Department of Animal Science Classification & Title: 9546, Post-doctoral Associate – Livestock Sustainability Appointment Type: 100% yearly renewable contract Reports to: Pedro E. Urriola - Department of Animal Science College/Admin Unit: College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences Campus Location: St. Paul Campus
Position Overview This position will work closely with the newly formed Livestock Sustainability group of the Department of Animal Science. The group actively collaborates with other professionals in sustainable food systems in Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering, College of Veterinary Medicine, Food Science and Nutrition, and the Institute on the Environment. The following are assignments and expectations while working during the first year with the Livestock Sustainability group. These are based on current funded projects.
Responsibilities
Farm animal research in established areas of carbon footprint, nutrient cycling, water and soil quality, water and land use, and new metrics aligned to assist livestock producers achieve United Nations developmental goals.
Upcycling of agricultural by-products into higher value animal feed products by means of nutritional evaluation, enhanced nutritional components, and strategic use for enhanced animal health, welfare, performance, and well-being.
Nutritional aspects of cover crop utilization and carbon sequestration.
Dietary interventions to reduce emissions of volatile organic compounds (e.g., alcohols, aldehydes, aromatic hydrocarbons, halogenated hydrocarbons) in emissions from livestock, livestock feed (i.e. silage) and manure.
Novel precision technologies with models to better predict and match inputs of nutrients, water, nitrogen, carbon and others with outputs such that negative environmental impacts are minimized.
Renewable energy platforms that interface with modern livestock (meat, milk, egg) production.
Finally, in coordination with your supervisor, seek potential new projects to fund new research based on mutual interest, we want to listen to your ideas and motivations.
Required Qualifications
PhD in Livestock Sustainability and related areas (e.g., agriculture engineering, ecology, animal science, veterinary medicine).
Demonstrated ability to propose and conduct independent and collaborative research.
Publication record in peer review scientific journals.
Ability to successfully multitask and organize workflow; manage multiple projects and schedules; and communicate effectively around project timelines and deliverables.
Ability to work independently and collaboratively depending on the task.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience in environmental, sustainability, and/or food system science.
Experience with biophysical models of crop production.
Experience in evaluation of nutrient requirements and using mathematical modeling to understand optimal nutrient levels in feeding programs for pigs, poultry, and/or ruminants.
Experience with dynamic models of the soil-plant-livestock-atmosphere continuum, data-driven analytics, and spatial modelling.
Experience with statistical computing (e.g. R or Python).
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