PDF versionJob Summary
The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) is the USDA's chief scientific research agency and one of the world's premiere scientific organizations. ARS Postdoctoral Research Associates are hired to supplement a lead scientist's research on agricultural problems of high national priority affecting American agriculture. The position is located in the North Central Soil Conservation Research Unit in Morris, MN. **ANNOUNCEMENT IS OPEN UNTIL FILLED OR SEPTEMBER 30, 2020**
Major Duties
- Organizes, analyzes, and synthesizes previously collected data from on-going, multi-year research projects, which evaluated soil properties and other ecosystem services provided by cover crops and other conservation practices.
- Contributes to team research developing optimum agricultural management protocols for incorporating winter annual cover crops into corn-soybean based cropping systems.
- Contributes to designing research to assess production and management practices related to conservation and/or new and alternative cropping systems.
- Contributes to collecting and analyzing agronomic (e.g., yield, weed suppression, nutrient and water use) and agroecosystem services (e.g., pollinator services, soil and water quality benefits).
Qualifications
This position requires a Ph.D in soil science or a closely related discipline (agroecology, , soil science crop ecology, plant science, environmental biophysics) that included 30 semester hours or equivalent in biological, physical, or earth science, with a minimum of 15 semester hours in such subjects as soil genesis, pedology, soil chemistry, soil physics, and soil fertility OR agronomy; or related discipline of science that included at least 30 semester hours of course work in the basic plant sciences, including at least 15 semester hours in agronomic subjects, such as those dealing with plant breeding, crop production, and soil and crop management. Applicants must meet basic Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standard's requirements of the scientific discipline necessary to perform the duties and responsibilities of the position. Incumbent should have experience in designing and performing field research and conducting statistical analyses (e.g., SAS, R, JMP). Knowledge of weed science, agroecology and/or entomology is highly desired. Writing skills should be demonstrated with peer-reviewed publications.
Pay Range
$62,236.00 - $80,912.00