Postdoctoral Associate

Hiring Organization: Michigan State University
Employment type: Full-Time
Job Location: East Lansing, MI
Application Due Date: March 31, 2023

The transdisciplinary team is investigating the complex interactions and cumulative impacts of multiple shocks (e.g., climate change and disease outbreaks) on the resilience and sustainability of agri-food systems in the U.S. Midwest and beyond.

The postdoctoral associate will work under the guidance of Drs. Jianguo (Jack) Liu, Andrés Viña, and Julie Winkler at Michigan State University and Dr. Dennis Todey at the USDA Midwest Climate Hub. These scholars are experts in the areas of climate science, remote sensing, systems integration, and sustainability science. They are members of a large transdisciplinary research team that includes expertise in agricultural economics and supply chain management, artificial intelligence and digital agriculture, food and nutritional science, modeling, social network analysis, K-12 educational outreach, rural development, science communication, and sustainable food systems and food security. The position will be based at the Center for Systems Integration and Sustainability, Michigan State University.

The primary responsibility of the postdoctoral associate will be to investigate the impacts of historical and future shocks, including climate shocks, on agri-food systems in the U.S. Midwest. This research will include the analysis of historical climate and remotely-sensed data, and the development of climate projections relevant to critical growth stages for a range of food crops produced in the U.S. Midwest. The work will involve the analysis of large data sets, preparation of manuscripts for peer-reviewed journals, presentations in professional meetings/symposia, and preparation of datasets, together with associated metadata, to be submitted to public data repositories.

The postdoctoral associate will have opportunities to work with project members in translating climate information for stakeholder decision making, including participation in the development of decision-support tools and early warning systems. The postdoctoral associate will also have opportunities to interact and network with the USDA Midwest Climate Hub and partners/projects related to various aspects of climate change and agriculture in the U.S. Midwest. Additional opportunities for training and professional development relevant to the postdoctoral associate’s professional goals will be provided by the project team, through the MSU Office of Postdoctoral Affairs (https://postdocs.msu.edu/), and through the USDA Midwest Climate Hub. Potential opportunities include training in stakeholder engagement and outreach, teaching, and mentoring of students, among others.

This is a full-time position. Funding is available for two years with the possibility of an extension given satisfactory performance.

Application materials include (1) cover letter, (2) CV, (3) names and contact information for three references, (4) 2-3 representative publications or papers, and (5) a 2-3 page statement summarizing your research interests and experiences to date. Review of applications will begin March 31 and continue until the position is filled.

For more information and to apply, please visit: https://careers.msu.edu/en-us/job/514101/research-associatefixed-term (Posting #848629). Apply online by clicking on “Apply Now” toward the bottom of the page.

Please contact Dr. Jack Liu (liuji@msu.edu), Dr. Andrés Viña (vina@msu.edu), Dr. Dennis Todey (dennis.todey@usda.gov) and/or Dr. Julie Winkler (winkler@msu.edu) with questions.

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