ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF SOIL BIOPHYSICS
Department of Land, Air and Water Resources, University of California, Davis
Title: Assistant Professor of Soil Biophysics. The Department of Land, Air and Water Resources (LAWR) in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of California, Davis, invites outstanding scholars to submit an application for Assistant Professor in Soil Biophysics. This will be a 9-month academic year tenure track appointment with
teaching, research, outreach/engagement and service responsibilities and includes the expectation that the appointee will conduct mission-oriented research and outreach/engagement of relevance to the California Agricultural Experiment Station
(http://caes.ucdavis.edu/research/agexpstn).
Responsibilities: The successful candidate is expected to perform research to elucidate biophysical interactions among microbes, minerals and roots as they may relate to the flux of greenhouse gases, water, nutrients, and contaminants in soil. The candidate is expected to show a record of achievement in studying biophysical interactions in soil. This selected candidate will develop an internationally recognized soil biophysics research program examining interactions between physical and biological processes in the soil. Potential areas of research include 1) rhizosphere (root-microbe-soil interface) processes and their interactions with water, nutrient, and contaminant transport in soil and the vadose zone; 2) impacts of soil physical properties, hydrologic processes and soil water dynamics on microbial communities, nutrient cycling, and/or root activity; or 3) biophysical controls on soil and ecosystem processes associated with climate change, agricultural intensification, pollution, or soil disturbance. This position will fill a critical campus need for bridging soil physical and biological processes. This position will complement existing LAWR strengths in soil science, hydrology, plant science, and biogeochemical processes and campus-wide excellence in agriculture and environmental sciences. The candidate is expected to collaborate with relevant programs on campus and demonstrate experience and interest in working with interdisciplinary groups. The candidate is expected to maintain an active, externally-funded research program. The candidate will be required to teach an undergraduate upper-level soil physics course (e.g., SSC 107: Soil Physics), an additional upper-level undergraduate course in environmental monitoring (e.g., ESM 108: Environmental Monitoring), and a graduate level course in her/his area of expertise (e.g., SSC 207: Advanced Topics in Soil Biophysics) (average of 2.5 courses per year). Supervision of graduate students, student advising, curricular development, participation in and development of outreach/engagement programs, and university service is expected. This position is expected to work with extension educators and partners in allied industries.
Qualifications: Requirements include a Ph.D. in soil science, or closely related environmental fields like environmental science/engineering or hydrology, and a record of achievement in the application of soil biophysics to study agricultural, ecological, and environmental processes as evidenced by peer reviewed publications. We seek a commitment to excellence in teaching. The candidate will be required to teach an undergraduate upper-level soil physics course, an additional upper-level undergraduate course in environmental monitoring, and a graduate level course in her/his area of expertise (average of 2.5 courses per year). Supervision of graduate students, student advising, curricular development, participation in outreach programs, and university service is expected.
Salary: Commensurate with experience within the Assistant Professor rank at the University of California.
Applications: Application materials must be submitted via the following website: https://recruit.ucdavis.edu/apply/JPF01195. This position will remain open until filled. To ensure consideration, applications should be received by October 21, 2016.
Please include: (1) curriculum vitae; (2) description of current and projected research; (3) summary of teaching interests and experience; (4) up to three publications, all in PDF format; (5) four to six reference letters from extramural references via the RECRUIT system when applying for the position; (6) a statement of interest and experience in mentoring and teaching in a community that is diverse in ethnicity, gender, and culture and (7) cover letter. Complete applications and reference letters are due by Initial Review Date (10/21/2016); Applicants within five years of their Ph.D. must arrange for undergraduate and graduate program transcripts to be attached to the end of the cover letter and uploaded directly to: https://recruit.ucdavis.edu/apply/JPF01195.
For more information about the position, please contact Dr. Sanjai J. Parikh, Search Committee Chair, LAWR, parikh@ucdavis.edu.
Open until filled, but all application materials must be received by October 21, 2016 to assure full consideration.
UC Davis is an affirmative action/equal employment opportunity employer and is dedicated to recruiting a diverse
faculty community. We welcome all qualified applicants to apply, including women, minorities, veterans, and
individuals with disabilities