Postdoctoral Research Associate in Crop Nitrogen Management and Modeling

University of Florida

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is creating an environment that affirms community across all dimensions. We particularly welcome applicants who can contribute to such an environment through their scholarship, teaching, mentoring, and professional service. 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 .

The incumbent will work with a dynamic team at North Florida Research and Education Center-Quincy and the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering UF/IFAS in Gainesville, to lead efforts in refining soil fertility guidelines for optimizing nutrient management practices, integrating field research and crop modeling. The overarching objective is to develop tools for enhancing productivity, sustainability, and profitability for farming communities in the southeastern USA. A near-term goal is to empower cotton farmers with practical tools based on research findings, enabling them to reduce nitrogen inputs while sustaining crop yields and profitability. A key task is to contribute to the Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT; www.DSSAT.net) crop modeling and related categorical modeling efforts to improve sustainable Southeast US cotton production.

Roles/responsibilities: The project combines experimentation and simulation approaches to identify key soil and in-season plant nitrogen status-based factors into a modeling framework that will optimize crop production and reduce nitrogen leaching losses. Additional duties include working collaboratively with the University of Florida’s Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering team on DSSAT cotton calibration and evaluation. The incumbent will participate in writing reports and preparing manuscripts for refereed journal publication. Some supervision of students and field staff (5% time) is expected. Approximately 15% time will be dedicated to communicating with stakeholders (producers, extension agents and agency staff) and serving as a liaison between research and extension teams, particularly as it relates to producer nitrogen planning and in-season decision making options. A strong interest in interdisciplinary research with the ability to conduct research independently, as well as work in a collaborative and collegial environment is important. This position is partly funded by Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), Office of Agricultural Water Policy (OAWP), as part of their mission to establish best management practices (BMPs) for safeguarding the state’s water resources.

Salary and Benefits

Commensurate with Education and Experience and likely range from $50,000 to $60,000 per year
Annual contract with funding up to 3 years
For Further Information: Cheryl Mackowiak, PhD Associate Professor; North Florida Research and Education Center, 155 Research Rd, Quincy, FL 32351; Phone: (850) 875-7126; echo13@ufl.edu OR

Ramdeo Seepaul, PhD, Research Assistant Scientist; North Florida Research and Education Center, 155 Research Rd, Quincy, FL 32351; Phone: (850) 875-7159; rseepaul216@ufl.edu

Background Information:

North Florida Research & Education Center is one of the largest and most diverse off-campus units of UF/IFAS, with campuses in Quincy, Marianna, and Live Oak, Florida. The Quincy campus, established in 1921, is a 1,000-acre research and education facility located in Gadsden County, approximately 30 miles west of Tallahassee (Florida’s state capital). NFREC has 16 faculty members representing nine academic units, offering a unique setting for multidisciplinary research on-center, across centers, and collaboration opportunities with faculty at the main UF campus and universities around the globe.

The University of Florida is a Land-Grant, Sea-Grant, and Space-Grant institution, encompassing virtually all academic and professional disciplines, with an enrollment of more than 56,000 students. UF is a member of The Association of American Universities. The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences includes the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station, the Florida Cooperative Extension Service, the College of Veterinary Medicine, the Florida Sea Grant program, and encompasses 16 on-campus academic departments and schools, 12 Research and Educational Centers (REC) located throughout the state, 6 Research sites/demonstration units administered by RECs or academic departments, and Florida Cooperative Extension Service offices in all 67 counties (counties operate and maintain). The School of Natural Resources and Environment is an interdisciplinary unit housed in IFAS and managed by several colleges on campus. UF/IFAS employs nearly 4,500 people, which includes approximately 990 salaried faculty and 1,400 permanent support personnel located in Gainesville and throughout the state. IFAS, one of the nation’s largest agricultural and natural resources research and education organizations, is administered by a Vice President and four deans: the Dean of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, the Dean for Extension and Director of the Florida Cooperative Extension Service, the Dean for Research and Director of the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station, and the Dean for the College of Veterinary Medicine. UF/IFAS also engages in cooperative work with Florida A&M University in Tallahassee.

Expected Salary:
Commensurate with Education and Experience

Minimum Requirements:
PhD degree in agronomy, soil science, agricultural engineering, biometry, applied statistics, or related discipline
Previous experience and training in process-based models (i.e., DSSAT) and open-source system programming languages, such as Python or R
Demonstrated field research experience
Candidates must have a commitment to UF core values of excellence, discovery & innovation, inclusion, freedom & civility, community, and stewardship.
Self-motivated with strong communication skills
Valid driver’s license required for travel to research fields

Preferred Qualifications:
Experience with geospatial software (i.e., ArcGIS Pro or QGIS) is preferred

Special Instructions to Applicants:
Application must be submitted by 11:55 p.m. (ET) of the posting end date. Screening of candidates will begin Feb 01, 2024. The candidate must be available to start by March 15, 2024.

Individuals wishing to apply should go online to Careers at UF and submit:
A concise cover letter (not exceeding 2 pages) outlining how past experiences and training align with this position.
Curriculum vitae
Transcripts (unofficial is acceptable)
Three professional references willing to write letters or recommendations, including phone and email contact information.
Selected candidate will be required to provide an official transcript to the hiring department upon hire. A transcript will not be considered “official” if a designation of “Issued to Student” is visible. Degrees earned from an education institution outside of the United States are required to be evaluated by a professional credentialing service provider approved by National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES).

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

The University of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Institution. The University and greater Gainesville community enjoy a diversity of cultural events, restaurants, year-round outdoor recreational activities, and social opportunities.

Health Assessment Required:
No