Senior Faculty Specialist

Job Description Summary

Position Summary/Purpose of Position:

This position has two specific functions:
(1) Under general supervision, provide moderately complex technical and administrative support to the programs housed in or initiated by the Office of Associate Dean for Research and Associate Director of Maryland Agricultural Experiment Station (MAES) in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (AGNR).

Technical tasks include compiling/writing research and research infrastructure proposal materials, conducting literature reviews for proposals, compiling and writing project progress and final reports, assisting with MAES strategic plan implementation, developing write-ups for initiatives led by the ADR/AD, occasionally developing print and digital research marketing material, developing text and graphics related to research reporting, and assisting the Director of International Program in Agriculture and Natural Resources (IPAN) develop prospectus, brochures, etc.

Administrative tasks include scheduling multi-disciplinary and multi-institutional team meetings, arranging meeting logistics as appropriate, team information management, helping the Associate Dean in connecting with other units in MAES, AGNR, and UMD, organizing college-wide workshops on thematic areas, leading the organization of college-wide research poster competition for the annual Cornerstone events, and assisting the Associate Dean with special projects as required.

(2) Under the supervision of the Associate Dean for Research and Associate Director of Maryland Agricultural Experiment Station (MAES) conduct climate change impact research, broadly construed, and extend climate and AI/machine learning expertise to the entire College. Tasks include collaborating with AGNR faculty to make climate data products available to them; quantifying climate risks to agricultural commodities (e.g. corn, wheat, soybeans, etc.), plants diseases and insects, and water resources/environment; developing approaches and tools for climate risk management; conducting climate change-related independent research, and participating on grant proposals in the College that require climate and AI/machine learning expertise.

A degree of confidentiality is needed for this position, as decisions on employment in the various Research Centers of MAES, personnel evaluation, and funding decisions are made in this Unit.

Qualifications:
Minimum Qualification: Applicants must have a Master’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., atmospheric science, geography, geosciences, engineering (biosystems or civil), environmental science, etc.) by the effective date of employment. Proficiency in one or more relevant programming languages (e.g., R, Python, NCL (NCAR Command Language), Julia, Fortran, etc.) is essential. Evidence of effective scholarly communication (both written and oral) is also essential for this position.

The chosen candidate should possess the scholarly accomplishments necessary for appointment at the rank of Senior Faculty Specialist within the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Maryland, College Park.

Preferred Qualification: Ph.D. degree in a relevant field. Competitive candidates will have strong computational and quantitative skills, familiarity with climate datasets and AI/machine learning tools and techniques, and a clear orientation toward transdisciplinary research and collaboration. Experience working in a high-performance computing environment is desirable.

Physical Demands/Work Environment:
Work is performed in a normal office environment, which includes operating standard office equipment (e.g., computer, keyboard, printer, fax machine, telephone, etc.). Minimal travel to assist with, attend, or manage meetings off-campus.

Additional Job Details

Financial Disclosure Required

No

Department

AGNR-AES-Agriculture Experiment Station

Worker Sub-Type

Faculty Regular

Salary Range

$80,000.00 - $95,000.00

EEO Statement

Resources