Six Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences faculty members are among the 33 named UF Research Foundation Professors for 2011-2014.

They are: Rafael Muñoz-Carpena, associate professor in agricultural and biological engineering; Natália Peres, associate professor in plant pathology, Gulf Coast REC; Fred Gmitter, professor in horticultural sciences, Citrus REC; James Marois, professor in plant pathology, North Florida REC; George Casella, distinguished professor in statistics, and James Jawitz, associate professor in soil and water science.

The recognition goes to faculty members who have a distinguished record of research and a strong research agenda that is likely to lead to continuing distinction in their fields.

The UFRF Professors were recommended by their college deans based on nominations from their department chairs, personal statements and evaluations of their recent research accomplishments as evidenced by publications in scholarly journals, external funding, honors and awards, development of intellectual property and other measures appropriate to their fields of expertise.

“These nominating documents invariably use phrases like ‘cutting edge,’ ‘innovative,’ and ‘most productive’ to describe these researchers’ work,” said Win Phillips, UF’s vice president for research. “They — and hundreds of others like them — are the reason we have been able to move into the top tier of research universities nationally.”

The three-year award includes a $5,000 annual salary supplement and a one-time $3,000 grant.

The professorships are funded from the university’s share of royalty and licensing income on UF-generated products.

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