Job Description Summary
Organization's Summary Statement:
The purpose of this position announcement is to hire a Post-Doctoral Associate to modify and improve an existing finite element model of water and heat flow, solute transport, and plant root dynamics in soil. The model is a major sub-component of crop models for corn, potato, soybean, cotton, wheat, and rye. This position is funded through a cooperative agreement between the Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture and the USDA-ARS Adaptive Crops and Systems Laboratory in Beltsville, MD. This position is based at the University of Maryland College Park in College Park, Maryland with the majority of work conducted at USDA-ARS in Beltsville, Maryland. This position is not available for visa sponsorship.
Duties and Responsibilities: The work will primarily focus on the modification and testing of a finite element model of soil processes and associated crop models. The position consists mostly of numerical analysis and computer programming.
The applicant will be expected to:
• Work with graduate students and scientists who are collecting data on saline and flooded soils, and crop development and simulating water and nitrogen dynamics under cover crops.
• Assist with the development of algorithms to simulate flooding and salinity effects on root growth and plant processes such as photosynthesis.
• Work on improving simulation of saline soils as it applies to the Eastern Shore of Maryland
• Continue work on a mulch decomposition model to improve performance and add new types of residue.
• Find data in the literature for model testing and evaluation as needed.
• Organize and analyze data in order to prepare manuscripts based on these modifications.
• Participate in ongoing projects in the ARS and UMD labs and provide numerical modeling support as needed.
• Work with training users in model applications.
• Demonstrate interpersonal skills in a professional setting.
• Be willing to travel in- or out of state for scientific conferences, to network and collaborate with colleagues.
• Present findings at regional or national meetings.
Qualifications:
Required –Ph.D. in Soil Science, Agricultural Engineering, Civil Engineering or a related engineering science field with a strong emphasis on applied mathematics, numerical methods and modeling is required.
Physical Demands:
Preferences:
Experience with agriculture and soils is strongly preferred. Specific Abilities/Experience required: Extensive programming and numerical methods experience in C++, FORTRAN and Python is a prerequisite, as is a research background in Soil Science, Hydrology and/or Agronomy. Demonstrated programming experience with soil process simulation models such as finite element and finite difference models, and experience with numerical methods and applied mathematics is strongly preferred. Ability to obtain a USDA security clearance for on-site access to US government resources and systems.
Licenses/ Certifications:
Additional Job Details
Required Application Materials: Candidates must apply with the following documents, Cover letter highlighting relevant experience, Curriculum Vitae, Contact information for three references
Best Consideration Date: April 17, 2026
Posting Close Date: July 1, 2026
Open Until Filled: Yes
Financial Disclosure Required
No
For more information on Financial Disclosure, please visit Maryland's State Ethics Commission website.
Department
AGNR-Plant Science & Landscape Architecture
Worker Sub-Type
Faculty Regular
Salary Range
$50,299.72 - $176,206.72
Benefits Summary
For more information on Regular Faculty benefits, select this link.
Background Checks
Offers of employment are contingent on completion of a background check. Information reported by the background check will not automatically disqualify anyone from employment. Before any adverse decision, the finalist will have an opportunity to provide information to the University regarding disclosable background check information. The University reserves the right to rescind the offer of employment or otherwise decline or terminate employment if the information reported by the background check is deemed incompatible with the position, regardless of when the background check is completed.
Employment Eligibility
The successful candidate must complete employment eligibility verification (on Form I-9) by presenting documents that establish identity and work authorization within the timeframe required by federal immigration law, and where applicable, to demonstrate renewed employment authorization. Failure to complete employment eligibility verification or reverification within the timeframe set forth by law may result in suspension or termination of employment.
The University of Maryland, College Park is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment. Please read the University’s Equal Employment Opportunity Statement of Policy.
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