Description

The Carrington Research Extension Center (CREC) at North Dakota State University (NDSU) invites applications for a postdoctoral research scientist position to support a collaborative project with Greenfield Robotics on “Advancing Autonomous Farming Systems in North Dakota.” The project will pilot a full-season autonomous farming system using Greenfield’s BOTONY and “Grassbot” robotic platforms to integrate planting, in-row mulching, post-plant weed control, foliar feeding, and interseeded cover crops in dry bean and soybean production systems.

The successful candidate will lead field research and data analysis to evaluate autonomous robots as alternatives to conventional tillage and herbicide-intensive weed management, with an emphasis on soil health, weed suppression, and crop performance in North Dakota specialty crops and soybean. The position will include close collaboration with Greenfield Robotics engineers and NDSU agronomists/weed scientists, coordination of research at CREC and on-farm sites, and development of peer-reviewed publications and Extension-oriented outputs.

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering, Agricultural Engineering, Agronomy, Weed Science, Robotics, Computer Science, or a closely related discipline by the time of appointment.
• Demonstrated experience in at least one of the following areas:
  • Field-based crop or weed management research,
  • Autonomous ground or aerial systems (UGV/UAV) in agricultural or environmental applications,
  • Precision agriculture, remote sensing, or site-specific management.
• Proficiency in data analysis using statistical or scripting software (e.g., R, Python, or similar).
• Evidence of initiating and completing research projects, including publication of results in refereed scientific journals.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary team and in on-farm/field environments.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Prior experience with agricultural robotics or autonomous machinery (e.g., ground-based field robots, UAVs, RTK guidance, or automated implement control).
• Experience in weed science, cover crop systems, or organic/specialty crop production.
• Familiarity with GIS/remote sensing tools and integration of geospatial data (e.g., GPS/RTK, UAV or satellite imagery) with field measurements.
• Experience designing and analyzing multi-factor field experiments.
• Demonstrated interest and/or experience in Extension or producer-facing outreach (field days, workshops, demos, or similar).
• Strong record of publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals relevant to precision agriculture, robotics, agronomy, or weed science.