Careers @ MSU

Position Summary

Michigan State University Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences seeks a Postdoctoral Researcher (100% research) for a 12-month appointment. The successful candidate will design, conduct and disseminate analyses of U.S. agriculture land conservation programs.

Key Responsibilities:  Design, conduct, and disseminate analyses of conservation on agricultural lands to evaluate program modifications, priorities, or approaches to improve the delivery and outcomes of the CRP.

Potential topics of investigation include: (i) comparing the relative productivity and conservation outcomes of alternative cropped vs. non-cropped agricultural lands, with and without conservation practices; (ii) quantifying the conservation outcomes for the grasslands CRP subprogram; and (iii) assessing the durability of conservation practices and outcomes. 

While the immediate focus is on the CRP, these lines of inquiry would appeal to candidates interested in developing broader cross- or inter-disciplinary approaches to investigations into effective conservation and sustainable agricultural land use.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.

Required Degree

Doctorate -Geography, Agricultural Economics, Agronomy, or Related

Minimum Requirements

Ph.D. in Geography, agricultural economics, environmental science/sustainability, environmental policy, agronomy, or a related field

Desired Qualifications

• Interest and expertise in analyzing biophysical and socioeconomic datasets which include spatial (e.g., land use/cover, weather/climate, soils) and tabular (e.g., economic or demographic) data
• Subject matter familiarity (literature, concepts, modeling, datasets) related to Management and environmental impacts of agroecosystems (e.g., nutrient use, biodiversity), U.S. agricultural and conservation policy, and / or Process-based ecosystem models and their outcomes
• Knowledge of statistical analysis, and experience using one or more statistical computing, data analysis, and visualization environments/IDEs (e.g., R/R Studio, Python/Spyder/VSCode)
• Familiarity with GIS methods and cloud-based computing resources (e.g., Google Earth Engine) for large-scale geospatial data analysis and processing.

Required Application Materials

Cover Letter

CV

Name and Contact information for Three (3) Professional References 

Special Instructions

For inquiries about the position please contact Dr. Tyler Lark ( larktyle@msu.edu)

Review of Applications Begins On

02/27/2026

Website

https://www.canr.msu.edu/psm/

MSU Statement

Michigan State University has been advancing the common good with uncommon will for more than 160 years. One of the top research universities in the world, MSU pushes the boundaries of discovery and forges enduring partnerships to solve the most pressing global challenges while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community through more than 200 programs of study in 17 degree-granting colleges.