Postdoctoral Associate - Site-Specific Nutrient Management

Postdoc Aso

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 Site-specific Nutrient Management program is seeking applicants for a postdoctoral associate position (1.0 FTE) in the Agronomy Department on our main campus in Gainesville, Florida. The incumbent will assist the program by working with the UF PIE Center, nutrient management researchers, crop modelers, and focus groups to develop, but not limited to, the following products.

1. Survey of Florida Certified Crop Advisors to determine data, equipment, and relationships currently being used to make site-specific nutrient management recommendations.
2. A minimum data set for future site-specific nutrient management trials to facilitate improved record keeping and larger modeling efforts across many years of field trials and various environments and cropping systems.
3. List identifying important terms and definitions among nutrient management researchers in Florida.
4. Research and extension documents on site-specific nutrient management recommendations.

Job Description

Current UF/IFAS fertilizer recommendations typically use calibrated soil test results to determine the appropriate fertilizer nutrient rate for various commodities. The post-doctoral associate will be asked to assist the site-specific nutrient management project in developing a CCA survey of current equipment and information used in recommendations, minimum data set required for nutrient management recommendations, and standard definitions used in field-scale scientific research. The post doc will assist the PIE Center in developing and conducting a survey of Certified Crop Advisors to determine data, equipment, and relationships currently being used to make site-specific nutrient management recommendations. Likewise, the post doc will assist in the development of a minimum data set for future site-specific nutrient management trials to facilitate improved record keeping and larger modeling efforts across many years of field trials and various environments and cropping systems. Additionally, the post doc will work with a trained focus group facilitator to identify important terms and definitions among nutrient management researchers in Florida. Criteria will be developed to improve UF/IFAS nutrient management recommendations based on results of the CCA survey, minimum data set discussions, and field-scale scientific research definitions, resulting in more site-specific recommendations. These management systems will include 5R Nutrient Stewardship concepts of right source, right rate, right time, right place, and right irrigation.

Position start date: Position is available immediately.

Location: University of Florida main campus, Gainesville, FL

Work hours: minimum of 40 hours a week

Salary: depending on qualifications and experience

Questions can be directed to:

Emma Matcham @ eg.matcham@ufl.edu and Kelly Morgan @ conserv@ufl.edu

Commensurate with Education and Experience

A PhD (foreign equivalent acceptable) in agronomy, soil science, or a related field is required. Candidates must be supportive of the mission of the Land-Grant system. Candidates must also have a commitment to UF core values of excellence, discovery & innovation, inclusion, freedom & civility, community, and stewardship.

Preferred qualifications include:

• Nutrient management research experience
• Spatial data processing and visualization experience
• programming proficiency in R or another statistical programming language
• strong written and oral communication skills
• ability to successfully interact with a diverse group of stakeholders, including farmers, Extension personnel, regulatory agencies, agronomists, engineers, and other scientists
• training or experience in stakeholder surveys

Application must be submitted by 11:55 p.m. (ET) of the posting end date.

• Individuals wishing to apply should go online to Careers at UF and submit:
• Cover letter that states applicant’s interest in the position and qualifications relative to the credentials listed above
• Curriculum vitae

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.