We are seeking two highly motivated, organized, and dynamic scientists to fill Postdoctoral Researcher positions in biometeorology and remote sensing at the University of California, Davis (UCD) to work on the Grape Remote sensing Atmospheric Profile & Evapotranspiration eXperiment (GRAPEX). The incumbents will work within a large collaborative group of scientists and faculty from the Departments of Viticulture and Enology (V&E) and Land Air and Water Resources (LAWR) at UC Davis, from the USDA-ARS Hydrology and Remote Sensing Laboratory (Beltsville, MD), and from the USDA-ARS Crops Pathology and Genetics Research Unit (Davis, CA). The post docs will also work closely with agronomists, viticulturists and growers, including E&J Gallo scientists, in developing methodologies for integrating model output into their crop management systems with for the GRAPEX project. The mission of GRAPEX is to refine and apply a multi-scale remote sensing evapotranspiration (ET) toolkit for mapping crop water use and crop stress for improved irrigation scheduling and water management in vineyards in the Central Valley of California, a region of endemic periodic drought. While this work will focus primarily on vineyards, the improved tools will also have applications to fruit and nut orchards and other crops with highly-structured canopies.

Efforts of the Biometeorology Postdoctoral Researcher will be directed towards generating bio-meteorological data to ground truth land surface models from satellite and aerial imagery for estimating surface energy balance and evapotranspiration with focus on vine and orchard plant and inter-row systems.  The objectives of the incumbent's research are to develop and further refine techniques and technologies to: 1) ground truth land surface models that couple energy and water balance such as the  Two Source Energy Balance model that utilizes remotely sensed  data for estimating evapotranspiration and plant stress over vineyards, orchards and other row crops containing strongly clumped vegetation; 2) establish or maintain existing stations to collect field surface energy observations and water fluxes, soil moisture, canopy condition, and seasonal crop yield and water balance; and 3) work closely with remote sensing scientists to incorporate model output into applications such as routine large area evapotranspiration  monitoring, irrigation scheduling, and assessment of drought and crop yield, particularly of orchards and vineyards.

Efforts of the Remote Sensing Postdoctoral Researcher will be directed toward the application of land surface models using satellite and aerial imagery for estimating surface energy balance and evapotranspiration. The objectives of the incumbent's research are to develop and further refine techniques and technologies to: 1) develop and refine land surface models coupling the energy and water balance such as the  Two Source Energy Balance model that utilizes remotely sensed  data for estimating evapotranspiration and plant stress over vineyards, orchards and other row crops containing strongly clumped vegetation; 2) evaluate these methods using field surface energy balance observations and water fluxes, soil moisture, canopy condition, and seasonal crop yield and water balance; 3) compare model output with ground truth data, and where necessary refine algorithms to reliably estimate evapotranspiration from row crops, with a focus on vine and orchard plant and inter-row systems; and 4) develop methods for incorporating model output in applications such as routine large area evapotranspiration monitoring, irrigation scheduling, and assessment of drought and crop yield, particularly of orchards and vineyards.

Model and methodology development will integrate thermal-based remote sensing of land-surface fluxes with detailed plant canopy models of radiative and turbulent energy exchange across the soil-plant-atmosphere system. Both Postdoctoral Researchers will be expected to work closely with one another and others already associated with the GRAPEX, and they require a multidisciplinary approach in establishing working relationships with USDA/ARS research centers, other government agencies, universities, and industry stakeholders to analyze biomet and remotely sensed data. Both researchers will have access to existing GRAPEX datasets to meet the objectives listed above and will be integral team members involved in generating and analyzing new data.

For more information about the ongoing GRAPEX research, visit: https://www.ars.usda.gov/northeast-area/beltsville-md/beltsville-agricultural-research-center/hydrology-and-remote-sensing-laboratory/docs/grapex/grapex-home/

Qualifications:

Biometeorology Position

• A Ph.D. in PhD in Ecology, Plant Sciences, Forestry, Biometeorology, Hydrology, or a closely related field.
• Experience and knowledge in conducting ecosystem flux/ crop evapotranspiration measurements, micrometeorological instrumentation and specialized knowledge of plant water relations.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively with researchers and students from many different scientific backgrounds, including agency partners and stakeholders.
• Experience designing, planning, and conducting experimental procedures, including the ability to meet project goals in a timely manner, and follow through on project deliverables.
• The ability to communicate research findings both at professional meetings and in high quality peer-reviewed journals.
• Strong statistical and computer skills including demonstrated proficiency with computer coding, such as  C, R, python, matlab, statistics, computer modelling, and expertise in datalogger programming.
• Excellent technical, analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills. Strong attention to detail, and meticulous work style, as evidenced by previous research.

Remote Sensing Position

• A Ph.D. in PhD in Remote Sensing, Geography, Earth Science, Climatology, Hydrology, or a closely related field.
• Professional knowledge of and the ability to integrate information from hydrology, meteorology, climatology, remote sensing, physics, plant physiology, statistics, computer modeling and biophysical retrievals/canopy radiative transfer models.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively with researchers and students from many different scientific backgrounds, including agency partners and stakeholders.
• Experience designing, planning, and conducting experimental procedures, including the ability to meet project goals in a timely manner, and follow through on project deliverables.
• The ability to communicate research findings both at professional meetings and in high quality peer-reviewed journals.
• Strong statistical and computer skills including demonstrated proficiency with image processing software, computer languages such as C, R, python, matlab, statistics, computer modelling, and expertise in managing large data sets.
• Excellent technical, analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills. Strong attention to detail, and meticulous work style, as evidenced by previous research

Salary and Length of Appointments:

Salary and benefits are consistent with UC Davis policy and applicant experience.  Appointments are initially two years with the possibility of additional years pending availability of funding.

To Apply:

Please apply by sending your 1) CV inclusive of publications, awards, and both laboratory and field experience; 2) contact information for at least two professional references; and 3) a cover letter discussing your key experimental qualifications, research interests and motivations for each position to ajmcelrone@ucdavis.edu. Please also specifically comment on your interest and experience engaging stakeholders and developing practical management tools for sustainable crop irrigation management. Applications will begin review on 15 Feb 2018 and will continue until filled. Start dates are flexible, but late Spring 2018 is preferred. Feel free to contact Dr. Bill Kustas (USDA-ARS Hydrology and Remote Sensing Laboratory- Beltsville, MD; Bill.Kustas@ars.usda.gov ) or Dr. Andrew McElrone for more details (see email listed above). These post-doctoral scholars will work closely with Dr. Yufang Jin and Dr. Daniele Zaccaria (both UCD LAWR) on this project.