NEON-NIST Joint Postdoc in Soil Health Measurement

Position Summary:

The

NSF ASCEND

Engine in Colorado and Wyoming, supported by the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) and the National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST), is announcing a highly unique postdoctoral position to support the Engine's ambitious soil health program ("SHIELD"). The postdoc will be based at ASCEND and will work under the supervision of a collaborative team of senior research scientists at ASCEND, NEON, and NIST. The postdoc will be working directly with NEON's gold standard ecological sensing assets and NIST's dual comb spectroscopy (DCS) technology platform. The Engine's SHIELD program (Soil Health Innovation, Evaluation, & Demonstration) will establish a network of real-world, field level test sites across replicated dry and irrigated cropland and grassland plots, to provide long-term benchmarking for novel measurement techniques - and ultimately benefitting agricultural operators in those settings.

Job Description & Responsibilities:

The postdoc's primary role is to support the SHIELD program by working directly with NEON sensing assets co-located with a

NIST DCS

field deployment.

Technical focus areas may include:

Investigating application of trace gas measurements (in soil and/or ground-to-air fluxes) to understand soil health; Analyzing soil gas measurements in combination with other available measurements and data sets to identify important soil gas markers; Assisting in designing field/laboratory of soil gas sensor technology. This role will be expected to help: Advance the use of NEON measurements and infrastructure in the validation of novel sensors and models to support SHIELD objectives. Work with NEON and NIST staff to define requirements for field deployment of cutting-edge gas measurement technologies. Deploy and help operate NEON and NIST technology at a SHIELD field site Assist in laboratory data collection and calibrations Document results including in peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations

Required Qualifications:

The successful candidate for this position must have:

• Earned PhD in a physical sciences field or metrology;
• Strong data science, analytics, and modeling expertise;
• Experience or interest in working directly with sensors and field-based deployment platforms (drones, towers, etc.);
• Experience with trace gas measurements or similar analytical techniques.

Work Location:

This position is considered hybrid. It will involve regular in-person activities at the ASCEND headquarters in Fort Collins, Colorado, as well as frequent travel to the site and work in the field (primarily in Fraser, CO), and the NEON and NIST campuses in Boulder, CO.

Term:

Fixed, one-year position with a potential to renew for up to three years.

Job Type:

Full-time Benefits:

401(k), dental insurance, health insurance

About Us:

The

NSF ASCEND

Engine in Colorado and Wyoming (ASCEND) is an unprecedented initiative to establish the Front Range region as the nation's leading provider of environmental intelligence. Led by Innosphere, ASCEND accelerates innovation in advanced sensing and applied AI to deliver practical solutions to complex environmental challenges. By bringing together researchers, startups, industry, utilities, and communities across the region, ASCEND translates technologies from lab to real-world use, strengthening environmental resilience, creating high-quality jobs, and creating enduring economic impact. Over the next three years, the

NSF ASCEND

Engine in Colorado and Wyoming will deploy two flagship R&D programs that tackle urgent regional and national challenges: ARID will accelerate solutions to protect critical power and water systems from increasing wildfire risk. SHIELD will establish a first-of-its-kind network of field test sites to advance next-generation agricultural measurement technologies. These programs bring together advanced sensing, AI, and real-world deployment to turn breakthrough science into solutions that matter now. Innosphere is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization with a mission to support founders who are building and launching science and technology-based startup companies. Innosphere delivers local and global impact through the commercialization of science and technology driven innovations in a world class accelerator for potential, high-growth startups. The National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) program, funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) and proudly operated by Battelle, provides continental-scale data across the United States that characterize and quantify complex, rapidly changing ecological processes. The Observatory's comprehensive design supports greater understanding of ecological change and enables forecasting of future ecological conditions. NEON collects and processes data from field sites located across the continental U.S., Puerto Rico, and Hawaii over a 30-year timeframe. NEON provides free and open data that characterize plants, animals, soil, nutrients, freshwater and the atmosphere. These data may be combined with external datasets or data collected by individual researchers to support the study of continental-scale ecological change.

NEON monitors ecosystems across the United States. Freshwater ecosystems include streams, rivers, and lakes while terrestrial ecosystems span from deserts to tropical forests. The National Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST) mission is to advance measurement science, standards, and technology to improve quality of life and economic security. NIST is a non-regulatory agency within the U.S. Commerce Department. From developing precise atomic clocks to creating encryption standards to supporting manufacturing, from nanoscale devices that power the most advanced microchips to earthquake-resistant skyscrapers, NIST's measurements and research fuel innovation and improve the quality of life for all Americans. NIST plays a crucial role in advancing technology and providing support and resources to U.S. manufacturing, helping to grow our economy and ensure our national security.

Pay:

$80,000.00 - $90,000.00 per year

Benefits:

401(k) Dental insurance Flexible schedule Health insurance Paid time off Vision insurance

Work Location:

Hybrid remote in Fort Collins, CO 80524