What are the responsibilities and job description for the Postdoctoral Researcher - KernzaCAP position at The Land Institute?
Postdoctoral Researcher - KernzaCAP
Who We Are What We Do
The Land Institute co-leads the global movement for perennial, diverse, regenerative grain agriculture at a scale that matches the enormity of the intertwined climate, water, and food security crises. An independent 501c3 non-profit founded in 1976, the organization seeks to reconcile the human economy with nature's economy, starting with food. The transdisciplinary team of scientists, together with global partners, are developing new perennial grain crops, like Kernza©, and diverse cropping systems that function within nature's limits while researching the social transformation required for a just, perennial human future.
About KernzaCAP
KernzaCAP is a USDA Coordinated Agricultural Project grant to integrate nation-wide activities to launch the enterprise of the world’s first large-scale perennial grain crop called Kernza®. This highly interdisciplinary project is based at the University of Minnesota and includes six other universities and numerous other organizations and individuals representing a broad range of stakeholder groups including nonprofits, farmers, businesses and policy makers. The project includes research, education, and outreach/extension activities that fall within six core objectives: 1) advance germplasm and trait evaluation, 2) enhance agronomic and on-farm knowledge, 3) improve environmental quality, 4) engage education, extension and policy, 5) develop supply chains and economic drivers, and 6) activate transformative change through intentional integration. Further information is available on the project website, kernza.org/kernzacap.
How You’d Fit In Stand Out
The Land Institute and the University of Minnesota invite applications to fill a Postdoctoral Researcher position to analyze the environmental quality impacts of Kernza®, a newly developed perennial grain crop. This two-year position will be associated with The Land Institute but the physical location will be based at the University of Minnesota Saint Paul campus as a visiting researcher. The position will focus on analyzing and synthesizing data from two experiments conducted at six field sites across the US as part of the USDA Sustainable Agricultural Systems Kernza Coordinated Agricultural Project (KernzaCAP). Some fieldwork, lab analysis and travel will be required.
This Postdoctoral Researcher will lead the development of multiple peer-reviewed manuscripts and participate as co-author on others pertaining to field experiments and other studies associated with KernzaCAP. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to participate in field days and other outreach events for growers and the public at large. They will also help coordinate and/or participate in scientific meetings or special sessions of meetings focused on Kernza.
Primary Responsibilities Expectations
- 35% - Statistical analysis of data to determine the environmental quality impacts of Kernza production
- 35% - Writing peer-reviewed journal articles to report the results of statistical analyses.
- 10% - Collaborator on data curation and analysis of other datasets associated with the KernzaCAP project, including participation as co-author on other manuscripts.
- 10% - Assisting with field sampling to measure indicators of soil health in the final year of a four-year field trial.
- 10% - Assisting with laboratory-based evaluations of physiochemical and biological soil health indicators.
Organization & Management
- Coordinate and curate data generated from multiple projects & experiments.
- Manage laboratory experiments, including but not limited to sample preparation, chemical analysis, and equipment maintenance.
- Coordinate research activities, manage timelines, and ensure project milestones are met.
- Work independently to meet project deadlines & program goals.
Research, Data Synthesis, and Writing
- Develop, implement, and lead program-specific experiments
- Prepare and publish research findings in peer-reviewed journals and present results at scientific conferences and seminars.
- Assist in writing grant proposals to secure funding for ongoing and future research projects.
Communication & Outreach
- Periodically assists with organizational responsibilities, including public tours, events, and internal educational initiatives.
- Collaborate and maintain strong relationships with other researchers, team members, and external partners.
- Stay up to date on related research, scientific advancements, and internal initiatives.
Diversity Inclusion:
- Participate in The Land Institute’s diversity initiatives.
- Develop, maintain, and honor relationships with diverse groups and people
- Build relationships with diverse partners with a mind toward further collaboration
Organizational Competencies
- Mission Driven: You are passionate about the mission of The Land Institute and are interested in aligning your skills and personal genius to benefit this work.
- Courageous: You do not retreat or shy away from hard things. You face challenges and conflict with professionalism, grace, and resolve.
- A Boundary Spanner: You bring an interdisciplinary skill set and you model self-awareness in your own preferences. You are motivated to always be learning and you adapt to span boundaries with people across a range of different perspectives.
- Inspiring and Inspired: You are inspired by the people around you, finding and harnessing the genius in your colleagues to meet the organizational objectives, and you are inspiring to others through example and your own genius applied.
- Growth Mindset: You have the vulnerability to know what you don’t know, admit your flaws, and learn from others to grow and develop yourself and the organization.
- A Creative Collaborator: You believe in the power of a diverse collective to generate ideas and solutions. You excel at strategic thinking, being open to new perspectives, and managing innovation. You bring a playful, positive approach to the work and like meeting new people and deepening connections with those you already know.
- Excited by change: You embrace nascent and evolving situations and enjoy engaging new people, ideas, and possibilities. You think about change holistically: internal, external, organizational, and cultural. You like iterating systems, building efficiency and operationalizing design. You are willing to jump in and contribute to new projects as needed.
Who you are
- You hold a Ph.D. in ecosystem ecology, biogeochemistry, agronomy, or a related field.
- Expertise in statistical analyses
- You are proficient at collecting, analyzing, and communicating data related to agricultural practices.
- Ability & willingness to represent The Land Institute in external contexts
- You have excellent time management & organizational skills
- You are a self-starter who can launch new initiatives and support and improve ongoing work.
Hours
Generally available to work forty hours per week, via in person and digital meetings, primarily during 8 am-5 pm Central Time on weekdays when most of our staff and collaborators are working. We are flexible for caregivers who might need to provide rides or support, attend appointments, or be available for caregiving.
Location Travel
This role will be located on-site at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, MN. Occasional travel for annual conferences or all-hands meetings is required.
Environmental Working Conditions
- Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer and phone.
- Work in field and laboratory research settings.
- Work in a general office environment.
- Physical fitness may be for field work, with the occasional need to lift up to 50lbs
Compensation Benefits
The Land Institute offers an excellent benefits package and competitive salary commensurate with experience.
The salary for this position is $62,000 annually.
- Remote-friendly work environment
- Paid parental leave
- Competitive, equitable compensation
- 403(b) Retirement
- 403(b) Employer contributions
- Health Insurance
- Dental Insurance
- Vision Insurance
- Employer Provided Life Insurance
- Flexible Spending Account
- Dependent Care
- Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Insurance
- Voluntary Life Insurance
- Accidental Insurance
- Critical Illness Insurance
- Employee Assistance Program
- Paid holidays
- Generous paid time off
- Complete laptop workstation and set up for remote work
To Apply:
Please submit current C.V. and letter of interest describing background, research interests, ability to achieve the described responsibilities by clicking apply below. Candidate review will begin on January 20, 2025.
The Land Institute is an equal opportunity employer and embraces the opportunity to provide employment to qualified individuals regardless of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information. We are pleased to provide reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
Salary : $62,000