Job Description

The Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (LDEO) of Columbia University invites applications for a Postdoctoral Research Scientist to support a U.S. national-scale effort aimed at improving the accuracy of modeling of soil organic carbon, crop productivity, and fertilizer use efficiency under a range of agricultural management systems. This work will directly benefit U.S. farmers and ranchers by providing better information to guide decision-making on management practices such as optimized nutrient management, cover cropping, conservation tillage, and improved grazing management. The successful candidate will lead this effort by designing and conducting model intercomparison and ensemble analysis for modeling food security and resource use efficiency-associated outcomes. Key responsibilities include coordinating and developing model intercomparison protocols, compiling standardized model input and measurement datasets across different scales and for different conservation practices, accessing process-based models for quantifying agricultural modeling groups and farming communities, and ranchers, and the scientific community. The successful candidate will work closely with the Agricultural Model Intercomparison and Improvement Project (AgMIP) Coordination Unit and join the Conservation-MIP group. Information about AgMIP can be found at: ; and details about Dr. Xia's Soil System Research Group at LDEO can be found at:  .

Candidates should have recently completed or be nearing completion of a PhD in agricultural modeling, soil science, environmental data science, earth system science, ecology, remote sensing, computer science, or closely related field. The ideal candidate should have demonstrated knowledge of soil and agricultural modeling and experience working with both the modeling and farming communities. Strong data science skills, including geospatial analysis and cloud computing, and proficiency in coding languages such as R, Python, and Google Earth Engine, are essential. Excellent oral and written communication skills, along with the ability to network and collaborate effectively, are also critical for success in this Postdoctoral position. Prior experience in applied machine learning and data assimilation is strongly recommended. 

The search will remain open for at least 30 days after the ad appears and will continue until the position is filled. Initial appointment will be for one year with the possibility of renewal contingent upon performance and funding. Proposed start date is June 1, 2025 with some flexibility.

Columbia University benefits accompany this Officer of Research appointment. 

We accept online applications only. 

Columbia University is an Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Pay Transparency Disclosure

The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, and training.  The above hiring range represents the University?s good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.

About Columbia University

Columbia University is one of the world's most important centers of research and at the same time a distinctive and distinguished learning environment for undergraduates and graduate students in many scholarly and professional fields. The University recognizes the importance of its location in New York City and seeks to link its research and teaching to the vast resources of a great metropolis. It seeks to attract a diverse and international faculty and student body, to support research and teaching on global issues, and to create academic relationships with many countries and regions. It expects all areas of the university to advance knowledge and learning at the highest level and to convey the products of its efforts to the world.

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