Assistant Professor - Pedology and Soil-Ecoinformatics

Ast Prof

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The Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences Department invites applications for a tenure track faculty position in Pedology and Soil-Ecoinformatics. This is a 9 month tenure-accruing position that will be 30% teaching (College of Agricultural and Life Sciences) and 70% research (Florida Agricultural Experiment Station), available in the Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences Department, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, at the University of Florida.  This assignment may change in accordance with the needs of the unit. We seek an innovative, collaborative scholar who integrates computational methods, data science, and ecological principles to advance our understanding of soil-landscape-atmosphere interactions and to translate those advances into practical tools. We are looking for a candidate with a strong foundation in pedology, soil–landscape relationships, and soil ecosystem processes who applies modern computational and quantitative approaches to advance our understanding of soil formation, properties, functions, and responses to environmental and management changes. The position is based on the University of Florida main campus within the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. Tenure will accrue in the Department of Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences.

The incumbent is expected to develop a nationally and internationally recognized research program in soil-ecoinformatics, with a strong emphasis on integrating data driven artificial intelligence (AI) with mechanistic biogeochemical and hydrologic process models. Soil ecoinformatics is an interdisciplinary field at the intersection of soil science, ecosystem services, and computational environmental analysis. Eco-Informatics in this context combines rigorous ecological, environmental, and soil science foundations with scalable computational and geospatial methods to produce robust, interpretable, and actionable results.

The faculty member will collaborate across disciplines, including soil science, computer science, environmental engineering, ecology, hydrology, and agronomy, to address complex agricultural and environmental challenges. Research efforts will focus on developing approaches that advance soil conservation, agronomic nutrient management, and terrestrial ecosystem management through combined laboratory, field based, proximal, and remote sensing observations to characterize vadose zone soil properties and dynamics, with attention to the sandy soils common in Florida and other coastal and inland systems. The position emphasizes application of geoprocessing techniques, quantitative analysis of soil formation, variability, and function, and the development and application of mechanistic and data/AI models. Particular emphasis will be placed on hybrid modeling frameworks that integrate pedological knowledge and mechanistic understanding with data-driven approaches. Research should prioritize open, reproducible workflows, robust data stewardship, and the construction of shared, extensible data products, models, and decision support tools.

This appointment is intended to complement and extend existing SWES strengths, building concrete partnerships with current faculty to expand AI enabled digital soil mapping, geospatial and pedometric modeling, and translational extension products. Priority will be given to candidates who demonstrate plans for collaborative research, joint externally funded projects, co mentoring of students, co teaching, and the delivery of shared extension tools (for example, model platforms, dashboards, and applications) that accelerate adoption of best management practices.

The new faculty member will actively participate in departmental education by advising and mentoring undergraduate and graduate students, chairing and co chairing thesis and dissertation committees, and publishing high quality research with student co authors. Engagement in IFAS extension and the co development of translational resources with extension faculty is expected. The incumbent will actively seek extramural funding to support a vibrant research group and graduate student recruitment.

The faculty member will teach two courses per academic year at the undergraduate and/or graduate level using in person, online, or hybrid formats. Teaching responsibilities may include Environmental Pedology (SWS 4715C/5716C), Soils for Environmental Professionals (SWS 5050), or other courses aligned with departmental needs and the incumbent’s expertise. The Department welcomes candidates who plan to co teach with current faculty and to contribute to the scholarship of teaching and learning through innovative pedagogies, data rich instructional tools, and the development of reproducible teaching materials.

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. The Pedology and Soil Ecoinformatics program should support translational outcomes by delivering accessible tools, data products, and guidance that inform soil, crop, and ecosystem health across Florida and beyond. Strong emphasis will be placed on partnerships within the Department and with state and regional stakeholders to maximize societal impact.