ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF SOIL BIOPHYSICS
Department of Land, Air and Water Resources, University of California, Davis
Title: Assistant Professor of Soil Biophysics. The Department of Land, Air and 
Water Resources 
(LAWR) in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of 
California, Davis, 
invites outstanding scholars to submit an application for Assistant Professor 
in Soil Biophysics. This 
will be a 9-month academic year tenure track appointment with teaching, 
research, 
outreach/engagement and service responsibilities and includes the expectation 
that the appointee 
will conduct mission-oriented research and outreach/engagement of relevance to 
the California 
Agricultural Experiment Station (http://caes.ucdavis.edu/research/agexpstn).

Responsibilities: The successful candidate is expected to perform research to 
elucidate biophysical 
interactions among microbes, minerals and roots as they may relate to the flux 
of greenhouse gases, 
water, nutrients, and contaminants in soil. The candidate is expected to show a 
record of 
achievement in studying biophysical interactions in soil. This selected 
candidate will develop an 
internationally recognized soil biophysics research program examining 
interactions between physical 
and biological processes in the soil. 

Potential areas of research include 1) rhizosphere (root-microbe-soil 
interface) processes and their 
interactions with water, nutrient, and contaminant transport in soil and the 
vadose zone; 2) impacts 
of soil physical properties, hydrologic processes and soil water dynamics on 
microbial communities, 
nutrient cycling, and/or root activity; or 3) biophysical controls on soil and 
ecosystem processes 
associated with climate change, agricultural intensification, pollution, or 
soil disturbance. This 
position will fill a critical campus need for bridging soil physical and 
biological processes. This 
position will complement existing LAWR strengths in soil science, hydrology, 
plant science, and 
biogeochemical processes and campus-wide excellence in agriculture and 
environmental sciences. 
The candidate is expected to collaborate with relevant programs on campus and 
demonstrate 
experience and interest in working with interdisciplinary groups. The candidate 
is expected to 
maintain an active, externally-funded research program. 

The candidate will be required to teach an undergraduate upper-level soil 
physics course (e.g., SSC 
107: Soil Physics), an additional upper-level undergraduate course in 
environmental monitoring (e.g., 
ESM 108: Environmental Monitoring), and a graduate level course in her/his area 
of expertise (e.g., 
SSC 207: Advanced Topics in Soil Biophysics) (average of 2.5 courses per year). 
Supervision of 
graduate students, student advising, curricular development, participation in 
and development of 
outreach/engagement programs, and university service is expected. This position 
is expected to 
work with extension educators and partners in allied industries.

Qualifications: Requirements include a Ph.D. in soil science, or closely 
related environmental fields 
like environmental science/engineering or hydrology, and a record of 
achievement in the application 
of soil biophysics to study agricultural, ecological, and environmental 
processes as evidenced by 
peer reviewed publications. We seek a commitment to excellence in teaching. The 
candidate will be 
required to teach an undergraduate upper-level soil physics course, an 
additional upper-level 
undergraduate course in environmental monitoring, and a graduate level course 
in her/his area of 
expertise (average of 2.5 courses per year). Supervision of graduate students, 
student advising, 
curricular development, participation in outreach programs, and university 
service is expected.

Salary: Commensurate with experience within the Assistant Professor rank at the 
University of 
California.

Applications: Application materials must be submitted via the following 
website: 
https://recruit.ucdavis.edu/apply/JPF01195. This position will remain open 
until filled. To ensure 
consideration, applications should be received by October 21, 2016.

Please include: (1) curriculum vitae; (2) description of current and projected 
research; (3) summary 
of teaching interests and experience; (4) up to three publications, all in PDF 
format; (5) four to six 
reference letters from extramural references via the RECRUIT system when 
applying for the position; 
(6) a statement of interest and experience in mentoring and teaching in a 
community that is diverse 
in ethnicity, gender, and culture and (7) cover letter. Complete applications 
and reference letters are 
due by Initial Review Date (10/21/2016); Applicants within five years of their 
Ph.D. must arrange for 
undergraduate and graduate program transcripts to be attached to the end of the 
cover letter and 
uploaded directly to: https://recruit.ucdavis.edu/apply/JPF01195.

For more information about the position, please contact Dr. Sanjai J. Parikh, 
Search Committee Chair, 
LAWR, [email protected].

Open until filled, but all application materials must be received by October 
21, 2016 to assure full 
consideration.

UC Davis is an affirmative action/equal employment opportunity employer and is 
dedicated to 
recruiting a diverse faculty community. We welcome all qualified applicants to 
apply, including 
women, minorities, veterans, and individuals with disabilities.

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