Postdoctoral Fellow in Geospatial Research

Position Type: Full-time, 12-month, 1-year

The University of Missouri's Center for Regenerative Agriculture is seeking a highly motivated researcher to join our team. The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in advancing our research project focused on leveraging multispectral remote sensing for soil health mapping and soil nutrient management. The Postdoctoral Fellow position in soil health mapping and context modeling will be responsible for conducting innovative research and developing advanced data fusion techniques to integrate this multispectral data as well as other spatial data layers such as soil maps, landform, and other data from multiple sources. The postdoc position will work under the supervision of the PIs and partners at the Soil Health Assessment Center (SHAC) at the University of Missouri.

The team will work to complete two major project objectives: (1) develop and implement a soil health mapping, modeling, and query framework for the state of Missouri, (2) develop a computational framework that integrates the contextual models and provides a statewide perspective on soil health and management providing maps for farmer support. The selected candidate will have a unique opportunity to participate in a project that will have broad relevance and applicability, impacting decision-making processes and fostering public engagement with producers. This position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research that addresses critical challenges in agricultural sustainability. There will be opportunities and support for the candidate to present their work at state and national conferences.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

* Conduct research to develop advanced data fusion techniques for integrating multispectral raster data with vector data and contextual measures for soil health mapping.

* Collaborate with our interdisciplinary team to develop machine learning approaches for mapping and modeling statewide soil health in Missouri.

* Conduct literature reviews and stay current with advancements in soil health mapping techniques and machine learning algorithms.

* Collect, process, and analyze geospatial and remote sensing data related to soil health and its associated management regimes.

* Lead efforts to validate and calibrate soil health data with survey data and soil health metrics that can support with a measured confidence soil health mapping and crop nutrient management assessments.

* Develop and implement algorithms to integrate soil health data with existing computing systems to produce daily maps of various soil moisture-related variables.

* Assist in the dissemination of research findings through publications in peer-reviewed journals, presentations at conferences, and regular reports to Missouri's Department of Natural Resources

Minimum Qualification:

Ph.D. degree in Natural Resources, Geography, Environmental Science, Remote Sensing, Data Science, or a related field by the time of appointment.

Candidates will be evaluated on:

* Strong background in machine learning, geospatial analysis, and remote sensing techniques.

* Experience with programming languages such as Python, R, and others for data analysis and algorithm development within a geospatial data arena.

* Proficiency in working with a variety of geospatial data formats (e.g., raster, vector) and GIS software (e.g., ArcGIS/ ArcPro, QGIS).

* Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to present complex technical information to diverse audiences.

* Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in a team environment and manage multiple tasks effectively.

* Prior experience with soil health, landscape, and complex natural resource integration research or related environmental modeling projects is desirable but not required.

Review of applications will continue until posting is filled.

Interested candidates should submit the following materials via email to Dr. Kelly Wilson (kellyrwilson@missouri.edu), Associate Director, Center for Regenerative Agriculture:

* Cover letter outlining your research experience, interests, and why you are interested in this position.

* Curriculum vitae (CV) highlighting relevant qualifications, skills, and experience.

* Contact information for three professional references.

To apply for this job, go to the MU website at https://hr.missouri.edu/job-openings, Job ID 52124.

Open until filled.

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, 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/totalrewards/benefits.

Values Commitment

We value the uniqueness of every individual and strive to ensure each person's success. Contributions from individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives promote intellectual pluralism and enable us to achieve the excellence that we seek in learning, research and engagement. This commitment makes our university a better place to work, learn and innovate.

In your application materials, please discuss your experiences and expertise that support these values and enrich our missions of teaching, research, and engagement.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of Missouri System is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Equal Opportunity is and shall be provided for all employees and applicants for employment on the basis of their demonstrated ability and competence without unlawful discrimination on the basis of their race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, or protected veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable state or federal law. This policy applies to all employment decisions including, but not limited to, recruiting, hiring, training, promotions, pay practices, benefits, disciplinary actions and terminations. For more information, visit https://www.umsystem.edu/ums/hr/eeo or call the Director of Employee and Labor Relations at 573-882-2146.

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