Seeking a 12 month postdoctoral associate in the agro-ecology lab at Virginia Tech. This position will be supported by a recently funded Agroecosystem Management grant from USDA and the successful candidate will be supervised by Dr. Megan O'Rourke. The postdoc will join an interdisciplinary team studying a diversity of ecosystem services impacted by land-use on and around farms. The study system focuses on conventional and organic vegetable farms. Entomology will be the emphasis of research, specifically biological control and pollination. The interdisciplinary team includes researchers and students in fish and wildlife biology and agricultural economics who will work in the same system and will examine land-use and habitat management impacts on bats, birds, deer, and agri- tourism opportunities. Project partners include the Nature Conservancy, the Eastern Shore Land Trust, Cooperative Extension, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Required Qualifications: Ph.D. in entomology, agro-ecology or closely related field; strong statistical abilities and writing skills; ability to work independently; driver’s license; publication track-record; preference for pollinator and/or biocontrol research experience. Responsibilities: The successful candidate must be extremely independent. Summer field work will be based out of the Eastern Shore Agricultural Research and Extension Center (ESAREC) while Virginia Tech’s main campus and supervising lab is located in Blacksburg, VA. The post-doc will be responsible for: 1) managing a network of 20 cooperating farmers and on-farm research sites; 2) establishing and monitoring pollinator conservation habitats on ten farms; 3) designing research protocols and conducting pollination and biological control field experiments; and 4) writing up existing research data about no-till pumpkin production and pollinator habitat establishment. Application Process: Please send, as a single file, your cv, copies of university transcripts, scientific writing sample, and names and contacts of three references to [email protected] with the title “Postdoc Agroecology Application.” Review of applications will begin immediately until a suitable applicant is identified. Please direct questions to Megan O’Rourke, [email protected]. I will also try to meet with prospective candidates at the ESA meeting in Baltimore, MD August 9-14. Duration: 12 months starting January, 2016; potential for 1 year renewal. Compensation: $40,000/yr plus full benefit package This position has previously been advertised for Ph.D. candidates. Interested Ph.D. students and postdocs will both be considered for the position.
