Postdoc Position - Soil Health & Hydrology
University of Kansas - Kansas Geological Survey | Posted May 1, 2024
- Contact:
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- Experience Level:
- 0-5 Years
- Job Category:
- Post-doc
- Link to Apply:
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Overview: We are seeking a postdoctoral scholar for a FFAR-funded project studying feedbacks between agricultural soil health management and hydrological processes. The postdoc will conduct detailed field-based research and data analysis to link subsurface hydrology, soil health practices, and agricultural outcomes. Ultimately, this will help understand the potential benefits and limitations of soil health management. This role is part of a large, multi-institution, interdisciplinary project and will include collaboration with both industry and academic agronomists, agricultural engineers, microbial ecologists, and other disciplines. Thus, the ideal candidate would have strong technical skills for field-based research and data analysis, interest in applied research, and a desire to work with an interdisciplinary team. This position is based at the University of Kansas as part of the part of the HydroEcology of Anthropogenic Landscapes (HEAL) research group supervised by Sam Zipper in the Kansas Geological Survey and the Department of Geology. The postdoc will also work with project collaborators at Kansas State University, Iowa State University, Bayer, and other academic and industry partners involved in the project.
Job Description: The postdoc will be responsible for working with research and stakeholder partners to:
- Develop and maintain hydrologic monitoring network at field-based research sites.
- Use modeling tools and data analysis to conduct innovative soil hydrology research.
- Disseminate findings through presentations, publications, workshops, and open-source code.
- Service to discipline and institution.
Required Qualifications
- Ph.D. in a discipline related to hydrology, soil science, agriculture, and/or natural resources, conferred no more than 4 years prior to the start date.
- Experience with field-based research related to water and/or soils.
- Programming experience in R or a comparable language (Python, MATLAB, Julia, etc.).
- Ability to work both independently and collaboratively.
- Strong communication skills as evidenced by peer-reviewed publications and/or conference presentations.
Position Requirements:
- Physical ability and willingness to work outdoors in all weather conditions.
- Driver’s license valid in Kansas (within 3 months of start date).
Preferred Qualifications
- Familiarity with agricultural management practices typical of the central U.S.
- Experience working as part of an interdisciplinary team.
- Experience with the installation, maintenance, and analysis of data from water table monitoring wells and/or soil moisture sensors.
- Familiarity with remote sensing methods, particularly related to evapotranspiration.
Salary, Employment Status, and Fringe Benefits: This position has an expected salary of $55,000 annually. Other benefits include university staff privileges; up to 176 hours of paid vacation earned per year, 96 hours of sick leave earned per year, and nine paid holidays plus one discretionary day annually; group medical, vision, and dental insurance, life and disability insurance, and retirement program options.