Lecturer/Senior Lecturer

University of Florida; Gainesville (FL); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Florida in Gainesville seeks a 12-month, non-tenure-accruing faculty member with a 100% teaching appointment in the Department of Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences (SWES), IFAS. The lecturer will develop student-centered teaching and mentoring, integrating AI and data science to enhance experiential learning across environmental and ecosystem topics.

Teaching will span undergraduate and graduate courses in in-person, hybrid, and/or distance formats, with possible revision and

Responsibilities

• Teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in face-to-face, hybrid, and/or distance formats.
• Revise and assume responsibility for teaching one or more existing courses as needed.
• Mentor students and support undergraduate research, internships, and independent study projects.
• Advise students in non-thesis MS program and participate in supervisory committees as appropriate.
• Integrate experiential learning labs into course activities and student mentoring.
• Contribute to curriculum assessment, revision, and enhancement, and pursue scholarship on teaching and learning.

Job description

This is a12-month, non-tenure-accruing faculty positionwith a100% teaching appointmentin the Department of Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences (SWES), Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS), at the University of Florida's main campus in Gainesville, Florida. Faculty assignments may be adjusted based on departmental and college priorities.

The successful candidate will contribute to the department's instructional mission by providing innovative, student-centered teaching and mentoring while advancing experiential learning and integrating emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and data science. This position will contribute to a cohort of teaching-centered faculty within the department. Ideal candidates will have experience in at least two of the three department focus areas (soil, water, and ecosystems); and a commitment to Scholarship of Teaching and Learning.

Teaching Responsibilities

The lecturer will teach undergraduate and graduate courses in face-to-face, hybrid, and/or distance education (DE) formats, depending on programmatic needs. Teaching assignments will be balanced with other responsibilities and may evolve to meet departmental priorities.

The successful candidate may revise and assume responsibility for teaching one or more existing courses depending on interests and expertise (examples of existing courses listed below). New course development will focus on emerging needs and candidate’s interests. All aspects of environmental sciences focused on soil and water (e.g., chemistry, quality, remediation, management, watersheds, etc.) and ecosystem sciences (e.g., ecosystem restoration, services, management, etc.) are encouraged.

Existing courses for consideration:

• Soil, Water, and Land Use (SWS 4231C)
• Environmental Soil, Water, and Land Use (SWS 5234)
• Urban Soil and Water Systems (SWS 4204/SWS 6209)
• Professional development courses
• Communicating in Academia, 3-credit hour 5000 level course taught in Spring semesters (DE and in-person formats)
• Math for Environmental Professionals, 2-credit hour 5000 level course taught in Summer semesters (DE and in-person formats)

Student Mentoring and Program Support

Beyond formal teaching, this position will play a key role in mentoring students and supporting/facilitating educational initiatives within the department.

Responsibilities include:

• Mentoring and supervising undergraduate student research, creative works, internships, and independent study projects.
• Advising students in the non-thesis Master of Science program and, as appropriate, serving on M.S. and Ph.D. supervisory committees.
• Incorporating the SWES Experiential Learning Laboratory (ELL; located at the University of Florida Energy Research and Education Park) into course learning activities and student mentoring.
• Providing support, promoting, and helping develop the SWES Experiential Learning Laboratory (ELL) .
• Collaborating with SWES faculty, the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS), and colleagues across the university to pursue internal and external funding opportunities that support undergraduate research and experiential learning.
• Participating in/complying with UF QUESTand other related CALS/UF curriculum requirements.
• Working with the departmental Honors Coordinator to facilitate and track undergraduate Honors Thesis research conducted within the department.
• Supporting student recruitment, retention, and academic success initiatives.

Service and Professional Development

The successful candidate is expected to contribute to the academic community through service and continued professional growth by:

• Participating in departmental, college, and university committees, particularly those related to teaching and student success.
• Engaging in professional development opportunities offered through the University of Florida, CALS, and other venues - especially those focused on Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, teaching excellence, and instructional innovation.
• Pursuing and disseminating scholarship related to teaching and learning, as appropriate for the position.
• Contributing to curriculum assessment, revision, and enhancement efforts.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate a strong commitment to excellence in teaching, student mentoring, educational innovation, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Experience with experiential learning, artificial intelligence, data science, and evidence-based instructional practices is highly desirable and will contribute to advancing the department's educational mission.