The USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Grassland Soil and Water Research Laboratory located in Temple, TX, is seeking to fill two, full time, permanent positions in ecology and modeling. The mission of the GSWRL is to develop technology and solutions that increase efficient use of soil and water resources, enhance forage and crop production, and support sustainable agricultural production in healthy ecosystems. The two positions are both at the GS12-14 level and will help advance the mission as described below:

• Ecologist/Rangeland Scientist – The incumbent will focus on the development of sound and sustainable approaches for managing rangeland systems that are impacted by extreme weather, invasive species, and overgrazing. Field and lab-based empirical research will address a range of scales from plant communities to entire biomes, while incorporating ecological processes and factors related to rangeland productivity and quality and the mitigation of climate change effects on grassland systems.
• Agronomist/Soil Scientist – The incumbent will have a research program that is focused on managing grazinglands to ensure robust and sustainable systems as they are impacted by climate extremes, invasive species and other perturbations. This position is expected to give consideration to agronomic productivity, environmental outcomes (e.g., water quality/soil health) and economic performance at a systems level.

The research team at the GSWRL is made up of soil scientists, agronomists and modelers who have expertise in soil health, agronomic production systems, environmental processes, native grasslands, and the use of models that contribute to decision support tools and other aids for land managers and technical service providers. Opportunities abound for collaborating with colleagues at the University of Texas, Texas A&M. Both positions are expected to contribute to and lead components of the Long-Term Agroecosystem Research (LTAR) network, a long-term project aimed at attacking continental scale issues facing agriculture through its 18 sites from Washington to Florida. The GSWRL serves as the host for the Texas Gulf LTAR site.

To apply for both positions, check out the USA Jobs website: https://www.usajobs.gov/job/693361700