A unique opportunity is now open for a post-doctoral researcher to join GROW (www.growiwm.org), a dynamic research and extension network for integrated weed management. GROW conducts research on a number of promising IWM and ecological weed management tactics including cover crops, tillage, and harvest-time weed seed control across a range of environments, as well as developing real-time weed and crop mapping systems using computer vision and artificial intelligence. The position is primarily affiliated with the University of Delaware and the USDA-ARS Sustainable Cropping Systems Laboratory.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Primary duties include coordinating and conducting field experiments focused on multi-tactic approaches for precision integrated weed management (cover crops, herbicide use, tillage, and harvest-time weed seed control), as well as coordinating and conducting laboratory and greenhouse experiments (seedbank germination assays, plant-soil interactions, soil physical and chemical properties, nutrient uptake and allocation). Other duties include organizing and analyzing data, writing and presenting research results in scholarly peer-reviewed journals and extension publications, grant writing and reporting, presenting results at meetings with producers, farmers and industry representatives, and supervising and training undergraduate and graduate students. Finally, responsibilities will also include integrating and managing large agronomic datasets generated from multi-state GROW research projects. The successful candidate will have opportunities for the development of independent but related lines of research.
Background and Qualifications:
Experience with conducting field-based research is required. Experience with laboratory- and greenhouse-based research is expected. We are looking for candidates with excellent organizational and quantitative skills, a demonstrated record of research productivity documented with peer-reviewed publications and expertise in any of the following areas: weed ecology/biology and population dynamics, multi-tactic weed management, agronomic crop production, precision agriculture technologies, data science, and statistics. Experience as a supervisor, instructor, or mentor of undergraduate and graduate students is desired.
- PhD required in Weed Science, Agronomy, Soil Science, Plant Ecology, Environmental Sciences, Precision Agriculture, or related fields.
- Excellent writing and presentation skills.
- Strong background in data science and statistics.
- Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, highly collaborative work environment
- Special requirements: Valid driver’s license.
- Must pass a Federal background check.
Location: Preferred work location is the USDA-ARS-BARC Sustainable Agricultural Systems Laboratory in Beltsville, MD, but exceptional candidates could be located at other institutions with active GROW collaborations in the United States.
Provide: Applications will require a resume (CV), letter of interest, and names and contact information of three references. At this time an application portal has not been determined. Potential candidates should contact Drs. Mirsky, VanGessel, and Law (please copy all three on any communications) to express interest, and will be provided with additional information about how to submit a formal application when it is available.
Review of Applicants: Review will begin March 15 and will remain open until a suitable candidate is identified.
Starting Date: Negotiable, Spring 2023 preferred. The position is open until a suitable candidate is found.
Salary: Highly competitive starting salary. The position comes with an extensive benefits package.
Questions regarding this position may be directed to:
Dr. Steven Mirsky, USDA-ARS Sustainable Agricultural Systems Laboratory, Beltsville, MD, steven.mirsky@usda.gov, 301-504-5324
Dr. Mark VanGessel, University of Delaware, Carvel Research and Education Center, Georgetown, DE, mjv@udel.edu, 302-542-8160
Dr. Eugene Law, University of Delaware/USDA-ARS Sustainable Agricultural Systems Laboratory, Beltsville, MD, eplaw@udel.edu
