"Research Associate - Livestock Spatial Modeler"

Position Function

The Research Associate will contribute to the Dillon Lab's multidisciplinary research program evaluating the sustainability of animal-source foods. The position combines spatial analysis, livestock systems modeling, and environmental assessment to inform regional food system planning and grazing-based production strategies. Projects include assessing agricultural production capacity and land suitability, livestock performance, and environmental tradeoffs in New York State, the NYC Watershed, and the broader Northeast and Mid-Atlantic region. The successful candidate will implement, and support modeling projects focused on animal performance, pasture productivity, and environmental impacts, particularly in grazing-based livestock systems. The Research Associate will collaborate in multidisciplinary and cross-sectoral collaborative work with economists, agronomists, soil scientists, local government representatives, computational staff, and other research partners.

Position is for one-year renewable contingent upon available work, funding, and successful performance.

Responsibilities

• Conduct spatial analyses to analyze watersheds, foodsheds, and manuresheds in New York State and the broader Northeast and Mid-Atlantic region.
• Support evaluation of social, environmental, and economic tradeoffs associated with livestock production under varying policy and market scenarios.
• Support comparative evaluation of livestock nutrition and performance models for grazing beef and dairy systems.
• Contribute to life cycle assessment (LCA) of animal-sourced foods produced in New York State and the broader Northeast and Mid-Atlantic region.
• Integrate biophysical and environmental models into broader food systems modeling frameworks.
• Contribute to peer-reviewed manuscripts, technical reports, and presentations.

Anticipated Division of Time

Research - 90%
Mentoring - 10%

Requirements

Required Qualifications

• PhD in Animal Science, Environmental Science, Agronomy, Plant Science, Soil Science, Agricultural Engineering, or related quantitative field.
• Demonstrated experience in GIS-based spatial analysis.
• Experience with quantitative modeling in agricultural or environmental systems.
• Proficiency in R, Python, or related analytical tools.
• A record of peer-reviewed publications.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with livestock nutrition or performance modeling.
• Familiarity or experience with life cycle assessment methodologies.
• Experience integrating spatial and biophysical models.
• Experience in interdisciplinary research teams.

Supervision Exercised

The Research Associate will support mentorship of graduate and undergraduate students in activities such as modeling research methods, modeling best practices, and developing manuscripts. They will at times supervise undergraduate students working as research assistants or interns in the lab.

To apply:

Qualified candidates should submit a short cover letter, curriculum vitae, and contact information for three references via the website.

Applications will be reviewed as received, continuing until a suitable applicant is identified.

CALS hiring range for this title is $75,000 - $80,000