Job Description

A postdoctoral associate or research scientist with a passion for social-ecological science is sought for a 2.5 year study on the socio-ecological benefits and impacts of haying, grazing and silvopasture on Conservation Reserve Program lands in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern United States. The postdoctoral associate will be directly supervised by Dr. Sarah Karpanty (ecologist) but this is a collaborative, interdisciplinary project and thus this position will be co-mentored by Karpanty and Drs. Ashley Dayer (social scientist), Ben Tracy (agroecologist), Elizabeth Hunter (ecologist), Carola Haas (ecologist), and John Fike (forage extension specialist) at Virginia Tech. The project team also includes Drs. Houston Chandler (Orianne Society) and Kevin Loope (conservation scientist) and a full-time natural resources specialist. The university values diversity and continually strives to maintain and promote an inclusive learning and research environment that embrace all students, faculty, and staff. We are particularly interested in applications from persons identifying with groups currently underrepresented in natural resources fields, including but not limited to Black, Indigenous, people of color, people with disabilities, and underrepresented genders. This would include cis women, trans women, trans men, non-binary people, and those who are otherwise marginalized.

The research project is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Farm Service Agency. The project objectives are 1) to summarize existing scientific knowledge on the benefits and impacts of haying, grazing and silvopasture on ecosystem services across the United States, 2) to study landowner interests, needs and constraints for grazing and silvopasture on CRP lands in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern US, and 3) to use the existing knowledge and landowner needs to design a robust field study to quantify the benefits and impacts of realistic applications of haying, grazing and silvopasture on CRP lands in this same region, with particular attention given to the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service's Working Lands for Wildlife priority species for conservation.

The successful candidate will: 1) Coordinate project logistics and team activities; 2) Design and implement literature review and surveys of landowners; 3) Travel to meet with landowners throughout the Southeastern US and assess site suitability for study objectives; 4) Manage data and conduct statistical analyses and lead report-writing; 5) Assist in supervision of natural resource specialist; 6) Present at annual meetings with USDA partners and at national conferences; 7) Mentor research staff, undergraduate and graduate students in the lab group as appropriate and aligned with candidate's career goals; 8) Publish peer-reviewed articles; and 9) Be an active member of a robust post-doc community at Virginia Tech.

The position requires travel to meet landowners and assess site suitability in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida and for partner meetings and conferences in the US and possibly internationally

Required Qualifications

- Ph.D. in natural resources; agricultural sciences; social-ecological sciences; social sciences related to conservation, natural resources, agroecosystems and/or wildlife management; or ecological science.
- PhD must be awarded no more than four years prior to the effective date of appointment with a minimum of one year eligibility remaining .(For rank of Postdoctoral Associate)
- Knowledge of social science (e.g., psychology, sociology) and ecological science concepts, principles, and methods as applied to wildlife, agroecosystem, or other natural resource management sufficient to contribute to project design, quantitative and qualitative data analysis and science communication.
- Demonstrated skills in collaborating with others on teams to accomplish shared objectives.
- Excellent communication skills and organizational skills.
- Experience writing peer-reviewed publications

Preferred Qualifications

- Experience in project coordination and management.
- Experience communicating scientific results and methods to agricultural landowners and agricultural and conservation professionals.
- Experience mentoring undergraduate or graduate students or other research staff.
- Experience with social-ecological science.
- Experience studying private landowners, agricultural producers, or forest landowners.
- Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
- Knowledge of socio-ecological benefits and impacts of grazing, haying and silvopasture.

Appointment Type

Restricted

Salary Information

Commensurate with experience

Review Date

1/2/24

Additional Information

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

About Virginia Tech

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight , a , a college, , and . The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including the in Northern Virginia; the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke; sites in Newport News and Richmond; and numerous and . A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $500 million in research annually.