Senior Scientist - Digital Agriculture

Division of Plant Science & Technology

The Senior Scientist position is responsible for enhancing the research and extension capacity of Digital Agriculture Research and Extension Center (DAREC). The position leads and conducts research focused on digital agriculture technologies to advance smart farming technologies and improve soil health, crop production, and agricultural sustainability. The position is housed within DAREC and the Division of Plant Science and Technology (DPST) at University of Missouri (MU), in collaboration with the United States Department of Agriculture - Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) Cropping Systems and Water Quality Research Unit in Columbia, MO. The position aligns with DAREC's mission of the strategic plan of the College of Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources, (CAFNR). The position will be supported by funding from USDA-ARS[KC1.1][KC1.2] that is dedicated to support the research in DAREC.

Key Responsitbilities

• Establish and execute field experiments to support digital agriculture research and technology evaluation.
• Develop, evaluate, and deploy sensing, crop modeling, decision-support, and AI systems that advance digital agriculture.
• Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team within the Digital Agriculture Research and Extension Center (DAREC), including university research and extension faculty, USDA-ARS scientists and engineers, graduate, and undergraduate students.
• Lead research activities related to digital agricultural technology development, field evaluation, data collection, data analysis, and the publication and dissemination of research findings.
• Develop competitive research/grant proposals and pursue external funding opportunities to support program growth and innovation.
• Coordinate DAREC research, teaching, and outreach activities to advance the center's mission and stakeholder engagement.
• Assist with the maintenance and enhancement of the DAREC website and social media platforms to support communication and outreach efforts.
• As with all positions, involvement with other duties and responsibilities may be expected in order to support the mission and purpose of the University of Missouri.
  

Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Bachelor's degree in related/relevant area and at least 4 years of experience from which comparable knowledge and skills can be acquired is necessary.

Ph.D. degree in Agricultural or Environmental sciences, Agriculture or Biological engineering and other fields with relevant background in field research, crop modelling, crop physiology, sensing systems, and digital agriculture and other related fields by the time of appointment.

Candidates will be evaluated on: Experience in field/ controlled environment research, crop growth and modeling, precision agriculture or research using digital technologies, such as remote sensing, machine learning, decision making and artificial intelligence. A strong background in analyzing agricultural data with machine learning algorithms is desired. The successful candidate will need the ability to maintain a good working relationship with other research fellows working in a large research group and lab and research management experience. Excellent communication skills, potential for collaborative research, ability to work independently and cooperatively, advising students on the research team, and strong writing skills for grant proposals and journal articles are all important aspects of the position.

Salary Range: $60,944 - $65,000 per year
Grade: GGS 011
University Title: Senior Scientist

Internal applicants can determine their University title by accessing the Talent Profile tile in myHR.

Employment visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Contact: Questions regarding the position should be directed to Dr. Jianfeng Zhou at zhoujianf@missouri.edu, 573-882-2495.

This position is eligible for University benefits. As part of your total compensation, the University offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental and vision plans, retirement, paid time off, short- and long-term disability, paid parental leave, paid caregiver leave, and educational fee discounts for all four UM System campuses. For additional information on University benefits, please visit the Faculty & Staff Benefits website at https://www.umsystem.edu/departments-staff/human-resources/benefits-retirement

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of Missouri is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

To request ADA accommodations, please call the Director of Accessibility and ADA at 573-884-7278.