Auburn University · 8 hours ago
Research Associate/Fellow (Crop Systems Modeler & Remote Sensing Specialist)
United States
Full-time
Remote
New Grad, Entry, Mid, Senior Level
$41K/yr - $98K/yr
0+ years expAuburn University is seeking a dynamic scientist/practitioner to lead the development of Best Management Practices for major row crops by integrating crop simulation models with remote sensing and advanced data science methods. The successful candidate will design modeling–sensing pipelines to optimize agricultural decisions and translate findings into actionable guidance for stakeholders.
EducationHigher EducationUniversities
Responsibilities
Lead the development, calibration, validation, and application of DSSAT and APSIM (and related models) for cotton, corn, peanut, wheat, and soybean under diverse soils, climates, and management systems
Integrate remote sensing (satellite, airborne, UAV), hyperspectral/multispectral data, and proximal sensors into modeling workflows for crop status assessment, stress detection, and yield forecasting
Build data fusion pipelines (e.g., combining model outputs with imagery, weather, soil, and management data) to deliver prescriptive BMPs for nutrient and water management, planting decisions, and risk mitigation
Develop decision-support tools (scripts, dashboards, APIs) that translate complex analyses into user-friendly insights for producers and advisors
Apply statistical learning/ML (e.g., feature engineering, spatiotemporal modeling, Bayesian calibration, ensemble methods) to improve prediction accuracy and uncertainty quantification
Disseminate research findings through presentations at national and international conferences
Prepare manuscript for submission to a peer-reviewed journal
Qualification
Required
Master's degree from an accredited institution in Agronomy, Crop Science, Soil Science, Agricultural Engineering, Data Science, Remote Sensing, or a closely related field; no experience required
Master's degree from an accredited institution in Agronomy, Crop Science, Soil Science, Agricultural Engineering, Data Science, Remote Sensing, or a closely related field; no experience required and 2 years of experience in research practices and protocols relevant to the position
Master's degree from an accredited institution in Agronomy, Crop Science, Soil Science, Agricultural Engineering, Data Science, Remote Sensing, or a closely related field; no experience required and 4 years of experience in research practices and protocols relevant to the position
PhD from an accredited institution in Agronomy, Crop Science, Soil Science, Agricultural Engineering, Data Science, Remote Sensing, or a closely related field; no experience required
PhD from an accredited institution in Agronomy, Crop Science, Soil Science, Agricultural Engineering, Data Science, Remote Sensing, or a closely related field; no experience required and 2 years of experience in research practices and protocols relevant to the position
PhD from an accredited institution in Agronomy, Crop Science, Soil Science, Agricultural Engineering, Data Science, Remote Sensing, or a closely related field; no experience required and 4 years of experience in research practices and protocols relevant to the position
The successful candidate is expected to be highly organized, personable, enthusiastic, able to work both independently and with others within a research team, and have excellent organization, communication, and interpersonal skills
A valid driver's license or the ability to obtain one prior to employment
Preferred
Experience in crop models such as DSSAT and APSIM
Expertise in UAV operations
Familiarity with GIS (ArcGIS/QGIS), geospatial libraries (GDAL, Rasterio), and cloud geospatial platforms (e.g., Google Earth Engine)
Proficiency in programming languages such as Python and R
Benefits
Generous benefits
Educational opportunities
Work/life balance
Company
Auburn University
Auburn University is an institute of higher learning that offers undergraduate and graduate courses.
5001-10000 employees
H1B Sponsorship
Auburn University has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (75)
2024 (83)
2023 (79)
2022 (50)
2021 (50)
2020 (35)
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageTotal Funding
$25.89MKey Investors
National Safety CouncilDENSO’s North America FoundationNational Institute of Food and Agriculture
2025-06-25Grant· $0.05M
2024-10-30Grant
2024-06-26Grant· $0.89M
Leadership Team
Kelli Shomaker
Sr. V-P for Business and Administration and CFO
Katherine Alldredge
Executive Support Specialist to VP Advancement & Chief Operations and Strategy Officer
Recent News
Verified Market Research
2025-11-07
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