Postdoctoral Fellow in Soil Health (IN-RICHES)

Posting Details
Posting Detail Information

Working Title	Postdoctoral Fellow in Soil Health (IN-RICHES)
Position Location	Fort Collins, CO
Work Location	Position qualifies for hybrid/in-office work
Research Professional Position	Yes
Posting Number	202300055AP
Position Type	Admin Professional/ Research Professional
Classification Title	Postdoctoral Fellows
Number of Vacancies	1
Work Hours/Week	40
Proposed Annual Salary Range	$60,000 -$68,000 plus applicable benefits. Salary is commensurate with experience and qualifications.
Employee Benefits	Colorado State University (CSU) is committed to providing employees with a strong and competitive benefits package that supports you, your health, and your family. Visit CSU’s Human Resources website for detailed benefit plan information for permanent full-time and part-time faculty and administrative professional employees in the following University benefit areas: https://hr.colostate.edu/hr-community-and-supervisors/benefits/benefits-eligibility/ & https://hr.colostate.edu/prospective-employees/our-perks/ .
Desired Start Date	04/03/2023
Position End Date (if temporary)
To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by 11:59pm (MT) on	02/05/2023
Description of Work Unit	The Integrated Rocky Mountain-region Innovation Center for Healthy Soils (IN-RICHES) is a multi-stakeholder, interdisciplinary center that produces policy relevant research and facilitates dialogue to improve soil health across the Rocky Mountain Region. IN-RICHES addresses soil health across ecosystems, including forests, grasslands, rangelands and croplands. IN-RICHES is associated with CSU Soil & Crop Sciences, CSU SPUR and CSU Agricultural Experiment Station. The Department of Soil and Crop Sciences is focused on education, research, and outreach to solve the world’s most pressing food production issues and crucial matters about Earth, its ecosystems, and their services. Our faculty and staff apply research-based solutions to benefit Colorado and the world. We offer academic programs to prepare students to address national and global crop production, sustainability, and environmental quality challenges such as waste management, water quality, and reclamation of drastically disturbed lands. There are numerous opportunities for students to be involved in cutting edge research related to global food production and ecosystem function and protection.
Position Summary	IN-RICHES at Colorado State University is searching for a postdoctoral researcher to join our team. The Postdoc will work across several projects with the broader goal of advancing soil health research in Colorado and the western US. The postdoc will lead efforts for the development of a regional soil health inventory to be integrated into decision support tools for agricultural land managers, research to evaluate the effects of agricultural management practices on soil health including greenhouse gas balance, soil carbon sequestration and water retention, and will help coordinate outreach events to enhance soil health education and policy. The postdoc will work independently and contribute as a member of our dynamic, collaborative multi-disciplinary team.
Required Job Qualifications	Completed PhD in Soil Science, Ecology, Ecosystem Science, Biogeochemistry or other closely related field by the employment start date Knowledge and in depth understanding of soil health and soil carbon sequestration in agricultural systems Demonstrated potential for leadership and collaboration, independent thought, research, and science communication The successful candidate must be legally authorized to work in the United States by start date; visa sponsorship will not be provided by department
Preferred Job Qualifications	Experience with analytical equipment and methods relating to soil biogeochemistry and soil health quantification Experience with synthesizing and managing large data sets Previous experience working with soil organic matter cycling, soil organic matter fractions, soil carbon sequestration, or greenhouse gas quantification tools in agroecosystems (e.g. COMET Farm) Experience with collaborating and communicating with various agricultural stakeholders Evidence of substantial research accomplishments and peer-reviewed publications in soil biogeochemistry, soil health or agroecosystem ecology
Diversity Statement	Reflecting departmental and institutional values, candidates are expected to have the ability to advance the Department’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Essential Duties

Job Duty Category	Research
Duty/Responsibility	Experimental design, data analysis and synthesis, publication and presentation of results. Manage and analyze data. Synthesize soil health data and lead the development of a soil health management data platform to be used for a regional soil health inventory. Data analysis is done by performing field and lab work and synthesizing soil biogeochemical metrics and related meta-data to evaluate the effect of agricultural management practices on soil health, greenhouse gas balance, and water dynamics. Data management requires organization of collected data, supervision of people collecting the data, and management of centralized database to assure the consistency and longevity of data storage and effective use of data for dissemination. Dissemination of findings is done by writing publications, oral presentations at conferences or presentation of results for broader audiences at stakeholder meetings and educational outreach events.
Percentage Of Time	50

Job Duty Category	Project Management
Duty/Responsibility	Communication and coordination of research projects. Manage field and lab work including conducting and facilitating analytical measurements, collecting and analyzing data, supervision of research associate and student hourlies, time management to assure research objectives are met by project deadlines.
Percentage Of Time	40

Job Duty Category	Supervision
Duty/Responsibility	Coordinate field and lab work, supervise student employees and research associates, manage and report on project tasks
Percentage Of Time	10

Application Details

Special Instructions to Applicants	Applications will be accepted until the position is filled, but for full consideration, all materials must be received by Friday February 5, 2023. Applicants should upload the following: (1) A cover letter addressing your qualifications; (2) curriculum vitae or resume; and (3) unofficial transcripts; (4) contact information of three professional references, one of whom is/was an immediate supervisor, who has firsthand knowledge of an applicant’s professional abilities. References will not be contacted without prior notification of candidates. For inquiries about the position, contact Search Chair [email protected]. For additional information about Colorado State University, consult the university’s website at www.colostate.edu.
Conditions of Employment	Pre-employment Criminal Background Check (required for new hires)
Search Contact	[email protected]
EEO Statement	Colorado State University is committed to providing an environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based on race, age, creed, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, gender, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, or pregnancy in its employment, programs, services and activities, and admissions, and, in certain circumstances, marriage to a co-worker. The University will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. Colorado State University is an equal opportunity and equal access institution and affirmative action employer fully committed to achieving a diverse workforce and complies with all Federal and Colorado State laws, regulations, and executive orders regarding non-discrimination and affirmative action. The Office of Equal Opportunity is located in 101 Student Services. The Title IX Coordinator is the Director of the Office of Title IX Programs and Gender Equity, 123 Student Services Building, Fort Collins, CO 80523-0160, (970) 491-1715, [email protected] . The Section 504 and ADA Coordinator is the Director of the Office of Equal Opportunity, 101 Student Services Building, Fort Collins, CO 80523-0160, (970) 491-5836, [email protected] . The Coordinator for any other forms of misconduct prohibited by the University’s Policy on Discrimination and Harassment is the Vice President for Equity, Equal Opportunity and Title IX, 101 Student Services Building, Fort Collins, Co. 80523-0160, (970) 491-5836, [email protected] . Any person may report sex discrimination under Title IX to the Office of Civil Rights, Department of Education .
Background Check Policy Statement	Colorado State University strives to provide a safe study, work, and living environment for its faculty, staff, volunteers and students. To support this environment and comply with applicable laws and regulations, CSU conducts background checks for the finalist before a final offer. The type of background check conducted varies by position and can include, but is not limited to, criminal history, sex offender registry, motor vehicle history, financial history, and/or education verification. Background checks will also be conducted when required by law or contract and when, in the discretion of the University, it is reasonable and prudent to do so.