What are the responsibilities and job description for the Postdoctoral Research Associate position at Mississippi State University?
Job Opportunity:
Postdoctoral Research Associate in Agricultural Sciences, Agronomy, or Environmental Sciences with a strong remote sensing and data science background.
Job Description:
Mississippi Water Resources Research Institute, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS, is seeking a postdoctoral research associate to work with the USDA-ARS Crop Production Systems Research Unit (CPSRU), located in Stoneville, MS. We seek an innovative and highly motivated candidate to contribute to developing high resolution remote sensing-based crop phenological data products and leveraging climate models for Lower Mississippi River Valley (LMRV) watershed region. The candidate will have ample opportunities for professional development activities and multidisciplinary collaboration across and within the university and USDA-ARS.
Responsibilities:
- Collect observational and remote sensing data (primarily UAV) from multiple sources, including corn and soybean experiments conducted by USDA-ARS CPSRU and MSU’s Eddy Covariance sites in Mississippi Delta to produce datasets to integrate and/or assimilate into the agroecosystem and climate models.
- Utilize satellite-based vegetation indices and time-series data for corn, soybean, and rice pixels to identify agronomic practices and crop phenology within the Lower Mississippi River Valley (LMRV) watershed region. Develop and validate crop phenology, yield estimation, and water requirements (evapotranspiration ET) models using remote sensing, weather, soil, USDA- NASS crop progress report, and county-level crop yield data products.
- Work closely with USDA-ARS and MSU scientists to assess conservation and management impacts on GHG emissions, such as CO2, N2O, and CH4.
- Assess the quantitative benefits of selected remote sensing data products.
- Conduct literature review and report/ and publish research findings in peer-reviewed journals.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Required Education and Experience:
- Ph.D. degree in Agricultural Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Soil and Crop Sciences, Earth and Environmental Sciences, or related fields emphasizing remote sensing and agroecosystem modeling.
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Demonstrated publication record in remote sensing and agroecosystem modeling.
- Interdisciplinary teamwork skills with researchers across different disciplines.
- Flexibility to perform work in a team or individually with supervision.
- Good communication, interpersonal skills, professionalism, and competency.
- Ability to multi-task and work cooperatively with others.
Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Proficient understanding of remote sensing data products, eddy covariance system, soil-plant-water relations, and soil carbon dynamics.
- Prior solid experience with UAV operation and data processing.
- Proficiency in computer programming, including scripting in R to utilize GEE and other computing tools for data processing and modeling.
Application Link: https://explore.msujobs.msstate.edu/en-us/job/508382/postdoctoral-associate (please do not send your application via LinkedIn or other web portals)
For inquiries, please contact Dr. Madhav Dhakal at md2007@msstate.edu or Dr. Tulsi Kharel at Tulsi.kharel@usda.gov. Screening of applicants is immediate and will continue until a suitable candidate is identified, but a start date in October 2024 is anticipated.
