Postdoctoral Scholar in Orchard Systems Physiology (Marino Lab)
Job #JPF06366
PLANT SCIENCES / COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES / UC Davis
Position overview
Salary range: The posted UC salary scales set the minimum pay determined by rank and/or step at appointment. See Table 23: Postdoctoral Scholar-Employee, Postdoctoral Scholar-Fellow, Postdoctoral Scholar-Paid Direct, Fiscal Year. The salary range for this position is $64,480-$77,327. "Off-scale salaries", i.e., a salary that is higher than the published system-wide salary at the designated rank and step, are offered when necessary to meet competitive conditions, qualifications, and experience.
Application Window
Open date: March 5, 2024
Next review date: Friday, Apr 5, 2024 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.
Final date: Wednesday, Mar 5, 2025 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 Tree System Lab at the University of California Davis is seeking a postdoctoral researcher to join their team in investigating various aspects of crop physiology of California orchard systems. The candidate must have a comprehensive knowledge in applied crop physiology. In addition, the postdoc will work under the supervision of Dr. Giulia Marino and Dr. Paula Guzman Delgado
The main goal of Dr. Marino's and Dr. Delgado's lab is two-fold: 1) to create basic knowledge on the impact of abiotic stressors such as limited water, increased salinity, or erratic temperatures on tree physiological processes linked with productivity, and 2) to use this knowledge to develop management strategies that maximize agricultural industry resilience to climatic change. Key crops include pistachio, olive, cherry, and almond.
Efforts of the postdoctoral researcher will be directed towards activities outlined within various ongoing projects, where they will assume a leadership role or actively collaborate with other team members. Project examples aim at developing plant-based irrigation strategies for olive and pistachio with limited water supply, improving winter chill accumulation and its calculation in cherry under warm winters, improving harvest efficiency in almond, or evaluating cultivar and rootstock horticultural performance. The work approach integrates both applied and fundamental perspectives, field and laboratory experiments, and traditional and innovative tools. Dr. Marino and Dr. Delgado participate in various extension events and field days to showcase their research and outreach their findings to different industries' stakeholders, and they expect the candidate to collaborate on that.
The position is for two years and will be at 100% time, paid according to the University of California postdoc pay scale
90% Responsibilities:
• Characterize and quantify the impact of water stress on pistachio and olive physiology and productivity.
• Identify irrigation management strategies to grow pistachio and olive with less water but enhancing quality traits.
• Characterize key physiological and productive traits of pistachio cultivars and rootstocks.
• Collaborate on the development of methods and models that evaluate, predict and mitigate the impact of warm winter temperatures on cherry bloom and fruit set.
• Analyze datasets of plant and environmental parameters using statistical and mathematical methods.
• Prepare manuscripts for publication.
• Coordinate project group meetings with stakeholders from government, academic, extension, agricultural, tech, and private sectors.
• Present results at conferences and publish results in peer-reviewed journals.
10% Responsibilities:
• Extension, Mentorship, and Outreach
Qualifications
Basic qualifications (required at time of application)
A. Ph.D. in Plant Physiology, Horticulture, Plant Sciences at the time of appointment
B. Field research experience
C. Experience in the analysis, modeling, and visualization of plant physiology
D. Experience measuring plant functional traits in the field and laboratory
E. Be able to conduct research independently
Preferred qualifications (other preferred, but not required, qualifications for the position)
F. Be able to drive and work in harsh conditions
G. Demonstrated knowledge of tree physiology
H. Evidence of scientific accomplishments and peer-reviewed publications
Application Requirements
Document requirements
Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
Cover Letter
Reference requirements
3 required (contact information only)
Apply link: https://recruit.ucdavis.edu/JPF06366
Help contact: ykreyes@ucdavis.edu