Agrivoltaics (AVs), the co-located production of solar energy and crops, is an emerging technology that can reduce competition for land and provide climate-smart solutions to improve land use efficiency (combined crop and electricity yield), crop water-use efficiency, profitability, and the economic resilience of farmers. Two postdoctoral positions are available in the Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment (iSEE) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) as part the Sustainably Colocating Agricultural and Photovoltaic Electricity Systems (SCAPES) project funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The goal of SCAPES is to provide the interdisciplinary research, outreach, and educational opportunities that will optimize the design of sustainable AV technologies for diverse crop species (row crops, forage, and specialty crops) acrossthree biophysically diverse regions in the U.S.: Illinois, Colorado and Arizona.

The ecophysiology postdoc will focus on measuring photosynthesis, photoinhibition, conductance, plant water relations of select C3 and C4 crops growing in different configurations under commercial and experimental photovoltaic solar arrays. In addition, the postdoc will characterize the dynamic atmospheric and soil microenvironment between andunder solar arrays. The agronomy postdoc will quantify crop development and patterns of biomass allocation, including root growth, of crops growing under the treatments described above. It is expected that both postdoctoral associateshave experience conducting field research, under sometimes adverse weather conditions, and will contribute to a highly collaborative work environment where they will coordinate research activities with a large team of collaborators, supervise technicians and undergraduates, and write manuscripts. Field work will be conducted on solar farms inChampaign County, Ill.

The ecophysiology postdoc will work primarily under the guidance of Carl Bernacchi, Evan DeLucia, and Nuria Gomez-Casanovas, and the agronomy postdoc will work primarily under the guidance of DoKyong Lee and Bruce Branham. The postdocs will be expected to collaborate with economists, ecosystem modelers, and others in the SCAPES project.

Required Qualifications:

• A D. or the equivalent in plant physiology, ecophysiology, agronomy, or related field
• Experience with laboratory and field work
• Strong English writing and oral communication skills
• Strong organizational skills
• Ability to work in a collaborative environment
• Ability to travel frequently to research sites in Illinois
• A valid driver’s license

Strong candidates will also possess the following attributes:

• A strong publication record from their Ph.D. (papers published, in press, or submitted)
• Experience with gas exchange and micrometeorology measurements, and above- and belowground plant sampling, and soil coring
• Knowledge of soil temperature and moisture monitoring equipment
• Creativity, independence, and the desire to learn new things

All candidates must have received a Ph.D. in a relevant field within the past five years. The position is available for two years, with possible extension further; however, annual renewal is dependent on funding and progress made by the individual. This position includes a competitive salary and full benefits.

Application review will begin Jan. 31, 2022, and will continue until the position is filled. The start date is flexible, but ideally on April 1, 2022. Applications should include a brief cover letter, curriculum vitae, and the names and contactinformation for three professional references. Please put the specific postdoctoral position for which you would like to be considered in the subject line of your email to Basia Latawiec, Research Program Coordinator, at latawic2@illinois.edu.

For further information about the position, please contact Bernacchi at bernacch@illinois.edu, DeLucia at delucia@illinois.edu, Gomez-Casanovas  at ngomezca@illinois.edu, Lee at leedk@illinois.edu, or Branham atbbranham@illinois.edu.

The University of Illinois is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action employer that recruits and hires qualified candidates without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability or veteran status. For more information, visit http://go.illinois.edu/EEO.

University of Illinois faculty, staff and students are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. If you are not able to receive the vaccine for medical or religious reasons, you may seek approval for an exemption in accordancewith applicable University processes.

University of Illinois conducts criminal background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer. Convictions are not a bar to employment. As a qualifying federal contractor, the University of Illinois System uses E-Verify to verify employment eligibility. The University of Illinois System requires candidates selected for hire to disclose any documented finding of sexual misconduct or sexual harassment and to authorize inquiries to current and former employers regarding findings of sexual misconduct or sexual harassment. For more information, visit Policy on Consideration of Sexual Misconduct in Prior Employment.

FULL JOB DESCRIPTION HERE >>>

A message from iSEE Acting Associate Director for Research Jeremy Guest:

A message from iSEE Acting Associate Director for Research Jeremy Guest:

A message from iSEE Acting Associate Director for Research Jeremy Guest:

Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research 2022 Seeding Solutions Program

Award Details: $300,000 to $1 million

Important Deadline: March 9, 2022, 4:00 PM CST – Pre-Applications

RFP Link

Program Summary:

The Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research invites applications for its 2022 Seeding Solutions program, which encourages innovative and transformative research to benefit farmers, consumers, and the environment.

To that end, FFAR will award meritorious applications — prioritizing those projects that emphasize a commitment to cross-sector partnerships — addressing and providing solutions to an intractable problem and/or accelerating innovation within FFAR’s Challenge Areas or AgMission, which include:

• Soil Health: Advanced understanding of what soil health is, how it is measured and how to manage and optimize the sustainable delivery of the ecosystem services which soils provide.
• Sustainable Water Management: Interdisciplinary, model-based research to optimize crop production while minimizing environmental impacts and enhancing terrestrial water supplies through widespread adoption of advanced agricultural practices.
• Next Generation Crops: Advanced breeding methods and development of biotic and abiotic stress tolerance for crops grown in organic and conventional cropping systems to increase farmer profitability and environmental resilience.
• Advanced Animal Systems: Improved animal health, welfare and productivity, antibiotic stewardship, and the environment. Research with outcomes relevant to multiple species and/or One Health approaches that incorporate transdisciplinary research relevant to animals, humans and the environment is particularly encouraged.
• Urban Food Systems: Elucidation of connections between urban food systems and the urban environment, in addition to the connections between rural and urban communities to improve food and nutritional security, human health outcomes, economic opportunities and food system resiliency through transdisciplinary partnerships.
• Health-Agriculture Nexus: Systems-level approaches (both technological and non-technological) aimed at reducing food and nutritional insecurity and improving human health in the United States and worldwide.
• AgMission: Innovative research and integrated data systems to advance knowledge and adoption of climate-smart agriculture practices, focusing on co-design with agricultural stakeholders and understanding enabling conditions for systems-level change.

FFAR will award a total of up to $10 million in grants through the program, with up to 10 individual awards ranging from $300,000 to $1 million.

Applications that demonstrate strong partnerships by matching from external sources outside the applicant institutions are encouraged. These partners may include but are not limited to the private sector, nonprofits, commodity and trade groups, state governments, and others that do not traditionally work in agriculture.

Eligible applicants include higher education institutions, nonprofit and for-profit organizations, and U.S. government-affiliated research agencies. Any individual(s) with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research as program director(s)/principal investigator(s) may apply to the program through their home institution or organization.

Pre-applications are due March 9, 2022, and selected applicants will be invited to submit a full application by 5 p.m. Eastern July 13, 2022.

For complete program guidelines and application instructions, see the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research website.

You can contact the Office of Foundation Relations for:

• Illinois researchers who have experience with this foundation
• Background information about this foundation
• Guidance through the campus processes
• Assistance with proposal development and/or review

A message from iSEE Acting Associate Director for Research Jeremy Guest: