strategic, interdisciplinary programs that address Florida’s and the nation’s priorities in animal agriculture and related industries.
• Provide strategic financial leadership and stewardship of a large, financially complex enterprise, ensuring long-term sustainability and growth across all departmental animal programs, while effectively navigating changing funding conditions and resource constraints.
• Develop, promote, and facilitate external funding opportunities from public and private sources, including entrepreneurial initiatives, philanthropy, and donor relations.
• Recruit, retain, and foster the academic growth and professional development of faculty, staff, and students, cultivating a collegial departmental culture.
• Advance undergraduate and graduate education, including recruitment, retention, experiential learning, workforce development, and online offerings where appropriate.
• Provide leadership and administration for statewide Teaching, Research, and extension programs, including coordination of Animal Sciences programs at UF/IFAS Research and Education Centers (RECs).
• Administer the department’s human, fiscal, and physical resources with transparency and accountability, while championing strategic planning and assessment.
• Foster shared governance; evaluate faculty and staff performance; support mentorship, retention, and promotion.
• Represent the department and faculty interests with IFAS and University administrators; collaborate with other departments, schools, RECs, and the College of Veterinary Medicine, as well as with state, federal, and international partners.

Background Information:

Economic Impacts of Animal Agriculture in Florida

• Florida’s beef and dairy industries are major economic engines. The state exports more than $1 billion annually in cattle, meat, and dairy products to international markets, supported by 5.4 million acres of improved pasture, rangeland, and dairy cattle production — representing 15.6% of Florida’s total land area. Beef farming directly employs 8,174 people and generates $640 million in economic impact for producers, while meat processing adds another 3,045 jobs and $1.566 billion in revenues. The dairy sector contributes substantially as well, with 1,924 jobs and $621 million in farm-level revenues, plus 2,293 jobs and $1.504 billion from dairy product manufacturing. Beyond production, wholesalers, retailers, and allied services expand the industry’s reach, supporting more than 42,000 jobs and adding over $3.7 billion in economic activity. Together, Florida’s beef and dairy industries represent a cornerstone of the state’s agricultural economy and a vital area of focus for UF’s land-grant mission.
• Florida’s equine industries drive billions in economic activity and job creation. The state ranks third nationally in equine population with ~335,000 head, contributing $12.8 billion annually to the Florida economy, supporting more than 112,000 jobs, and over 561,000 acres of grazable land dedicated to horses. The University of Florida horse program is recognized as one of the top—if not the leading—equine production teaching programs in the nation. Anchored by two equine units in Gainesville and Ocala, UF delivers nationally recognized education, research, and commercial production programs that connect students and stakeholders directly to one of Florida’s most dynamic agricultural sectors.
• Florida’s small ruminant sector is a fast-growing niche with strong market potential. In 2021, the state reported a combined 7,415 animal units (AUs) of sheep, meat goats, and dairy goats.  Since 2011, small ruminant production has grown by 11% overall, with significant increases in sheep (+54%) and dairy goats (+80%). While smaller in scale than cattle, dairy, or equine, the industry is fueled by rising demand for lamb, goat meat, and specialty dairy products in ethnic and niche markets. Beyond direct sales, small ruminants provide ecosystem services through brush control and multi-species grazing, adding resilience and diversity to Florida’s livestock economy.
• Florida has a substantial poultry industry, encompassing both egg and broiler production. The state has a large commercial egg industry, with 11 million laying hens producing nearly 2 billion eggs annually and $141 million in sales. Florida also produces about 60 million broilers, generating 380 million pounds of meat and roughly $300 million in sales. Specialized organic and cage-free farms represent a fast-growing sector of the industry in the state.

Animal Sciences at UF/IFAS — Unit-Specific Highlights

• Academic programs: B.S. in Animal Sciences with specializations such as Animal Biology (pre‑professional), Food Animal, Equine/Industry, and Integrative Animal Sciences; M.S. and Ph.D. programs in Animal Sciences.
• Facilities (Gainesville campus): Animal Sciences Building with research and teaching laboratories; Beef Teaching Unit, Beef Research Unit; Santa Fe Beef Unit; Dairy Unit; Horse Teaching Unit; Meat Processing Center; Sheep Unit; and associated teaching/research herds and classrooms.
• Statewide footprint and collaborations: close partnerships with UF/IFAS Research and Education Centers including the Range Cattle REC (Ona) and the North Florida REC (Marianna) to support Research and Extension in beef, forage, grazing systems, and animal health.
• Research strengths: genomics and quantitative genetics, precision livestock management and data science, nutrition and metabolism, physiology and reproduction, health and welfare, meat science and safety, and sustainable livestock systems.
• Extension and stakeholder engagement: robust programs serving Florida’s beef, dairy, equine, meat, poultry, small ruminant, and swine industries through producer education, youth development, and technology transfer.

The Department of Animal Sciences advances Research, Teaching, and Extension programs that enhance the health, welfare, productivity, and sustainability of food and companion animals and the industries they support. Existing faculty expertise spans animal biology and systems, genetics and genomics, nutrition, physiology and reproduction, health and welfare, meat science, and data‑enabled decision support. Faculty are located in Gainesville and at UF/IFAS Research and Education Centers throughout Florida, working closely with producers, allied industries, and public agencies to deliver statewide impact.

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.

Gainesville and Alachua County offer a high quality of life with a vibrant cultural arts scene, abundant outdoor recreation, and world‑class medical facilities.

Commensurate with Education and Experience

• Earned doctorate (foreign equivalent acceptable) in Animal Sciences or a closely related discipline (e.g., nutrition, physiology, reproductive biology, genetics, meat science, dairy science, veterinary science).
• A record of outstanding scholarly achievement and professional activities in one or more of the Land‑Grant missions (Research, Teaching, Extension, and/or industry) that will qualify the individual for tenure at the rank of full professor by the date of appointment.
• Evidence of effective administrative leadership and managerial skills, including strategic planning; management of human, fiscal, and physical resources; team building; and mentoring.
• Demonstrated ability to lead multidisciplinary, grant‑funded programs and to generate and manage extramural funds in support of Research, Teaching, and Extension.
• Effective administrative leadership and managerial skills in: defining organizational objectives; developing strategic approaches to planning; managing human, fiscal, and physical resources; motivating people and developing effective teams; pursuing entrepreneurial opportunities; generating and managing grant funds in support of teaching, research, and extension; facilitating mentoring and retention of new faculty; securing private funds; and attending to details.
• Ability to direct a statewide academic unit with faculty located in Gainesville and at UF/IFAS RECs; commitment to shared governance and overall excellence.
• Strong commitment to undergraduate and graduate student success, including recruitment and retention across all academic programs.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; demonstrated ability to interact effectively with students, faculty, staff, administrators, industry, producers, and other external stakeholders at state, national, and international levels.
• Commitment to continued professional development for self, and faculty and staff.
• Strong support and understanding of the mission of a Land Grant university.
• Candidates must also have a commitment to UF core values. 

• Experience working with or within large Land‑Grant systems, including coordination across campus units, county Extension, and Research and Education Centers.
• Experience supporting development/fundraising and cultivating alumni and stakeholder relations.
• Experience affirming community across all dimensions through programs, policy, or practice.

For full consideration, candidates should apply and submit materials by November 15, 2025.  The position will remain open until a viable applicant pool is determined.

Employment Conditions

This position is available January 1, 2026, 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 and Questions

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 # 537393

Prof. Eric W. Triplett

Chair, Microbiology and Cell Science Department

University of Florida – IFAS

Gainesville, FL 32611

email: ewt@ufl.edu

Application Information

• Individuals wishing to apply should go online to Careers at UF and submit:

• • Cover letter describing interest in the position; qualifications relative to the credentials listed above; prior leadership responsibilities and achievements; administrative and management philosophy; and a vision for enhancing the department’s research, teaching, and Extension programs.
  • Complete curriculum vitae (including current position and responsibilities).
  • Contact information (including email addresses) for three individuals who are knowledgeable about the applicant’s qualifications for this position.

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 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.