USDA-ARS Postdoctoral Fellowship in Soil and Crop Modeling

United States Department of Agriculture; Madison (WI); On-site; USD 60,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

USDA Agricultural Research Service in Madison, Wisconsin is offering a postdoctoral research fellowship in dairy agroecosystem modeling. The role focuses on applying the RuFaS-SCM model to predict nutrient use efficiency, calibrating and validating the model with long-term data, and evaluating decision-support tools for cropping systems under varying weather conditions.

You will work closely with USDA-ARS scientists and university collaborators to advance dairy agroecosystem sustainability and

Qualifications

• Postdoctoral research experience in process and statistical modeling.
• Experience applying farm-system models to nutrient use efficiency.
• Ability to collaborate with USDA-ARS researchers and university scientists.

Responsibilities

• Apply RuFaS-SCM to support USDA-ARS research priorities in nutrient use efficiency and dairy agroecosystem sustainability.
• Calibrate and validate models using long-term USDA-ARS datasets to develop manure nutrient management strategies.
• Evaluate crop and farm decision-support tools to assess management practices and weather impacts on soil erosion and nutrient runoff.
• Collaborate with mentors to advance the RuFaS-SCM development and application.

Skills

Statistical modeling

Process modeling

Collaboration

Data analysis

Tools

RuFaS-SCM

Job description

*Applicationsare reviewed on a rolling-basis.

ARSOffice/Lab and Location:

A research opportunityis currently available withthe U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS),located in Madison, Wisconsin.

The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) is the U.S. Department of Agriculture's chief scientific in-house research agency with a mission to find solutions to agricultural problems that affect Americans every day from field to table. ARS will deliver cutting-edge, scientific tools and innovative solutions for American farmers, producers, industry, and communities to support the nourishment and well-being of all people; sustain our nation’s agroecosystems and natural resources; and ensure the economic competitiveness and excellence of our agriculture. The vision of the agency is to provide global leadership in agricultural discoveries through scientific excellence.

Research Project:

The Environmentally Integrated Dairy Management Research Unit (EIDMRU) within the U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center (DFRC) has an opportunity for aPost Doctoral Research Fellow to engage in aprocess and statistical modeling research opportunity focused on improving nutrient use efficiency in Midwest dairy agroecosystems. You will participateclosely with USDA-ARS Research Soil Scientists to apply a whole farm process model (Ruminant Farm Systems model-Soil and Crop Module; RuFaS-SCM) to predict crop yields, nutrient uptake and losses; perform model calibration/validation as needed. In addition, you will have anopportunity to use well established crop/farm decision support tools to quantify cropping system, nutrient input, and weather impacts on soil erosion and losses of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) in surface runoff from long-term paired watersheds.

Results of the study will improve nutrient use efficiency and advance our knowledge of dairy agroecosystem soil-plant-nutrient interactions. In addition, results will support dairy and agri-environmental stakeholder efforts to improve nutrient loss prediction anddevelopment and application of the RuFaS-SCM.

You will participate alongsideUSDA-ARS and university scientists on nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) in surface runoff losses in the dairy forage system.

Learning Objectives:

• Apply RuFaS-SCM to support USDA-ARS research priorities innutrient use efficiency and dairy agroecosystem sustainability.
• Use model calibration, validation, and performance evaluation using USDA-ARS long-term datasets to develop manure nutrient management strategies in the dairy agroecosystem.
• Evaluate crop and farm decision-support tools to evaluate how management practices and weather influence soil erosion and nutrient runoff.
• Understand soil–plant–nutrient interactions that influence sustainability in dairy forage systems.

Mentor(s):

The mentor forthis opportunity is Pradip Adhikari ([e-mail]). If you have questions about the nature of the research,please contact the mentor(s).

Anticipated Appointment Start Date:

2026. Start date is flexible and willdepend on a variety offactors.

Appointment Length:

The appointment will initially be for one year, but may berenewed uponrecommendation of ARSand is contingent on the availability of funds.

Level of Participation:

The appointment is full time.

Participant Stipend:

The participant will receive a monthly stipend commensurate with educational level and experience.

Citizenship Requirements:

This opportunity is available to U.S. citizens only.

ORISE Information:

This program, administered by ORAU through its contract with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to manage the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE), was established through an interagency agreement between DOE and ARS.Participants do not become employees of USDA, ARS, DOE or the program administrator, and there are no employment-related benefits.Proof of health insurance is required for participation in this program. Health insurance can be obtained through ORISE.

Questions:

Please visit ourProgram Website. After reading, if you have additional questions about the application process,please [e-mail] andinclude the reference code for this opportunity.