Postdoctoral Research Scientist in Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Modeling

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Position

Postdoctoral Research Scientist in Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Modeling

Employer

Columbia University

Homepage: https://lamont.columbia.edu/

Location

NYC, United States of America

Sector

Academic

Relevant divisions

Biogeosciences (BG)

Soil System Sciences (SSS)

Type

Full time

Level

Entry level

Salary

$72,116

Preferred Education

PhD

Application deadline

Open until the position is filled

Posted

16 March 2026

Job Description

The Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (LDEO) of Columbia University invites applications for a Postdoctoral Research Scientist to support a U.S. national-scale effort (Farm-MIP) aimed at improving the modeling of soil organic carbon, nitrogen cycling, water use efficiency, and agricultural productivity across a range of cropland and grassland management systems. This work will directly benefit U.S. farmers and ranchers by providing better information to guide the design of management practices such as optimized nutrient management, cover cropping, conservation tillage, and improved grazing management. The successful candidate will help co-lead this model intercomparison and ensemble effort. Key responsibilities include coordination and refinement of Farm-MIP protocols; compilation of standardized model input and observational datasets across different scales and for different regenerative agricultural practices; and application of process-based models to quantify agroecosystem outcomes. These efforts will support modeling teams, farming and ranching communities, and the broader scientific community. The Postdoctoral Research Scientist will work closely with the Agricultural Model Intercomparison and Improvement Project (AgMIP) Coordination Unit and major soil, crop, and hydrological modeling groups in the U.S. Additional information about AgMIP is available at: https://www.agmip.org, and details about Dr. Xia's Soil System Research Group at LDEO can be found at: https://xia-soil-systems-lab-columbia.squarespace.com/.

Qualifications

Candidates should have recently completed or be nearing completion of a PhD in agricultural modeling, soil science, environmental data science, earth system science, ecology, remote sensing, computer science, or closely related field. The ideal candidate should have demonstrated knowledge of soil and agricultural modeling and experience working with both the modeling and farming communities. Strong data science skills, including geospatial analysis and cloud computing, and proficiency in coding languages such as R, Python, and Google Earth Engine, are essential. Excellent oral and written communication skills, along with the ability to network and collaborate effectively, are also critical for success in this Postdoctoral position. Prior experience in applied machine learning and data assimilation is strongly recommended.

The search will remain open for at least 30 days after the ad appears and will continue until the position is filled. Initial appointment will be for one year with the possibility of renewal contingent upon performance and funding. Proposed start date is June 1, 2026 with some flexibility.

Columbia University benefits accompany this Officer of Research appointment. The search will remain open for at least 30 days after the ad appears and will continue until the position is filled. Initial appointment will be for one year with the possibility of renewal contingent upon performance and funding. Proposed start date is June 1, 2026 with some flexibility.

How to apply

We accept online applications only: https://academic.careers.columbia.edu/#!/179683

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