Dr. Robert Gilbert currently serves as Interim SVP for UF/IFAS and a national leader in developing the science that supports food. As chief executive of the agriculture and environmental sciences arm of a leading land-grant university, he champions public science as a path to improve lives and reduce human suffering.
Most recently, Dr. Gilbert served as dean for research at UF/IFAS where he was responsible for overseeing the mission and administration, managing a multi-million dollar research operation strengthen the capacity and innovation of UF/IFAS research. Under his leadership, the organization has led the way in agricultural research expenditures, AAAS fellow nominations, and innovative research collaborations.
Dr. Gilbert leads nearly 2,300 employees who work in all 67 Florida counties. UF/IFAS encompasses the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, the Florida Cooperative Extension Service, and the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station.