Weekly job offers Aug. 30, 2018

Head of Measurements at Arable Labs Inc., Oakland, CA, USA

What we’re looking for: Arable is looking for an experienced measurements specialist to lead calibration and measurement for an integrated weather and plant monitoring system. This person will be working with a team of scientists to prototype, improve, and collaborate with end to end engineers to provide customers with actionable information based on the highest-quality data. If you’re motivated by working on the complex technical problems that can have a real positive impact on the world, we’d love to talk!

What we do: At Arable, our goal is to connect all the world’s farms and provide the highest-quality data to power predictive analytics that will help optimize the global food system.  This is an ambitious goal, but the need has never been greater to rethink how we will feed an ever-growing population and reduce our impact on natural resources. We believe the heart of the solution is digitizing the analog world with high-fidelity data to help food producers optimize their operations.  If successful, we hope the impact of our work will improve the lives of farmers everywhere and be a major contribution to securing the global food supply for decades to come.

What you will do:

• Develop and update calibrations for devices with a suite of radiometry, spectral, and disdrometer sensors. Methods span from bench to in situ analyses, with both traditional statistical and machine learning applications
• Create and maintain the data sets and systems necessary to constantly evaluate performance and update methodology
• Conceive proof-of-concept prototypes that establish overall system performance
• Research, develop, and prototype measurements for real-time crop monitoring and decision agriculture
• Analyze scalability and stability of deployed systems
• Contribute analytic skills to research and product-focused field projects
• Collaborate with team members from prototyping through production
• Engage with customers on measurement accuracy and approach of calibration

https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/810740070/

Postdoctoral Researchers at the Earth Institute, Columbia University (USA) Earth Institute, Columbia University
Earth Institute Postdoctoral Research Program in Sustainable Development
Salary: $65,560
The Earth Institute at Columbia University seeks doctoral candidates or recent Ph.D., M.D., J.D., or Sc.D. recipients (within 5 years of degree
receipt) interested in research on sustainable development, i.e. food security, energy, climate change, poverty, disease and environmental degradation. For more information visit
<www.earth.columbia.edu/postdocs/>. Application deadline: October 31, 2018.

MS student assistantship to integrate ecological site information and dynamic soil properties at the University of Georgia
The soil pedology lab at the University of Georgia seeks one MS student interested in soil health, dynamic soil properties, ecological sites, and spatial modeling. This work is part of a larger multi-institution project that will explore the relationship between ecological sites and dynamic soil properties in three unique southeastern ecosystems. The UGA student will focus on scaling dynamic soil properties across the NRCS land resource hierarchy using a variety of existing data (both spatial and non-spatial data). Ideal candidates would combine expertise in data analysis and modeling spatial datasets. Desired start date is January 2, 2019 for the start of the spring 2019 semester. We offer a competitive graduate student salary and significantly reduced tuition.
Objective: Primary goals are 1) Use the current structure of soil survey to summarize and scale measured dynamic soil properties from site-level to regional extent in the southeastern U.S. and 2) Facilitate the development of ecological sites, state-and-transition models, and related thresholds for three ecosystems by complimenting concurrent ESD development by the research team using data mining and modeling.
Required qualifications: Completed B.S. in soil science, landscape ecology, rangeland management, geography, agriculture, natural resources, or similar field by start date. A positive attitude and willingness to collaborate with an interdisciplinary team of researchers is required. Ability to complete complex tasks and apply GIS software is required.
Desired qualifications: Experience with databases, spatial modeling, and proficiency with computer software such as R, ArcGIS, Microsoft Access, etc. is highly desirable. Familiarity with dynamic soil properties, soil survey, ecological sites, geographic information science, spatial modeling, remote sensing data and data mining is highly desired. The candidate should also have an interest in predicting soil health parameters critical for evaluations of conservation practices and overall soil function in the southeastern U.S.
To apply: If you are interested in pursuing graduate research in this area, please send a current resume that includes your academic background and research interests to Dr. Matt Levi at matthew.levi@uga.edu by September 5, 2018. The UGA graduate college deadline for spring 2019 applications is November 15, 2018 for domestic applicants and October 15 for international applicants but applicants are encouraged to make contact prior to these dates. More information is available at http://cropsoil.uga.edu/graduate/financial-aid-and-assistantships.html.

M.S. or Ph.D. student assistantship in digital soil mapping at the University of Georgia
The soil pedology lab at the University of Georgia seeks one M.S. or Ph.D. student interested in digital soil mapping, spatial modeling, and soil moisture at the field scale. The primary focus is to conduct field and laboratory analyses for quantifying physical soil properties and soil moisture to integrate with the precision agriculture community and provide much-needed inputs for optimizing variable rate irrigation scheduling in a row crop agriculture system. Ideal candidates would combine expertise in data analysis and modeling spatial datasets. Desired start is for January 2019, but August 2019 will be considered. We offer a competitive graduate student salary and waived/reduced tuition.
Required qualifications: Completed B.S. in soil science, landscape ecology, hydrology, agriculture, or similar field by start date. A positive attitude and willingness to collaborate with an interdisciplinary team of researchers is required. Ability and willingness to work in both indoor and outdoor environments with hand sampling equipment, vehicle-mounted soil probes, analytical laboratory equipment, etc. is required.
Desired qualifications: Experience with spatial modeling and proficiency with computer software such as R, ArcGIS, etc. is highly desirable. Familiarity with soil mapping, sensors, drones/UAVs, remote sensing, and machine learning is desirable, but not required.
To apply: If you are interested in pursuing graduate research in these areas, please contact Dr. Matt Levi at matthew.levi@uga.edu. Students with strong backgrounds in geographic information science, remote sensing, soil sampling, and laboratory experience are particularly encouraged to apply.
The UGA graduate college deadline for spring 2019 applications is November 15, 2018 for domestic applicants and October 15 for international applicants but applicants are encouraged to make contact prior to these dates. More information is available at http://cropsoil.uga.edu/graduate/financial-aid-and-assistantships.html

Soil Scientist Position -- Chippewa National Forest and Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests
Two fantastic opportunities for Soil Scientists open tomorrow in USAJobs.  One position is located on the Chippewa National Forest and one on the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests.  Both positions will be GS 11 permanent, full time and offer wonderful opportunities.
The link to the positions will be open from 8/24/18 to 9/7/18 at here or https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/508880800
You can also search USAJobs.gov for Announcement Number: 18-GVQ4-0470-11-FS2601-G.

Postdoc position in biogeochemistry of savannas at Texas A&M University, USA
The Department of Ecosystem Science and Management at Texas A&M University has developed a  Savanna Long Term Research Initiative involving a significant proportion of our faculty and graduate students.  This research program will be focused primarily on the juniper-oak savannas that dominate much of central Texas.  As part of this effort, I’m searching for a postdoctoral fellow who will examine the long-term impacts of grazing, fire, vegetation change, and their interactions on carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus storage and dynamics in the plant-soil system.
More info contact: Thomas W. Boutton; http://agrilife.org/boutton/ or A&M Website website.

PostDoc on root-microbiome-soil interactions at UFZ, Germany
The Department of Isotope Biogeochemistry led by PD Dr. Hans Richnow, invites applications for a scientist position (m/f) within the DFG-funded priority program (PP) “Rhizosphere Spatiotemporal Organization – a key to Rhizosphere functions”. The scientific work would be carried out within the specific project entitled “Bridging biochemical gradients to elucidate key processes governing root-microbiome-soil interactions”. The focus of the project is to determine the factors governing root-microbiome-soil interactions. We aim at spatially resolved chemical gradients in the rhizosphere by using stable isotopes as tracers and correlative microscopy to span various spatial scales with respect to root organization and the associated microbiome. Specifically, the project will focus on visualization and quantification of the biogeochemical gradients of C, N, P and micronutrients (B) at scales ranging from a cm level, representative for the root in a soil matrix, to a sub μm level representing the habitat of a single microbial cell in a biofilm interacting with soil matrix or the surface of a root or root hair.
Postdoctoral Scientist (m/f)
Anticipated staring date of the project is 1st of October 2018. Working time: 100% (39 h/week), limited to three years

https://recruitingapp-5128.de.umantis.com/Vacancies/1416/Description/2

Science Communications Officer (f/m) in the field of Media and Communications in Leipzig, Germany
50% of a full-time employment
Limited until 30 September 2020
Place of work: Leipzig
Planned salary: Entgeltgruppe 13 TV-L
Application deadline: 4 September 2018
https://www.idiv.de/fileadmin/content/Vacancies_PDF/Vacancies_2018/192_2018_STM_Wissenschaftsredakteur_iDiv.pdf
    
PostDoc Patterns and drivers of global land-cover & land-use changes at German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) in Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Germany
https://www.idiv.de/fileadmin/content/Vacancies_PDF/Vacancies_2018/186_2018_STM_Postdoc_iDiv_Meyer_landchange.pdf

PostDoc in permafrost ecosystems and soil carbon cycling at Berkeley Lab, USA
(<https://eesa.lbl.gov/>) has an opening for a Arctic Tundra Biogeochemistry Postdoctoral Scholar. This is an exciting opportunity for a Postdoctoral scientist to advance understanding of the effects of temperature on permafrost ecosystems and soil carbon cycling. You will work with a team of scientists studying ecosystem response to warming in Alaska as part of the Next Generation Ecosystem Experiment - Arctic project (NGEE, <https://ngee-arctic.ornl.gov/>). You will develop and implement a novel soil warming experiment on the Seward Peninsula and/or Barrow, Alaska, and measure the impact of the treatments on soil CO2 and
CH4 fluxes, soil nitrogen cycling, permafrost depth, and other properties and states. They will improve the design (based on our successful prototype and will have technical assistance), manage the instrumentation of the site for warming and microclimate monitoring, carry out measurement campaigns, and write papers based on the experiment. As time allows, this role may elect to work with other NGEE teams on eddy covariance flux measurements, Arctic shrub distributions, and other research. The successful candidate will be largely responsible for running the warming experiment, archiving data, and collaborating with scientists from other disciplines who can use the warming experiment and its data. For example, data from the experiment will be used by NGEE to develop empirical assessments and test models. The successful candidate will spend a significant amount of time in Alaska.
They will work with Margaret Torn, William J. Riley, and others.
The ideal position start time is Spring 2018 and is a fulltime, one-year term appointment with the possibility of renewal up to four (4) years based on performance, funding, and continued operational needs.

More info https://lbl.referrals.selectminds.com/jobs/arctic-tundra-biogeochemistry-postdoctoral-scholar-1086

Research Associate-Fixed Term in the Evans Lab to work on soil microbial ecology, drought resilience, and agroecology
The research associate would contribute to two highly inter-related projects:
The first is the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, a large multi-PO and interdisciplinary project, of which one part is examining the potential of the plant-associated microbiome to sustainable enhance stress tolerance of plants in degraded lands. Work on this project involves investigations into the fundamental mechanisms that underlie plant-microbe interactions and implications of changing management regimes (e.g. fertilizer).
The second project, MMPRNT (Microbial Mediated Perennial Rhizophere Nitrogen Transformations) is a multi-PI DOE-funded project at MSU that examines how the rhizosphere microbiome of perennial grasses influence plant nitrogen availability. This work leverages GLBRC sites, and overlaps in scope. The research associate could take advantage of powerful time series dataset of community composition already collected (with associated biogeochemical metadata), and interact with diverse array of high-caliber staff, research associates, and graduate students working on both projects.
In addition to research and career development, a proportion of this position (5-10%) would involve coordination among the two projects (data management, pipeline standardization, communication, training), which would give the candidate looking for exposure to multi-PI projects, mentoring, and close interactions with several collaborative laboratories (including Shade, Bonito and Tiemann at MSU).
Job no: 524665
Work type: Faculty/Academic Staff
Major Administrative Unit / College: College Of Natural Science
Department: Kellogg Biological Station Nat. Sci. 10032500
Salary: 50000.00
Location: Hickory Corners
Categories: Full Time (90-100%), Fixed Term Academic Staff, Research/Scientific
http://careers.msu.edu/cw/en-us/job/499810/research-associatefixed-term

PostDoc and PhD opportunities in Hydrology at Vanderbilt University
This position offers a unique opportunity for collaborative synthesis with
academic and government leaders in environmental management, providing
fundamental scientific advancement to societally relevant challenges. The
appointment will support an effort to develop a novel and transferable
methodology for groundwater treatment process performance assessment and
groundwater monitoring and management in contaminated sites undergoing
remediation. In addition to a strong physical template, this methodology will be
informed by the legal and regulatory analyses of remedial decision-making and
practice at comparable sites.
Research goals include:
a) Evaluate and refine the existing flow and transport models for
contaminated sites.
b) Use a Value of Information (VOI) approach to evaluate the current data
collection strategy, identify additional data needs, and propose an
optimal observation network that maximizes information and minimizes
costs.
c) Propose an approach, based on a Bayesian Model Averaging (BMA),
for the estimation of plume characterization and its fate under uncertain
release history, observations, and subsurface architecture.

More info here: https://csdms.colorado.edu/wiki/Jobs:Job-00744

Ph.D. student position in Global Change Ecology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah
We are seeking Ph.D. students interested in global change ecology to join the Anderegg Lab in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Utah. We have ongoing projects on an array of topics, including drought-induced tree mortality, recovery after climate extremes, plant functional traits and ecosystem carbon/water fluxes, and ecosystem modeling.
Candidates with research interests in ecosystem ecology, ecological modeling, ecophysiology, or plant ecology would be strong fits.
Interested applicants should send a current CV including GPA and GRE scores and a brief statement describing your research interests and background to William Anderegg (anderegg@utah.edu). For more details on the lab, check out our website (http://www.anderegglab.net/). The School of Biological Sciences at UU offers a competitive package for graduate students. Applications are due January 3, 2019.

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