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Location: Raleigh, NC

Essential Job Duties:

The Center for Integrated Pest Management (CIPM) will be hiring two Research Scholars for this role.

The Research Scholar will engage in research in support of USDA APHIS PPQ S&T and CIPM research activities to conduct plant pest risk assessments and spatial analyses to build robust plant safeguarding continuum systems to protect U.S. agriculture and natural resources. The main duties of this position include developing statistical models to understand spread, establishment, and the potential impacts caused by exotic invasive species, analyzing pest, and reviewing literature. These statistical analyses support developing pest forecast models to manage exotic invasive species efficiently and effectively by providing critical pest information in a timely manner. The Research Scholar will be required to work closely with others in a team environment.

The successful applicant will conduct risk assessment and quantitative analyses to discover trends and patterns of invasive plant species. The Research Scholar is also responsible for data gathering and processing, evaluating existing models, and developing new analytical models to assess the likelihood of new pest entry and establishment in the United States.

Specifically, the incumbent will:

• Lead and conduct complex research activities to improve approaches to assess exotic pests and recommend potential solutions.
• Develop analytical models to simulate crops and pests to evaluate climate change impacts.
• Develop statistical models to evaluate the probability of exotic species establishment and to identify the potential spread of exotic species to assist agricultural trades.
• Prepare risk assessments to understand the potential economical and environmental impacts of exotic species.
• Design risk assessment approaches to understand the impact of exotic species in the United States.
• Review and improve existing analytical models to evaluate exotic pests.
• Analyze pest pathways, pest habitats, pest interceptions, host distributions, and other factors associated with pests to evaluate the likelihood of exotic pest introduction and establishment.
• Evaluate the current risk assessment methodologies to support regulatory activities.
• Collect and process spatial data, such as weather, landscape, crops, and pest distributions, for qualitative and quantitative risk assessments.
• Conduct literature review on exotic species.
• Communicate research results with stakeholders.
• Lead author peer-reviewed journal articles writings.
• Assist writing grant proposals to secure research funding.
• Work with professors and researchers from other departments, organizations, and institutes within and outside of NCSU to foster collaborative research efforts.
• Provide analytical support to USDA APHIS PPQ.
• Work closely with various PPQ teams to understand the research needs and design research methods to solve problems.

Other Work/Responsibilities:

• Interfacing with Federal cooperators to determine project requirements.

Minimum Experience/Education:

• Ph.D in biological sciences, statistics, geospatial analytics, or related fields with at least three years of working experience, or a Master's degree with at least 5 years of relevant professional experience, preferably as a Research Associate. In rare instances, a bachelor's (or equivalent) degree, plus at least 8 years of exceptional relevant professional experience may be considered. May require terminal degree and licensure.

Required Qualifications:

• Must have excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Publications in biological sciences are required.
• At least two year of working experience in exotic plant pests.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in entomology, crop protection, statistics, geospatial analytics, or related fields.
• Experience with statistical software and mapping tools such as R, Python, ArcGIS Pro.

Required License or Certification:
NA

AA/EEO Statement:
NC State University is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, status as an individual with a disability, or status as a protected veteran. Individuals with disabilities requiring disability-related accommodations in the application and interview process are welcome to contact 919-515-3148 to speak with a representative at the Office of Equal Opportunity.

If you have general questions about the application process, you may contact Human Resources at (919) 515-2135 or workatncstate@ncsu.edu.

Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. Degree(s) must be obtained prior to start date in order to meet qualifications and receive credit.

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