Position overview
Salary range: The UC postdoc salary scales set the minimum pay determined by experience level at appointment. See the following table for the current salary scale for this position: https://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/_files/2022-23/april-2023-ase-gsr-postoc-salary-scales/t23.pdf . A reasonable estimate for this position is $65,632 to $76,600 .
Percent time: Full-time
Anticipated start: Summer 2023
Position duration: Initial appointment is for 2 years with possibility of renewal based on performance and availability of funding.
Application Window
Open date: March 9, 2023
Next review date: Thursday, Mar 23, 2023 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.
Final date: Wednesday, May 31, 2023 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.
Position description
The Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management at the University of California, Berkeley, is seeking to fill a Postdoctoral Scholar position.
The Postdoctoral Scholar will conduct statistical modeling of impacts of extreme climate events on agriculture in relation to different farming systems. In particular, this postdoc will lead analyses to assess how diversified cropping systems affect crop production during the types of stressful weather that will continue to become more frequent and more severe with climate change. This will include processing existing datasets spanning approximately one million fields across nine states and two decades in the U.S. Corn Belt, including crop yields, remotely sensed data on crop rotation and cover cropping, and environmental variables. The postdoc will then develop statistical models of crop yield risks in a Bayesian causal inference framework. This position would be ideal for either an environmental science PhD with strong statistical training or a statistics PhD with experience or interest in environmental applications.
This position is nested within a broader, multidisciplinary and multisector team with funding from the United States Department of Agriculture and Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research. The goals of the broader team include quantifying the value of farming systems that reduce risk of yield losses for agricultural lenders, insurers, and farmers, via actuarial and economic analyses that will build on the statistical modeling conducted by this postdoc. There is significant potential for real world impact from this research by informing agricultural lending and crop insurance policies in the U.S. Team members span multiple universities and a non profit partner, Land Core.
The postdoc will be based in the Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management at UC Berkeley, co-advised by Tim Bowles (agroecology) and Perry de Valpine (quantitative ecology). There will be opportunities to engage with the new Eric and Wendy Schmidt Center for Data Science and Environment, which would provide a rich environment for knowledge sharing around data science.
Responsibilities
Develop statistical models linking cropping system diversification (crop rotation and cover cropping) with crop yields during stressful weather. Using a Bayesian causal inference framework is of particular interest.
Collaborate with multidisciplinary (e.g. agroecologists, agricultural economists, and statisticians) and multi-sector (i.e. academics and NGO) team to contribute to quantify economic risks from different cropping systems and environmental contexts.
Work collaboratively with and articulate complex statistical concepts to stakeholders without statistical training.
Lead publication of academic papers and present results at national and international conferences.
Qualifications
Basic qualifications (required at time of application)
PhD (or equivalent international degree) or enrolled in a PhD (or equivalent international degree) program.
Additional qualifications (required at time of start)
PhD (or equivalent international degree) required by the appointment start date
No more than three years of post-degree research experience by start date.
Preferred qualifications
Fluency in R
Expertise in frequentist and Bayesian linear mixed models.
Expertise in spatial statistical modeling methods
Demonstrated ability to work with complex or customized statistical models in applied settings
Experience managing very large datasets.
Experience with GIS and creating maps
Familiarity with searching for and using publicly available agricultural datasets
Familiarity with obtaining, setting up, and using cloud computing environments
Knowledge of agricultural ecology
Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with and articulate statistical concepts to stakeholders without statistical training
Application Requirements
Document requirements
Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
Cover Letter - Interested individuals should include a 1-2 page cover letter describing their research experience
Statement on Contributions to Advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion - Statement on your contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion, including information about your understanding of these topics, your record of activities to date, and your specific plans and goals for advancing equity and inclusion if hired at Berkeley (for additional information go to https://ofew.berkeley.edu/recruitment/contributions-diversity ).
(Optional)
Reference requirements
3 required (contact information only) Apply link: https://aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF03863
Help contact: timothy.bowles@berkeley.edu
Campus Information
Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging are core values at UC Berkeley. Our excellence can only be fully realized by faculty, students, and academic and non-academic staff who share our commitment to these values. Successful candidates for our academic positions will demonstrate evidence of a commitment to advancing equity, inclusion, and belonging.
The University of California, Berkeley is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status. For the complete University of California nondiscrimination and affirmative action policy see: http://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4000376/NondiscrimAffirmAct
In searches when letters of reference are required all letters will be treated as confidential per University of California policy and California state law. Please refer potential referees, including when letters are provided via a third party (i.e., dossier service or career center), to the UC Berkeley statement of confidentiality prior to submitting their letter.
As a condition of employment, you will be required to comply with the University of California Policy on Vaccination Programs - With Updated Interim Amendments . All Covered Individuals under the policy must provide proof of receiving the COVID-19 Vaccine Primary Series or, if applicable, submit a request for Exception (based on Medical Exemption, Disability, Religious Objection, and/or Deferral based on pregnancy or recent COVID-19 diagnosis and/or treatment) no later than the applicable deadline. All Covered Individuals must also provide proof of receiving the most recent CDC-recommended COVID-19 booster or properly decline such booster no later than the applicable deadline. New University of California employees should refer to Exhibit 2 , Section II.C. of the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) Vaccination Program Attachment for applicable deadlines. All Covered Individuals must also provide proof of being Up-To-Date on seasonal influenza vaccination or properly decline such vaccination no later than the applicable deadline. Please refer to the Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Program Attachment . (Capitalized terms in this paragraph are defined in the policy.) Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.
Positions that are represented by a collective bargaining unit or agent have particular contracts. For more information, please refer to the relevant contract: Lecturer (IX) contract , Postdoctoral (PX) contract , Academic Researcher (RA) contract , and Librarian (LX ) contract . Questions about represented positions can be directed to the hiring unit.
Job location
This appointment has a preference for being based locally at UC Berkeley in Berkeley, CA, USA
To apply, visit https://aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF03863
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