Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Forage Agronomy
Department: Plant Agriculture
Description of the Area/Topic of Research
A post-doctoral researcher is sought to work in the area of forage and pasture research on two main projects. The candidate will work closely with the PI (Dr. Kim Schneider) to analyze existing data sets on annual forages including those intended for grazing in early spring, summer and fall and help write manuscripts that assess the agronomic potential of different annual forage species and species mixtures. The other main project that the position will assist on is assessing pasture utilization of sheep, beef, and dairy producers using two years of data collected from cool-season perennial pastures in Ontario. Data has been collected with the help of producers using a rising plate meter, a tool that can be used to estimate pasture biomass available for grazing on farms. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to participate in interdisciplinary work with partners in the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Agribusiness and other University of Guelph departments including Animal Biosciences and School of Environmental Sciences.
Description of Lab/Group/Area
The position will be based in the Department of Plant Agriculture at the University of Guelph. The Department of Plant Agriculture is one of Canada’s largest and most diverse applied plant biology departments and has recognized strengths in a broad cross-section of plant sciences including agronomy, horticulture, breeding, molecular genetics, genomics, controlled environment systems, plant physiology, post-harvest physiology, plant pathology, and plant-based bioproducts. The Department currently has 30 faculty members and employs 100 staff and more than 100 graduate students. Faculty within the Department have access to modern laboratory, growth room and greenhouse facilities, as well as well-equipped research stations across the province. As part of the Ontario Agricultural College, Plant Agriculture has a long history of achievement in serving the agriculture and agri-food industries within Ontario and beyond. Department of Plant Agriculture, Crop Science Building, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, Ontario, Canada, N1G 2W1, Website: plant.uoguelph.ca
The candidate will work in the Forage and Service Crops Laboratory led by Dr. Kim Schneider. Dr. Schneider’s research program takes a systems-based approach to address agronomic questions in forage and cover crop production, and to assess their role in increasing soil fertility and nutrient-use efficiency. The goal of her research program is to promote the reintegration of crop and livestock systems, aiming to improve both economic and environmental outcomes for producers.
General Outline of Duties
The candidate will assist with data analysis and manuscript preparation for projects related to annual forage agronomy and the use of the rising plate meter on perennial pastures. Additional opportunities for assisting with lab management, field and laboratory equipment operation, mentoring undergraduate and graduate students, as well as proposal writing exist. Specific duties will vary depending on the candidates’ expertise.
Required Qualifications
Ph.D in a topic relating to annual or perennial forage production or agronomy.
Knowledge of grazing systems and or integrated crop livestock systems.
Evidence of previous publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals in a related topic.
Excellent oral and written communication skills and ability to work in a multi-disciplinary team.
Start Date & Duration of Appointment: 1 year, July 1st 2025 to July 1st 2026.
Anticipated Hours/Days of Work (at time of posting): 35 hrs/week
Salary Information: Salary will be commensurate with education and experience – Link to benefits.
Salary Range (Minimum): 55,000
Salary Range (Maximum): 65,000
Application Requirements
Documents
- Cover Letter
- CV
- Publications
- Other: The names and contact information of three references.
Special Instructions
Please send documents to Dr. Kim Schneider by June 20th, 2025.
At the University of Guelph, fostering a culture of inclusion is an institutional imperative. The University invites and encourages applications from all qualified individuals, including groups that are traditionally underrepresented in employment, who may contribute to further diversification and inclusion.
Contact Information
Supervisor
Dr. Kim Schneider, Assistant Professor
Email: kschne01@uoguelph.ca
Phone Number: 5198244120
Posting Date: Fri, 05/23/2025
Closing Date: Fri, 06/20/2025