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Assistant Specialist in Grain Cropping Systems in UC Cooperative Extension

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Position description

The Department of Plant Sciences is recruiting a Grain Cropping Systems Specialist in Cooperative Extension (CE). This Specialist will bring visibility and cohesion to the interdisciplinary team of Agricultural Experiment Station (AES), CE and USDA researchers and educators working to optimize the productivity of important grain crops (wheat, maize, barley, oat, triticale, sorghum, etc.). This specialist will be expected to address issues such as disease and pest management, soil fertility, nutrient cycling and water use efficiency, while also overseeing the small grains regional testing program. The successful applicant for this position will be a scientist and educator with a Ph.D. in the plant sciences, and demonstrated research, extension and collaborative skills. Experience in Graminaceous crop production, and in the design and analysis of field experiments, will be required. This position will be housed in the Department of Plant Sciences at UC Davis and will interact with diverse groups, including the Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR) Small Grains workgroup, CE academics, AES and USDA researchers, and industry groups such as the California Wheat Commission and the California Crop Improvement Association. Of particular importance will be the collaboration between this specialist and the world-renowned grain genetics research program housed within the Department of Plant Sciences. This position will support relevant ANR strategic initiatives and program teams (http://ucanr.edu/ ). Application-oriented research will be conducted in the laboratories and fields at UC Davis, on diverse stakeholder lands (e.g., nature reserves, local, state and federal lands, and commercial farms and ranches), and/or at UC Research and Extension Centers located throughout California.

The research and extension focus of this position will address the varied grain production systems in California. A core function of this position will be to oversee the small grains regional testing and development program, in collaboration with the department’s grain genetics research programs. Other issues of interest include, but are not limited to, disease and pest management, soil fertility, nutrient cycling, biofuels production, water use efficiency and environmental water quality protection. The candidate is expected to develop a nationally-recognized program, secure extramural funding, publish research results in appropriate refereed journals and extend knowledge to clientele through the creative use of print, electronic and social media.

This specialist will coordinate research and extension activities pursued within the plant sciences department, UC Davis and the UC Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Collaboration with faculty from other UC campuses, universities, and other states will be facilitated via workgroup leadership and multi-state projects. The external stakeholders for this team include grain producers, industry organizations and commodity boards, other private sector entities and government agencies.

Departmental responsibilities will be consistent with those of other faculty members. In addition, the appointee will have the opportunity to contribute to the mission through mentoring of undergraduate and graduate students, providing guest lectures and joining one or more interdepartmental graduate groups. The candidate is expected to participate in public and university service as appropriate and acquire external funding to support research and education programs. This position will require extensive travel.

Application Requirements

Document requirements
  • Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V. including publications and grant information

  • Cover Letter

  • Statement of Research and Extension Skills (Optional)

  • Transcripts - Undergraduate and graduate academic transcripts (if within five years of receiving the PhD degree)

  • PDF of Key Publications ( Up to 3)

  • Statement of Contributions to Diversity - Statement addressing past and/or potential contributions to diversity through research, teaching, and/or service.
    (Optional)

  • Misc/Additional (Optional)

  • Misc/Additional (Optional)

  • Misc/Additional (Optional)

  • Misc/Additional (Optional)

  • Statement of Teaching

  • Statement of Research

Reference requirements
  • 5-7 required (contact information only)
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