Agricultural​/Food Scientist II

Agricultural/Food Scientist II

Job No: 537190

Work Type: Full Time

Location: Gadsden

Categories: Grant or Research Administration, Agricultural Sciences, Agriculture Operations

Department:  - AG-NFREC-QUINCY

This person will collaborate with the immediate supervisor (faculty member) to coordinate, implement, and manage research and extension projects in soil science. The employee is required to work independently, following general instruction and modify procedures, as needed. Supervise the activities of OPS workers, agricultural technicians, and students. The position requires familiarity with procedures typically used in a soil and plant testing laboratory, such as plant tissue and soil collections, drying, sieving, grinding samples, weighing out and applying fertilizers and related lab‑grade salt and acid reagents.

Other physical and analytical activities include, but are not limited to, the use of LiCor gas exchange units, leaf area meters, sap test meters, soil infiltrometers, Ksat, and Hyprop unsaturated conductivity equipment. Most effort will be on NFREC campus but there will be some travel to sample on‑farm locations.

Employee will manage and maintain the greenhouse, laboratory, analytic equipment, and other assigned facilities and equipment. This requires an ability to keep current records on instrument calibrations and laboratory inventories, as well as maintain lab records for UF chem safety program. The position requires knowledge about the laws and regulations regarding storage, handling, and application of restricted‑use and other laboratory chemicals and of worker‑protection standards and will modify protocol, as needed.

The Ag/Food Scientist II will ensure that supervised employees adhere to appropriate law, regulations, and standards. Will be expected to drive an automatic transmission pick‑up truck.

Position requires fluency in MS Word, Excel, and Powerpoint software. Experience with MS TEAMS and creating multimedia content are desirable. Data entry into spreadsheets and using shared database platforms, along with statistical summaries will be required.

Preparation of internet‑based educational materials, graphs, and posters for extension education. Other duties as assigned.

Requires physical fitness to auger holes in field plots, periodic lifting (up to 50 lbs), ability to load and drive an automatic transmission pick‑up truck, and ability to work in a laboratory and outdoors in hot, inclement weather. Approximately 30% of time is spent outdoors in field plots or traveling to field plots. Mental fitness is required for sample preparation and operating analytic equipment, as well as troubleshooting in the lab and field when unsupervised.

The employee may apply chemical fertilizers and biosolids in fertility studies in fields and greenhouses. The position may require the occasional use of stable isotope 15N for experimental purposes.

• Doctoral degree in agricultural science, biology, or a closely related field; or a master’s degree in agricultural science, biology, or a closely related field and one year of relevant experience; or a bachelor’s degree in agricultural science, biology, or a closely related field and three years of relevant experience.
• Valid driver’s license.
• Preferred: MS or BS degree in Ag/plant or soil and water sciences.
• Ability to pay attention to detail, record and transfer data from field to online spreadsheets and other shared platforms.
• Ability to work unsupervised, set work priorities, assign work, ensure completion of assignments, and report updates to the supervisor.
• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
• Knowledge of laboratory equipment and greenhouse management, along with strong computer skills.
• Physical fitness for field and lab work (as described above).

Applications Close: 09 March 2026

Health Assessment

Required:

Yes

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The University of Florida is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.

Hiring is contingent on eligibility to work in the U.S. The University of Florida is a public institution and is subject to all requirements under Florida Sunshine and Public Record laws. 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.