"Post Doctoral Research Scholar - Modeling Soil Carbon and GHG Emissions from Vegetable Systems"

Post Doctoral Research Scholar - Modeling Soil Carbon and GHG Emissions from Vegetable Systems

Company: North Carolina State University

Job Location: Raleigh, North Carolina

Category: Plant and Soil Science

Type: Full-Time

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Position Number: 00111352

Essential Job Duties:

The Department of Plant and Microbial Biology supports teaching, research, and extension programs in fundamental plant biology and microbiology. The department focuses on both basic and applied research, teaching undergraduate and graduate courses, mentoring students, and conducting outreach at state and national levels.

We are seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Researcher to model soil carbon dynamics and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from vegetable farms in the Southern Piedmont region. The researcher will use process-based models such as DayCent and tools like COMET-Farm to assess the impact of various agricultural management practices on soil sustainability and climate mitigation.

The position involves integrating empirical field data-including soil health indicators, eddy covariance tower measurements, soil chambers, weather station data, and multispectral remote sensing data-with process-based models. Historical data from organic and conventional vegetable growers will also be utilized.

This postdoctoral position is part of a larger initiative focused on enhancing conservation practices through predictive modeling and field-based validation. The researcher will meet regularly with Dr. Debjani Sihi for guidance on grant writing, manuscript preparation, and mentoring.

Key Responsibilities

• Apply and refine the DayCent model to simulate soil carbon sequestration and GHG emissions under various vegetable farming systems in the Southern Piedmont.
• Utilize tools such as COMET-Farm to estimate carbon footprints and evaluate mitigation strategies.
• Integrate field data on soil carbon, soil health, and GHG emissions to improve model accuracy.
• Conduct multi-site synthesis and spatial modeling to assess regional trends in soil health and climate-smart practices.
• Collaborate with an interdisciplinary team of soil scientists, agronomists, economists, and social scientists to develop actionable insights.
• Publish research findings in peer-reviewed journals and present results at conferences and field days.

Initial appointment of one year, with a potential extension of up to four years based on performance and funding availability.

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Departmental Required Skills:

• Ph.D. in Soil Science, Agronomy, Environmental Science, Ecosystem Science, Ecology, or a related field.
• Strong background in biogeochemical modeling, soil carbon dynamics, or GHG flux estimation.
• Experience using DayCent or similar soil carbon and GHG modeling tools.
• Proficiency in programming and data analysis (e.g., Python, R, C++, GIS applications).
• Experience with big data analytics and high-performance/cloud computing.
• Familiarity with sustainable agriculture, soil health indicators, and climate-smart farming practices.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a research setting.

Preferred Experience, Skills, Training/Education:

• Experience with high-performance computing, parallel computing, and APIs.
• Strong track record in biogeochemical and agronomic (or crop) modeling.
• Experience working with big data collected across multiple temporal (sub-daily to annual) and spatial (farm to region) scales from field experiments.
• Knowledge of soil health indicators, eddy covariance measurements, and soil sensors.
• Experience with remote sensing, IoT technologies, and spatial modeling techniques/GIS methods.
• Demonstrated record of publishing in peer-reviewed journals.

Necessary Licenses or Certifications: n/a

Department: 110801 - Plant & Microbial Biology

Location: Raleigh, NC