As interim chair, Greg Kiker wasn’t just steering agricultural and biological engineering (ABE) – he was accelerating it. Backed by the experience of working with powerhouse predecessors, he knew how to build on their legacies of progress.
Now, Rob Gilbert, dean for research and executive director for academic affairs at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), has announced Kiker – a 20-year veteran faculty member — as the permanent ABE chair.
“This was a time to double down on the direction the department was headed while Greg served as graduate coordinator and then interim chair – an aggressive investment in artificial intelligence (AI) expertise, fund-raising and development of new facilities, and strong collaboration with industry partners and other UF colleges,” Gilbert said. “After a national search, it became obvious that Greg was perfectly positioned to build on the recent rise of a century-old department.”
A UF alum, Kiker joined ABE as an assistant professor in 2005. Since then, he has risen through the faculty ranks, then served as graduate coordinator and interim chair, the last position since January.
During his tenure, Kiker has published more than 80 peer-reviewed journal articles and has built a strong international program.
He is proud of the department’s stature among its peers. As of 2024, ABE was ranked No. 7 in undergraduate programs and No. 3 in graduate programs by U.S. News and World Report.
“Our department has had exemplary chairs for over 40 years, and I have interacted directly with five chairs since my undergraduate days,” Kiker said. “These chairs helped to guide our department to its high ranking and international success. I hope that I can contribute my experience to keep our department on that same strong course.”
He believes in inclusive leadership and collegiality that allows faculty to grow and expand their research, teaching and Extension portfolios.
“My primary job is to empower the faculty to excel in their specialty areas as well as to expand into emerging critical topics for our state, nation and global community,” Kiker said.
Some of the current faculty were specifically hired to develop agricultural applications of AI.
“AI is rapidly entering into our work life and changing our expectations of how computers interact with society,” Kiker said. “As engineers, this is a very exciting time to create useful applications in so many areas. Working and listening closely with our agricultural and urban partners, we can build practical tools to advance sustainable and profitable food production and environmental systems.”
UF/IFAS is, literally, in Kiker’s blood. His late father, Clyde, earned all three of his degrees from UF/IFAS and eventually served as a faculty member in the food and resource economics department for many years.
The younger Kiker earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the department and his Ph.D. from Cornell.
He went to South Africa on a Fulbright scholarship and gained a faculty position at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and then later worked for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers before returning to his alma mater.
We asked Kiker the best aspect of ABE that he’d like to share.
“Biological systems are everywhere around us, and we use them every day to make our lives better while ensuring future sustainability,” he said. “UF ABE works actively with both traditional agriculture sectors as well as with novel systems such as airports, cities and Mars missions to build our future together.”
###
ABOUT UF/IFAS
The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS brings science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents.
1
