The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Adaptive Cropping Systems Laboratory in Beltsville, Maryland, is seeking highly qualified candidates for a permanent full-time Research Soil Scientist/Research Agronomist/Research Agricultural Engineer position.  This position affords the opportunity to:

• Utilize innovative and cutting-edge research methods to quantify the influence of cover crop biomass production on soil health and cash crop performance as affected by climate, management, and species. Investigate and assess soil resilience and health over a range of cropping systems.
• Use open top chambers, controlled environment chambers and field research to obtain experimental data regarding cover crop biomass growth, residue mass at termination, soil properties, cash crop production and other related characteristics from multiple locations, cover crop species, and cash crop production systems.
• Investigate the effects of elevated T and C on nutrient balances; soil microbiome and plant system biomass, sequestration of C and N, ecosystem services and GHG emissions.
• Work with crop and soil modelers to modify, apply, improve, and validate models of cover crop and cash crop growth.
• Develop research plans and work collaboratively with scientists from other USDA-ARS laboratories and be expected to coordinate, evaluate, and manage human, fiscal and physical resources for the project.
• Disseminates research findings in peer-reviewed journals and provides consultation, both internal and external to ARS.

To apply, print a copy of vacancy announcement ARS-D24Y-12220721-ST from the ARS Careers Website at www.ars.usda.gov/careers, and follow the application directions provided. Applications must be received by January 2, 2024. For questions, contact Drs. V.R. Reddy (vr.reddy@usda.gov) or David Fleisher (david.fleisher@usda.gov). U.S. citizenship is required. 

The USDA is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.