The Department of Agronomy and Horticulture at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln is seeking a Research Assistant Professor. The Research Assistant Professor position will contribute to the integrated research land-grant mission of the home unit and IANR, as an effective scholar and citizen, including supporting student recruitment and IANR science literacy. This is a non-tenure track position for a period of three years. The position may be continued beyond the third year dependent upon availability of grant funds and satisfactory performance of the incumbent in successfully accomplishing assigned duties.

Recognizing that diversity within a context of inclusivity enhances creativity, innovation, impact, and a sense of belonging, the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources (IANR) and Agronomy and Horticulture are committed to creating learning, research, Extension programming, and work environments that are inclusive of all forms of human diversity. We actively encourage applications from and nominations of individuals from underrepresented groups.

The incumbent will provide research leadership on nitrogen and water decision support systems (DSS) for Nebraska and the Corn Belt. In particular, the selected candidate will be engaged in the creation and testing of the decision support Dashboard for Agricultural Water use and Nutrient management (DAWN). The candidate will be responsible to engage with stakeholders, farmer groups and Natural Resource Districts for training workshops on the use of the DAWN Decision Support System and future refinement of the tool.

The incumbent will provide research support on understanding causes and processes related with spatial (within-fields) and temporal (across years) variability in nitrogen and water use efficiency in crop production systems in the corn belt. Research objectives will be accomplished by using big data sets, digital and precision ag technologies, data mining techniques, and crop simulation models. The outcomes of this effort will help to regionalize management practices and solutions that are targeted to specific soil, weather and socio-economic conditions. Outputs from this work will be used to help develop and coordinate strategies to evaluate and improve current nitrogen recommendations across Nebraska and regionalized guidelines to stakeholders and producers. As part of this task, the incumbent will be working with long-term soil fertility plot trials, on-farm research, geo-spatial data, weather data, and multiple sources of information.

Preparation of grant proposals for funding to support research projects, presentation of research results at scientific meetings, and publication of research results in peer-reviewed scientific journals are core duties for this position. The incumbent may also provide guest lectures in undergraduate and graduate courses and contribute to extension educational programs as time permits. Contributions to supervision of graduate student research is another role expected of this position.

As appropriate to the appointment, the incumbent will: seek and establish effective disciplinary and transdisciplinary collaborations, including effective integration with the Digital Ag Team, the On-Farm Research Network, UNL extension, the Biosystems Engineering Department and the Department of Statistics, and connect with stakeholders, agency, and/or industry partners to strengthen research and extension. The successful candidate is expected to work and collaborate effectively with other researchers, faculties, and educators in a highly interdisciplinary effort to address digital agriculture discovery and learning needs.

In addition to the above-described duties, the individual will be expected to accept committee assignments, reporting responsibilities, and other special ad hoc assignments as requested at the administrative unit, college/division, institute, and/or university level.

Required qualifications include a Ph.D. in Agronomy, Soil Science, Crop Science or a related field; experience in cropping system modelling explicitly aimed to increase crop yields and nutrient/water/input use efficiency; agronomic experience on programs through precision ag including remote sensing, ArcGIS and digital ag technologies; proficiency in data analysis and programming (R or Python); and demonstrated ability to publish research in peer-review journals. Experience with nutrient management recommendation systems, experience in crop yield forecasting, and excellent interpersonal skills are preferred.

To view details of the position and create an application, go to http://employment.unl.edu, requisition F_21006. Click “Apply to this job” and complete the information form. Attach 1) a letter of interest that describes your qualifications for the job, anticipated contributions, and your experience contributing to inclusive environments in which every person and every interaction matters; 2) your curriculum vitae; and 3) contact information for three professional references. Review of applications to begin on March 8, 2021 and continue until the position is filled or the search is closed.

As an EO/AA employer, qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and/or political affiliation. See http://www.unl.edu/equity/notice-nondiscrimination.