What are the responsibilities and job description for the Postbaccalaureate Researcher - Soil Ecology position at The Land Institute?
Postbaccalaureate (Postbac) Researcher - Soil Ecology
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.
Position Summary
The Land Institute is looking for a creative, collaborative Soil Ecology Postbaccalaureate Researcher to start in summer 2025, ideally mid-June. The postbaccalaureate researcher (“post-bac”) will conduct research related to perennial grain interaction with soil and linking above and belowground plant traits as well as work with technicians and interns to maintain a Kernza®-alfalfa intercrop experiment. In the lab, they will help measure soil attributes that are predicted to change when annual croplands are converted to perennial grains. The ideal candidate will bring an interest in soils, agricultural sustainability, and relevant background in physical or biological sciences.
One specific research project will be to carry out a greenhouse experiment that will help us understand whether plants such as Silphium integrifolium that are resistant to fungal pathogens cultivate a microbial community that supports their immunity. There are many opportunities also to work with existing datasets of soil, aboveground, and belowground data to support other research questions of interest that support the broader project.
This 12-month post-bac position is made possible through The Land Institute’s participation in the New Roots for Restoration Biology Integration Institute (https://newroots.squarespace.com/) Biology Integration Institute (NRR-BII), a National Science Foundation-funded initiative whose goal is to advance restoration of natural and agricultural ecosystems through enhanced understanding of how plant roots influence communities and the soil ecosphere.
Postbaccalaureate researchers at The Land Institute are temporary educational trainees who receive mentorship, hands-on research experience, and an opportunity to develop collaborative skills. The goal is to assist recent college graduates in exploration of future career, education, or training possibilities.
How You’d Fit In Stand Out
As a soil ecology post-bac, you’ll bring your enthusiasm and curiosity to our team to learn about diverse, perennial grain agriculture through hands-on participation, observation, and educational opportunities. You’ll join a team of technicians and scientists to maintain and collect data from our many field projects through the growing season both outdoors and in the lab. You’ll be someone excited to get to know others with shared interests and develop a research project that fits within the broader experiment taking place.
Many of our tasks are physically demanding as they require weeding, hand-harvesting plants, collecting soil cores, and weighing both plant and soil samples. You’ll learn many basics about how to conduct field and ecological research as well as the philosophical and practical considerations needed to develop perennial polycultures. To stand out for this position, you’ll have a passion to deepen your understanding of scientific inquiry and agriculture as well as a tolerance for the heat—Salina summers are toasty! You’ll be someone who enjoys working in a team environment but who is also able to perform repetitive tasks consistently and independently as this is fundamental to our data collection. Maybe you are considering whether graduate studies or a career in an agriculture or ecology-relevant field is a good fit for you—this would be a fantastic opportunity to dive deeper as well as meet others with similar interests.
Primary Responsibilities Expectations:
Engage in soil ecology research
- Carry out an independent research project focused on roots, the soil microbiome, soil physical or chemical properties, that fits into the overall NRR-BII goals and objectives (no more than 30% of total time).
- Work outside to maintain and sample experiments in a wide range of weather conditions.
- Under the supervision of mentors, set up and carry out soil nutrient, carbon, and characterization measurements in the lab and field.
- Learn a range of soil and crop experimental and analytical methods such as root observation techniques, mycorrhizae abundance, soil organic matter quality evaluations, and others.
- Establish and adhere to feasible timeframes to achieve project goals and objectives.
- Present regular and summative results of the research project, gaining experience with science communication in multiple formats and to various audiences.
Participate in training activities and opportunities
- Participate in educational events such as research seminars, group trainings, and field trips, including in-person and virtual meetings.
- Meet regularly with mentors and engage in discussions and reflections.
- Participate in and assist with institute and public events, such as New Roots for Restoration gatherings.
- Participate in fieldwork with other staff and trainees to gain experience working with multiple perennial grain crops.
- Engage with visitors by leading tours and participating in community presentations.
- Attend relevant professional conferences.
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’ve recently (within 2 years) completed your Bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as ecology, biology, chemistry, environmental engineering, soil, agricultural sciences, etc.
- You have a burning interest to learn more about agriculture, ecology, and soils.
- You’ve taken courses and/or had hands-on experience with relevant fields such as biology, chemistry, statistical analysis, ecology, etc.
- You are familiar with the scientific process and essential elements of experimental design and data collection necessary to conduct an experiment or gain scientific understanding.
- You are able to conduct an independent literature review by reading scientific articles, summarizing main ideas, and formulating relevant questions and hypotheses in writing.
- You are excited and eager to conduct an independent research project under the guidance of a mentor and support from the lab team.
- You manage your time effectively and can thrive in a team environment while also working independently for up to a day at a time.
- You consider your intellectual curiosity a key part of who you are and are committed to lifelong learning.
- You have the ability and enthusiasm to work on an emerging research agenda in a dynamic learning environment.
- You develop constructive and cooperative working relationships with others and maintain them over time.
- You can stay focused on the goal and problem-solve when equipment breaks, the weather changes, priorities shift, etc given some guidance and established protocols
- You can follow instructions, including written safety warnings.
- Your handwriting is legible and you can accurately label and keep track of samples by hand and in a spreadsheet using software such as Google Sheets and Microsoft Excel.
- You are able and willing to provide and diligently use provided personal health and protective equipment or supplies including drinking water, sunscreen, shade hat, insect repellent, and shoes and clothing appropriate for field work.
Qualifications that could help you succeed:
- Experience with soil, chemistry, or agriculture related field and lab work
- Experience as part of a research lab or conducting an independent project
- Familiarity with statistical analyses and programming languages such as R
Hours
This is a full-time position where it is necessary to be in person to support field and lab tasks. Work days generally run from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM but may occasionally need to be adjusted to accommodate weather and/or field tasks, particularly in the summer.
This is a 12.5-month position beginning in summer 2025, ideally starting on May 30, 2025.
Location Travel
This role is based at the Land Institute’s main campus in Salina, KS. Occasional travel to conferences and to visit or assist other collaborators may be necessary. You must be able to provide your own transportation to 2440 E Water Well Rd each day and you must be willing to carpool in company vehicles to field sites and comply with seatbelt laws.
Environmental Working Conditions
This work also involves many repetitive physical tasks both in and outdoors often in adverse weather conditions. Kansas weather is highly variable and can be uncomfortable for months at a time with high humidity and temperatures coupled with limited access to shade or air conditioning. While we are mindful and intentional about our exposure to these conditions, they can be challenging and require good body awareness and proactive measures to protect oneself from dehydration and over-exposure to the sun. You must be prepared to take these measures and have endurance to work in a challenging physical environment. We feel that the best of human company makes this work rewarding and even fun despite the degrees, but that does not make it easy.
- Prolonged periods of working outdoors in adverse conditions, including temperatures in excess of 95֯F
- Work in exposed field and laboratory research settings.
- Work in a general office environment.
- Demonstrate sustained physical fitness and the ability to lift 60 pounds safely and without assistance
Compensation Benefits:
Compensation for this educational experience is $16.00 per hour with full benefits offered by The Land Institute. Housing may be available for the first month of employment at no cost to allow time to find housing in the Salina community.
To Apply: Submit a transcript and resume along with a letter of interest that addresses the following questions:
- Why are you interested in this position?
- What are some things you would hope to gain from this position?
- What experience do you have that might help you be successful in this role?
- What are you most curious about with regard to The Land Institute or our mission?
- What date could you begin this position and whether a May 30th start date is feasible?
Timeline: Apply by January 24, 2025 for full consideration.
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 the essential functions.
Salary : $16