Postdoc Research Associate - Bioeconomy

Position Title:

Postdoc Research Associate - Bioeconomy

Appointment Type:

Post Doc/Trainee

Job Description:

Summary of Duties and Responsibilities:

The Postdoctoral researcher will work closely with Horizon II Climate-smart Commodities (CSC) Agroecosystems Team to collect, simulate, and analyze agroecological data for peer-reviewed publication. Prospective applicants should demonstrate a strong history of publications and interdisciplinary collaboration. Applicants should demonstrate knowledge of Midwestern agroecosystems and direct experience collecting, managing and analyzing field using R, Python or similar tools, and simulation model calibration, validation, and prediction.  

Duties include: collect and analyze existing and new field data on plant composition, soils, and ecosystem processes from reconstructed prairies in Iowa and Missouri; provide support for field and lab data collection on ecosystem processes and functions associated with climate-smart agricultural management in corn-soybean cropping systems; and simulate climate-smart agroecosystem practices using APSIM and COMET-Farm. This individual will also support scicomm outreach for the Horizon II CSC project at workshops and field days in the central Midwest. Position will include travel in Iowa, Missouri, and the U.S. Midwest. While efforts will be collaborative, the person in the role is expected to work independently and publish results through scientific journals, scicomm media, and funding agency reports.

Required Minimum Qualifications:

PhD in agronomy, crop production and physiology, environmental science, soil science, or related discipline. 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated knowledge of Midwestern agroecosystems.
• Experience collecting, managing and analyzing field using R, Python or similar tools, and simulation model calibration, validation, and prediction.
• Demonstrated experience using agroecosystem simulation models, specifically APSIM and/or COMET-Farm.
• Experience with data management best practices.
• Experience drafting and submitting manuscripts for peer-reviewed publication.
• Experience working with an interdisciplinary team to deliver scicomm outreach to diverse audiences.  

Proposed Start Date:

January 15, 2025

Proposed End Date or Length of Term:

January 14, 2027

Number of Months Employed Per Year:

12 Month Work Period

Time Type:

Full time

Application Instructions:

To apply for this position, please click on “Apply” and complete the Employment Application. Please be prepared to enter or attach the following:

1) Resume/Curriculum Vitae
2) Letter of Application/Cover Letter

If you have questions regarding this application process, please email employment@iastate.edu or call 515-294-4800 or Toll Free: 1-877-477-7485.

Why Choose ISU?

Iowa State Postdocs enjoy comprehensive health and work-life benefits, including medical and dental; as well as:
• Retirement benefits including defined benefit and defined contribution plans
• Generous vacation, holiday, and sick time and leave plans
• Onsite childcare (Ames, Iowa)
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Various voluntary benefits and discounts
• Employee Assistance Program
• Wellbeing Program

Original Posting Date:

December 11, 2024

Posting Close Date:

December 10, 2024

Job Requisition Number:

R16010