Assistant Professor of Informal Entomology Education

Classification Title:

Ast Prof

Job Description:

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 12-month tenure-accruing position based on main campus in Gainesville, FL, that will be 40% research (Florida Agricultural Experiment Station) and 60% Extension (Florida Cooperative Extension Service), available in the Entomology and Nematology Department, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, at the University of Florida. This assignment may change in accordance with the needs of the unit. Tenure will accrue in the Entomology and Nematology Department. The successful candidate will actively seek contract and grant funding to support their work and will engage in Extension activities in their program area. 

The UF Entomology and Nematology education program is the largest of its kind in the country and comprises in person and online degree-seeking undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as numerous public-facing outreach programs dedicated to hands-on learning about insects and nematodes. This position is intended to elevate the caliber of departmental outreach programming through evidence-based program development and assessment of outcomes. The successful candidate will direct the UF Entomology and Nematology Outreach Program, which includes a living “bug zoo,” an extensive array of educational materials, and which provides outreach training and experience for graduate and undergraduate students.

The successful candidate’s research may focus on evaluation of educational programs within the department, including but not limited to programs offered through the Outreach Program, formal classroom teaching, educational events for public audiences, and programs offered in partnership with other educational programs or networks. The successful candidate will be expected to be a resource to others in the department interested in formally evaluating educational programs.

Duties and responsibilities will include:

EXTENSION 60%. The successful candidate will be expected to develop independent and extramurally-funded Extension programs focused on the scholarship of teaching/extension and learning (SoTL) in Entomology and Nematology, while engaging a variety of audiences and stakeholder groups. These may include (but are not limited to):

• PreK-12 youth education, 4-H, etc., educators (PreK-12 teachers, Extension agents, informal and formal educators)
• Adult learners (e.g., Master Gardeners, Master Naturalists)
• County faculty, through in service trainings, curriculum development, and Extension Publications
• College and graduate students may also be a target audience, though formal classroom teaching is not included in the responsibilities of this role

RESEARCH 40%. The successful candidate will conduct innovative research to explore effective strategies for informal science education in entomology and related STEM disciplines. They are expected to provide leadership in program development and assessment, leveraging evaluation tools to measure and enhance the impact of educational initiatives across the department. As such, collaboration with other faculty members to develop broader impacts or educational components for research grants and programs are encouraged. It is expected that the faculty member will seek funding from agencies such as the USDA (e.g., Higher Education Challenge Grants) and NSF (e.g., Advancing Informal STEM Learning, Improving Undergraduate STEM Education) and will contribute to leveraging and leading training grants to enhance student learning and engagement in entomology. Research findings should be published in high-quality peer-reviewed journals and presented at national and international conferences.

This position is well positioned to foster partnerships with local, state, and national stakeholders to advance entomological science education. For example, collaboration opportunities within UF include: the CALS Teaching and Learning Collaborative, the Center for Precollegiate Education and Training, the UF Biodiversity Institute, the UF/IFAS Center for Public Issues Education, the Florida Museum of Natural History, the Thompson Earth Systems Institute, the Department of Agricultural Education and Communication, and the College of Education, among others.

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

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 Entomology and Nematology Department has a variety of teaching, research, and Extension programs with 38 faculty members located on main campus in Gainesville and 39 faculty located at 11 Research and Education Centers throughout the state. 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.

Expected Salary:

Commensurate with Experience and Education

Minimum Requirements:

• A doctorate (foreign equivalent acceptable) in entomology, education, museum studies, or a closely related discipline is required by date of appointment.
• Strong collaboration and excellent communication skills.
• Supportive of the mission of the Land-Grant system.
• A commitment to UF core values. 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Postdoctoral experience.
• Demonstrated commitment to or expertise in informal science education, program development, and/or program assessment.
• Experience teaching in-person and/or online.
• Experience working with a wide range of audiences, such as youth, educators, and community stakeholders.
• Evidence of research success as documented by peer-reviewed publications and prior success in securing competitive funding.
• Experience collaborating across disciplines and/or working as part of a team on educational and broader impact components of grants.
• Experience mentoring graduate and undergraduate students.

Special Instructions to Applicants:

For full consideration, candidates should apply and submit materials by May 1, 2025. The position will remain open until a viable applicant pool is determined.

Employment Conditions

This position is available August 15, 2025 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 # 535265

Dr. Andrea Lucky

Chair, Search and Screen Committee

University of Florida

Entomology and Nematology Department

1881 Natural Area Drive

Gainesville, FL 32611-0620

Telephone: 352-273-3952

Facsimile: 352-392-5660

Electronic Mail: [email protected]

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
• Research Statement, including vision for Extension (not more than 2 pages)
• 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, 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.

Health Assessment Required: No

Read Full Description