{"id":3902391,"url":"https://alion.io/job/washington-state-university-postdoctoral-research-associate-8","title":"Postdoctoral Research Associate","company":{"id":452174,"name":"Washington State University","domain":"wsu.edu","url":"https://alion.io/company/washington-state-university","size_band":"1001-5000","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Workday","truth_index":{"grade":"A","score":89,"open_postings":20,"ghost_share":0.05,"stale_share":0.45,"repost_share":0.1,"time_to_fill_p50_days":19,"computed_at":"2026-11-15T07:52:55Z"}},"role":"Science & Research","role_family":"Science & Research","seniority":null,"employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Prosser, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":null,"visa_sponsorship":true,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"LoRaWAN","optional":false},{"name":"MATLAB","optional":false},{"name":"Python","optional":false},{"name":"Time Series","optional":false},{"name":"PyTorch","optional":true},{"name":"Rest API","optional":true},{"name":"Scikit-learn","optional":true},{"name":"TensorFlow","optional":true}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-11-06T00:00:00Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-11-06","last_verified_at":"2026-11-15T07:56:35Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":9,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":9},"description":"Online applications must be received before 11:59pm on:\nDecember 6, 2026If a date is not listed above, review the Applicant Instructions below for more details.\nAvailable Title(s):\n306-YY_FACULTY - Postdoctoral Research AssociateBusiness Title:\nPostdoctoral Research AssociateEmployee Type:\nFaculty (+) (Fixed Term)Position Term:\n12 MonthPosition Details:\nThe Opportunity:\nThe Washington State University (WSU) Precision Ag Lab and AgWeatherNet in the Department of Biological Systems Engineering, College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences (CAHNRS), at Washington State University seeks a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Associate to support research on Smart Farm technologies for tree fruit and irrigated field crops. This position will be located at WSU IAREC Prosser campus. The work emphasizes wireless sensor networks, data-driven decision support, and automated control systems for crop stress management. The successful candidate will conduct innovative research, collaborate with multidisciplinary research and extension faculty, staff, students, growers, and industry partners, contribute to scholarly publications and presentations, and assist with grant-related activities. This position provides opportunities for professional growth and mentoring within a collaborative, interdisciplinary research environment.\nThe Postdoctoral Research Associate's primary responsibilities include:\nConduct independent and collaborative research on Smart Farm technologies for tree fruit and irrigated field crops, leading defined project components while contributing to team-wide goals.\n Design and implement research experiments in commercial and research orchards, vineyards and irrigated field crops, including:Designing, deploying and maintaining low-power, long-range wireless sensor networks (LoRaWAN, NB-IoT, cellular, mesh), with attention to node placement, power management and edge computing.\nMeasuring localized soil-plant-weather; extending approaches to frost, heat, nutrients and disease stress as projects require.\nImplementing precision, variable-rate and closed-loop control of irrigation and crop-protection systems (e.g., heat-stress cooling, frost protection) in drip, micro-sprinkler and center-pivot systems.\nIntegrating ground sensor data with UAV and satellite multispectral and thermal imagery.\n\n Analyze and interpret data from sensor(s), weather and imagery time-series datasets, including:Developing AI/ML-driven and process-based models (e.g., Fruit/berry temperature, Crop Phenology/growth stages) to predict stress onset and mitigation needs.\nBuilding cloud data pipelines and APIs that connect sensor networks, models and control systems.\nDeveloping web and mobile apps and dashboards for real-time decision support and remote system control.\n\n Prepare manuscripts, reports and presentations, including first-author peer-reviewed papers and talks at national and international conferences (e.g., ASABE).\nAssist with grant reporting and proposal development for federal, state and commodity funders.\nMentor undergraduate and graduate students in field, lab, data analysis and programming work.\nCoordinate project meetings and activities, including field season planning, equipment and sensor logistics, and data management.\nDevelop extension, outreach and educational materials, such as field day demonstrations, workshops, extension publications and app user guides.\nCollaborate with stakeholders, industry partners and research teams, including growers, crop consultants, commodity groups, technology companies and WSU faculty.\nBenefits: WSU offers a comprehensive benefits package which includes paid sick and vacation leave; paid holidays; medical, dental, life and disability insurance package for employees and dependents; retirement; deferred compensation, optional supplemental retirement accounts. For additional information, please review the detailed Summary of Benefits offered by WSU for Faculty and Total Compensation. For information or questions about Benefits, please contact HRS Benefits at 509-335-4521.\nAdditional Information:\nAnnual Salary: $62,232 -$70,000 | Commensurate with experience and qualifications\nIn accordance with RCW 49.58.110, the above salary reflects the full salary range for this position. Individual placement within the range is based on the candidate’s current experience, education, skills, and abilities related to the position. Successful candidates typically begin up to mid-point of the salary range.\nThis is a full time (100% FTE), temporary position. This position is overtime eligible.\nAppointment Duration: This is a temporary position expected to start on January 4, 2027 and end on December 31, 2027. Renewal is dependent on the need for extension and/or if additional funding is secured to extend employment.\nRequired Qualifications:\nPh.D. in Biological/Agricultural Engineering, Electrical or Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Horticulture Engineering, or a related field by the time of hire.\nDemonstrated experience in sensor systems, wireless sensor networks/IoT or data acquisition for agricultural or environmental monitoring, and in data analysis using Python, R or MATLAB, as evidenced by peer-reviewed publications.\nDemonstrated ability to conduct field research under variable conditions, communicate results effectively in writing and orally, and work collaboratively in interdisciplinary teams.\nProficiency in at least one programming language (Python preferred) for data processing, modeling and analysis.\nHands-on experience deploying, calibrating or troubleshooting sensors, data loggers or embedded systems in the field.\nAbility to perform field work in orchards and field crops, including working outdoors in heat, cold and variable weather, and lifting up to [50 lb] of equipment.\nWillingness to travel regularly to field sites across Central WA, with occasional overnight travel.\nMust have, or be able to obtain by time of hire, a valid driver’s license and meet requirements in accordance with SPPM 7.10 and departmental driving standards. \nAbility to work independently, manage multiple project components and meet deadlines.\nPreferred Qualifications:\nHands-on experience with LoRaWAN or other low-power wide-area networks, microcontrollers (Arduino, ESP32, Raspberry Pi) and embedded firmware.\nKnowledge of plant-water relations, evapotranspiration and irrigation scheduling methods.\nExperience with tree fruit (apple, cherry, pear), grapes or irrigated row crops.\nFamiliarity with UAV-based thermal/multispectral imaging, GIS and remote sensing data processing.\nExperience with AI/ML frameworks (e.g., scikit-learn, PyTorch, TensorFlow), time-series modeling, cloud data platforms, RESTful API development, and web or mobile app development.\nExperience with irrigation hardware and automation (drip, micro-sprinkler, center pivot, variable-rate irrigation controllers).\nTrack record of peer-reviewed publication, student mentoring or extension/outreach to growers.\nPosition Sponsorship Eligibility: May be eligible for work visa sponsorship\nAboutIrrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center (IAREC): The Washington State University, Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center (WSU Prosser IAREC) is the focal point for the University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture - Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS), and the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) research, extension, and plant certification programs that address the concerns of irrigated agriculture.\nArea/College:College of Agricultural, Human and Natural Resources (CAHNRS)\nDepartment Name: AgWeatherNet \nLocation: Prosser, WA\nApplication Instructions: Applicants must upload the following required documents to their online application. Application materials should clearly communicate how the applicant meets all required qualifications and additional requirements.\n1) Resume\n2) Cover Letter\nExternal candidates, upload all documents in the “Application Document” section of your application.\nCurrent WSU Employees (internal candidates), before starting your Workday application, please use these instructions to update your education and experience in your worker profile in Workday. Internal candidates, upload all documents in the “Resume/Cover Letter” section of your application.\nAll candidates, documents may be submitted as one file or separate files. Applicants are encouraged to upload as a PDF, if possible.\nReference contact information will be requested later in the recruitment process through Workday.\nContact: For questions regarding this position or the application process, please contact Christine Cromar, .\nBackground Check: This position has been designated by the department to require a background check because it requires access to children or vulnerable adults as defined by RCW 74.34, engages in law enforcement, requires security clearance, interacts with WSU students in a counseling or advising capacity, has access to personal identifying and/or financial information, unsupervised access to university buildings/property, or other business-related need. A background check will not be completed until an initial determination of qualification for employment has been made.\nUnion Representation: This position is represented exclusively by Postdocs United/United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW) under the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). Information regarding the Union and the CBA is available on the WSU Labor Relations website.\nWashington State University encourages all qualified candidates to apply, including members of the military and veterans, and persons with disabilities.\nWSU employs only U.S. citizens and lawfully authorized non-U.S. citizens. All new employees must show employment eligibility verification as required by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.\nWSU is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, education and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact Human Resource Services: 509-335-4521 (v), Washington State TDD Relay Service: Voice Callers: 1-800-833-6384; TDD Callers: 1-800-833-6388, 509-335-1259(f), or .\nNotice of Non-Discrimination\nIn matters of admission, employment, housing or services, or in the educational programs or activities it operates, WSU does not discriminate or permit discrimination by any member of its community against any individual on the basis of sex, race, color, national or ethnic origin, physical disability, mental disability, sensory disability, use of a trained service animal, age, religion, creed, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, honorably discharged veteran, member of the military, or immigration or citizenship status except as authorized by federal or state law, regulation, or government contract.\nInquiries about the application of federal and state laws and regulations (including inquiries regarding the application of Title IX, ADA/Section 504, and implementing regulations), as well as reports and complaints of discrimination and harassment, can be made verbally or in writing to WSU’s Compliance and Civil Rights, the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights, or both.\nMore information, resources, and contact information are available here: https://ccr.wsu.edu/notice-of-nondiscrimination/","description_format":"text","description_chars":11541,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":null,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"phd","optional":false},"security_clearance":true,"languages":[]},"benefits":[],"hiring_locations":[{"name":"United States","iso":"US","kind":"country"}],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Higher 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