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Climate & Agriculture Project Scientist

Employer
University of California Agriculture and National Resources
Location
UC Merced, Merced, CA
Salary
See below
Closing date
Feb 16, 2020

View more

Discipline
Atmospheric Sciences, Biogeosciences, Interdisciplinary/Other
Career Level
Researcher
Education Level
PhD
Job Type
Full-time
Relocation Cost
Negotiable
Sector Type
Academia

The Project Scientist will work closely with project investigators  at UC Merced, USDA California Climate Hub, USDA Agricultural Research Service, and partners at the UC Davis – John Muir Institute of the Environment and UC ANR IGIS team, to develop locally relevant, climate-based agriculture decision support systems and dissemination processes designed to give specialty crops a competitive edge in increasing productivity and reducing risks associated with climate variability and change. The Project Scientist will develop an ensemble of decision support tools and resources similar to the Northwest Climate Tool box or AgroClimate.org in collaboration with Informatics and GIS (IGIS) team including but not limited to yield tradeoff decisions, pests and disease management decisions, irrigation decisions, and heat and frost risk mitigation.  The Project Scientist will routinely publish research on applied climate science and agriculture decision support tool development in high-ranking peer-reviewed journals in collaboration with project investigators. Additionally, the Project Scientist is expected to assist project investigators in developing proposals for funding from federal, state agencies, and other funding organizations such as commodity boards. The UCANR project scientist will be located at and affiliated with the UC Merced, with multi- UC campus collaborations.

This is appointment is not eligible for indefinite status. The Project Scientist will be appointed to a term ending March 31, 2022.  Continuation beyond the initial term is contingent upon a review of continuing need and the availability of funding.

ACADEMIC EXPECTATIONS:  All UC ANR Project (e.g. Scientist) series titles are expected to make significant and creative contributions to a research or creative program or project in their academic discipline. Appointees are also responsible for performance in areas of professional competence and activity. University and public service is encouraged.

Major Responsibilities: 

Programmatic Competence

  • Research and development of web-based decision support tools through effective integration of historic and projected climate and weather information for agricultural decisions.
  • Analyze data and publish manuscripts in peer reviewed journals in collaboration with project investigators as well as in non-technical formats.

Communication

  • Present research at professional society meetings.
  • Coordinate outreach and extension around research in cooperation with project directors.
  • Develop resources in formats such as fact sheets, short videos for web-based agroclimate information portal

Collaboration, Teamwork & Flexibility

  • Collaborate with stakeholder, commodity boards, project steering committee, ANR academics, and state and federal agencies to understand and document types of decision support tools needed.
  • Assist project investigators in writing grants and soliciting external funding.

Professional Development & Lifelong Learning

•     Maintain a program of continuous self-improvement by participating in in-service training, seminars, workshops, work group & program team meetings, short courses, professional society meetings and other relevant opportunities.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Required Qualifications:

Programmatic competence

•     An earned Ph.D. in agricultural engineering, agricultural climatology, agronomy, agroecology, biometeorology, data science or closely related field is required at the time of appointment. 

•     Experience and knowledge in computer programming skills ideally for decision support tool

       development in applied climate science and agricultural science applications, and skills to

       integrate a variety of climate, ecosystem, and crop models.

  • Strong statistical and quantitative skills.
  • Ability to work productively both independently and as part of an interdisciplinary team.

•     Experience publishing peer-reviewed research in high impact journals. 

Communication

•    Skills to communicate and extend technical information to diverse audiences are required. 

Collaboration, Teamwork & Flexibility

•    Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively as a team member with other professionals

Desired Qualifications:

•   Candidates with previous experiences with web-based decision support tool development in applied climate science and sound understanding of agricultural systems will be preferred.

SALARY:  Beginning salary will be in the Assistant Project Scientist Rank, Step 1 and commensurate with applicable experience and professional qualifications.  For information regarding Project series salary scales, please refer to:  https://ucanr.edu/sites/anrstaff/files/317761.pdf . This is a represented position.

HOW TO APPLY:  To be considered, applicants must electronically submit the following seven components of the Application Packet via UC Recruit by visiting: https://recruit.ucanr.edu

1.    Cover Letter

2.   Curriculum Vitae or Resume

3.   Statement of Contributions to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI): Please submit a 1-page    Statement of Contributions to DEI addressing past and/or potential contributions to diversity through personal experience, teaching, research, extension, professional activity, and/or service. This should include how you would ensure that all potential clientele have access and benefit from your program.  Guidelines for writing a DEI Statement can be found at: https://academicaffairs.ucdavis.edu/guidelines-writing-diversity-statement

  4.     Statement of Research and Extension Interests: Please submit a 2-page Statement of Research and Extension Interests including how your current and/or past research and extension experience could contribute to, or be applicable to, the needs of the local community. Provide examples of potential goals and outcomes from your research and extension activities.

        

5.   College Level Transcripts: Electronic transcripts or legible scanned copies (PDF) of original transcripts will be accepted. Transcripts must identify course work completed, grades earned, degrees conferred and confer dates. Please DO NOT send transcripts that are password protected.

6.  Two of your most relevant publication samples.

For information regarding this position, please contact:

University of California

ANR Academic Human Resources

Tatiana Avoce

(530) 750-1277

E-mail:  anracademicsearch@ucanr.edu

Internet:  http://www.ucanr.edu/about/jobs/

PLEASE REFER TO POSITION NUMBER AP #19-07 IN ALL CORRESPONDENCE

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