Fully Funded M.S. and Postdoc Positions in Soil-Plant-Water Interactions and Irrigation Management at University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota Twin Cities is advertising two research openings in the Department of Soil, Water, and Climate (College of Agricultural, Food & Environmental Sciences): a fully funded M.S. Graduate Research Assistantship and a Postdoctoral Researcher position. The project focuses on soil-plant-water interactions, irrigation management, and potato production in Minnesota, with field-based research and data-driven decision support for sustainable crop production.
The M.S. position is in the Land and Atmospheric Science (LAAS) programme and is centered on irrigation management in potato production. The student will participate in field experiments, soil moisture and crop measurements, plot setup and maintenance, harvest support, data entry and analysis, and preparation of reports, presentations, and manuscripts. The role requires active field participation during the growing season and regular travel to field sites across Minnesota.
Eligibility for the M.S. assistantship includes an undergraduate degree in soil science, agronomy, agricultural engineering, environmental science, plant science, or a closely related field. Experience in applied field research, agricultural data collection, and basic data analysis is preferred. A valid driver’s licence is required. International applicants should meet University of Minnesota English language proficiency requirements.
The postdoctoral role is research-intensive and involves designing and leading field and lysimeter experiments, analysing soil moisture dynamics and crop response, developing models and decision-support tools, publishing in peer-reviewed journals, presenting at conferences, collaborating with graduate students and industry partners, and contributing to grant writing and project development. The postdoc should hold a PhD in soil science, agronomy, agricultural engineering, hydrology, or a closely related field, with strong experience in irrigation management, soil-plant-water relations, statistical/data analysis, sensors, and modelling.
Supervision is by Dr. Vasudha Sharma (Assistant Professor and major advisor), with co-supervision from Dr. Carl Rosen and Dr. Yuxin Miao, all at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. The post is described as fully funded for the M.S. assistantship; no stipend amount is given. The postdoctoral role is also a funded research position, but no salary details are provided. The post does not mention a deadline.
