Assistant Professor AI & Molecular Genetics

This is a 9-month tenure-accruing position that will be 20% teaching (College of Agricultural and Life Sciences) and 80% research available in the Microbiology and Cell Science Department, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, at the University UFGI of Florida Genetics Institute.  This assignment may change in accordance with the needs of the units.  Duties will include teaching a genetics, molecular/cell biology, or genomics course to students in the life sciences annually, train PhD students, contribute to the graduate curriculum, and conduct research in the field of genetics/genomics applying machine learning/AI methods. UFGI is particularly interested in candidates who conduct research in the field of nuclear receptor action. Tenure will accrue in the Department of Microbiology and Cell Science. The faculty member will seek contract and grant funding actively to support their program.  The faculty member will engage in Extension activities in their program area.  

The successful candidate will engage in scholarly activities related to instruction, including teaching undergraduate and/or graduate courses, advising and mentoring undergraduate and graduate students, participating in curriculum revision and enhancement, seeking funding for the teaching program, supervising undergraduate and graduate 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.

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 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 56,000 students.  UF is a member of The Association of American Universities.  The University of Florida is home to HyPerGator 3.0, one of the most powerful supercomputers available to a University in the world (https://www.rc.ufl.edu/services/hipergator/hipergator-3-0/).  It includes 49,920 AMD cores for traditional computing and 608 NVIDIA GPUs for artificial intelligence analyses.

The University of Florida Genetics Institute is an interdisciplinary institute that seeks to promote excellence in the areas of genetics and genomics through research, education, and outreach. There are over 220 faculty who are members of UFGI and are from multiple colleges at UF including the Colleges of Medicine, Pharmacy, Veterinary Medicine, Liberal Arts & Sciences, Engineering as well as from IFAS. UFGI also administers the Genetics & Genomics Ph.D. program.

The Microbiology and Cell Science Department has 27 tenured or tenure-track faculty, 6 lecturers, 60 PhD students, 900 MS students, and 1,000 undergraduate students.  We strive for diversity, equity, and inclusion at all levels in our department.  We pride ourselves in our commitment to computational and bioinformatics training that is crucial for our graduates to be blue chip recruits for positions in the life sciences. 

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is committed to creating an environment of inclusive excellence that affirms diversity across a variety of dimensions, including ability, class, ethnicity/race, gender identity and expression. Inclusive excellence is the active process of including and respecting everyone as we strive for excellence and equitable outcomes in all we do at the University of Florida. We particularly welcome applicants who can contribute to such an environment through their scholarship, teaching, mentoring, and professional service. We strongly encourage historically underrepresented groups to apply.

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 

EXPECTED SALARY:

Commensurate with Education and Experience

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

A doctorate (foreign equivalent acceptable) in the life sciences with a strong computational background and experience in machine learning/ artificial intelligence.  Candidates should have demonstrated skills in verbal and written communication, interpersonal relationships, and procurement of extramural funding.  Candidates must be supportive of the mission of the Land-Grant system.  Candidates must also have a commitment to IFAS core values of excellence, diversity, global involvement, and accountability.  

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Postdoctoral experience is desirable. 

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANTS:

For full consideration, candidates should apply and submit materials by November 1, 2022.  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 # 522816  

Professor Wilfred Vermerris, Chair, Search and Screen Committee

University of Florida

Microbiology and Cell Science Department

University of Florida Genetics Institute

CRGC 302

Gainesville, FL 32611-3610

Telephone:                               352-273-8162

Facsimile:                                352-392-5922

Electronic Mail:                      wev@ufl.edu

Application Information

• Individuals wishing to apply should go online to https://explore.jobs.ufl.edu/en-us/job/522816 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 individuals willing to write letters of recommendation
• Unofficial transcripts
• Research statement with a maximum of 1,500 words
• Teaching statement with a maximum of 1,000 words
• Diversity statement with a maximum of 500 words

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 Opportunity Institution dedicated to building a broadly diverse and inclusive faculty and staff. The University and greater Gainesville community enjoy a diversity of cultural events, restaurants, year-round outdoor recreational activities, and social opportunities.