Postdoctoral Fellow in Precision Agriculture at the University of Missouri, USA (2026)
The position is part of the Precision Agriculture Lab, headed by Dr. Marcelo Barbosa, and focuses on developing and evaluating digital agriculture sensing and decision-support technologies to improve the profitability and sustainability of agricultural production in Southeast Missouri and the humid Mid-South.
Position Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Position | Postdoctoral Fellow |
| Job ID | 59891 |
| Institution | University of Missouri |
| Research Lab | Precision Agriculture Lab |
| Location | Portageville, Missouri, USA |
| Research Center | Fisher Delta Research, Extension, and Education Center |
| Region | Missouri Southeast Region |
| Employment | Full-time |
| Start Date | Immediate |
| Field | Precision Agriculture, Agronomy, Soil Science, Plant Science |
| Research Areas | Irrigation, soil sensing, remote sensing, AI, digital agriculture |
| Visa Sponsorship | Not available |
| Benefits | Eligible for University benefits |
About the Postdoctoral Position
The successful candidate will join the Precision Agriculture Lab at the University of Missouri and contribute to research aimed at improving agricultural management through sensing technologies, remote sensing, artificial intelligence and digital decision-support systems.
The research has a strong applied component, with particular emphasis on production systems in Southeast Missouri and the humid Mid-South.
The position also involves collaboration with USDA-ARS personnel, as well as graduate students and research staff at the University of Missouri.
The successful researcher will contribute to both research and scientific communication, including preparation of reports for funding agencies, peer-reviewed research papers and Extension publications.
Research Areas and Responsibilities
The Postdoctoral Fellow will work on several interconnected areas of precision agriculture.
1. Cotton Irrigation and Crop Coefficients
One major responsibility will be to conduct research documenting variability in crop coefficients for cotton irrigation.
The research will examine how crop coefficients vary according to:
Cotton variety
Spatial soil variability
Crop water requirements
Field conditions
This work can contribute to more precise irrigation scheduling and improved water-use efficiency.
2. Soil Electrical Conductivity and Moisture Mapping
The researcher will combine soil apparent electrical conductivity (ECa) measurements with in-situ soil moisture sensing.
The goal is to create field-scale maps showing changes in crop water availability throughout the growing season.
This work integrates field-based soil sensing with spatial analysis and can support more site-specific irrigation management.
3. Digitally Controlled Irrigation
The position will also evaluate new approaches to digitally controlled irrigation management.
This involves applying digital technologies to improve how irrigation decisions are made and implemented in agricultural production systems.
4. Remote Sensing and Artificial Intelligence
Another important component is the combination of remote sensing and AI-based modelling to address management challenges in Mid-South production systems.
This provides an opportunity for researchers interested in the intersection of:
Remote sensing
Artificial intelligence
Precision agriculture
Agricultural data science
Crop management
Soil sensing
Irrigation management
Collaboration and Research Environment
The Postdoctoral Fellow will work closely with USDA-ARS personnel and collaborate with graduate students and staff.
The researcher will also assist Dr. Marcelo Barbosa with:
Preparing final reports for sponsoring agencies
Developing refereed research articles
Preparing Extension publications
Coordinating research activities
Supporting collaborative research
Therefore, the position is not limited to laboratory or computational work. Candidates should be comfortable working in a collaborative agricultural research environment.
Eligibility and Qualifications
Minimum Qualification
Applicants must have earned a PhD by the time of appointment in one of the following areas:
Agronomy
Soil Sciences
Plant Sciences
Precision Agriculture
Closely related discipline
Candidates Will Be Evaluated On
The University will consider candidates' experience in:
Irrigation and Soil Sensing
Experience with:
Irrigation research
Crop coefficients
Electrical conductivity studies
will be particularly relevant.
Remote Sensing and AI
Demonstrated experience working with:
Remote sensing
AI-based data analysis
Agricultural datasets
will also be important.
Publications
Candidates should have a scientific publication record demonstrating research productivity.
Collaboration
The successful candidate should be willing and able to work effectively in a collaborative research environment involving university researchers, graduate students, staff and USDA-ARS personnel.
Who Should Apply?
This position could be particularly suitable for recent PhD graduates working in:
Precision agriculture
Soil science
Agronomy
Agricultural engineering
Plant science
Soil-water relationships
Irrigation science
Remote sensing
Agricultural data science
Digital agriculture
Candidates with combined expertise in soil sensing + irrigation + remote sensing + AI may be especially well aligned with the research objectives.
Salary and Benefits
The job advertisement provided does not specify a salary amount, so applicants should not assume a particular postdoctoral salary.
However, the position is eligible for University benefits.
The University of Missouri states that its benefits package includes:
Medical insurance
Dental insurance
Vision plans
Retirement benefits
Educational fee discounts across the four UM System campuses
Additional information about benefits is available through the University's Faculty & Staff Benefits resources.
University of Missouri benefits information
Work Authorization and Visa Sponsorship
This is an important point for international applicants.
The advertisement states that applicants must already be authorized to work in the United States.
The University of Missouri will not sponsor applicants for employment visas for this position.
Therefore, international researchers who require employer-sponsored work authorization should carefully consider this requirement before applying.
Application Process
Applicants must apply online through the University of Missouri's employment system.
Required Documents
Applicants should submit:
Cover letter
Curriculum vitae (CV)
Contact information for three references
Application Portal
Apply through University of Missouri Careers
When applying, use:
Job ID: 59891
Start Date
The position has an immediate start date.
The advertisement states that applications should be submitted through the University's online careers system.
Contact Information
For questions about the research position:
About the University of Missouri
The University of Missouri is a major public research university and part of the University of Missouri System.
This postdoctoral position is based at the Fisher Delta Research, Extension, and Education Center (FD-REEC) in Portageville, Missouri.
The research center provides an applied environment for agricultural research, extension and education, making it particularly relevant to researchers interested in translating precision-agriculture technologies into practical agricultural applications.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the position?
It is a full-time Postdoctoral Fellow position in Precision Agriculture at the University of Missouri.
2. Where is the position located?
The position is based at the Fisher Delta Research, Extension, and Education Center in Portageville, Missouri, USA.
3. What is the Job ID?
The Job ID is 59891.
4. What is the research focus?
The research focuses on digital agriculture sensing and decision-support technologies, including irrigation, soil electrical conductivity, soil moisture sensing, remote sensing and AI-based modelling.
5. What PhD background is required?
A PhD in Agronomy, Soil Sciences, Plant Sciences, Precision Agriculture, or a closely related discipline is required by the time of appointment.
6. Is experience with irrigation important?
Yes. Experience with irrigation, crop coefficients and electrical conductivity studies is specifically identified as an evaluation criterion.
7. Is experience with remote sensing and AI required?
The advertisement identifies demonstrated experience with remote sensing and AI-based data analysis as an important criterion for evaluating candidates.
8. What documents are required?
Applicants need to submit a cover letter, CV and contact information for three references.
9. Is a salary specified?
No. The provided vacancy announcement does not state a salary amount. It does state that the position is eligible for University benefits.
10. Is visa sponsorship available?
No. Applicants must already be authorized to work in the United States, and the University states that it will not sponsor employment visas for this position.
11. When can the successful candidate start?
The stated start date is immediate.
12. How do I apply?
Apply through the University of Missouri Careers website and search for Job ID 59891.
University of Missouri Careers – Apply for Job 59891
Final Takeaway
This Postdoctoral Fellow position is a strong opportunity for researchers interested in precision agriculture, soil sensing, irrigation management, remote sensing and AI-driven agricultural decision-making.
The research is particularly applied, connecting field measurements and digital technologies with real agricultural management challenges in the humid Mid-South.
Important for international applicants: the position requires existing U.S. work authorization and does not offer employment visa sponsorship.
Comments
Post a Comment