Postdoctoral Associate - Electrical Weed Control Technologies in Specialty Crops

The final salary offer may be determined by several factors, including, but not limited to, the candidate's qualifications, experience, and expertise, and availability of department or grant funds to support the position. We also take into consideration market benchmarks, if and when appropriate, and internal equity to ensure fair compensation relative to the university's broader compensation structure. We are committed to offering competitive and flexible compensation packages to attract and retain top talent.

Rutgers provides a comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees. The specific benefits vary based on the position and may include:

Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, is seeking a Post-Doctoral Associate for the Philip E. Marucci Center for Blueberry & Cranberry Research within the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences. The Post-Doctoral Associate in Weed Science will support a collaborative, multi-institutional research program evaluating electrical weed control technologies in specialty crop systems.

The position is based at the Rutgers Agricultural Research and Extension Center ( RAREC) and will involve close collaboration with Cornell AgriTech and UC Davis as part of the iTerra/I-Pulse research initiative. Research will focus on evaluating the efficacy, crop safety, and operational performance of pulsed high-power ( HPP) systems (iTerra WALL-E) alongside continuous-contact electrical weeding technologies, including the Zasso XPower (E*Coffee) system in perennial crops and the Zasso eWeeding Roller in vegetable systems.

This postdoctoral associate, working under PI Thierry Besancon, will perform the following key duties:

* Ph.D. in Weed Science, Agronomy, Plant Biology, Horticulture, or a related discipline

* Demonstrated experience in field-based agricultural research with a focus on novel weed management technologies

* Strong background in experimental design and statistical analysis

* Experience with plant physiology, weed ecology, or crop protection systems

* Ph.D. in Weed Science, Agronomy, Plant Biology, Horticulture, or a related discipline
* Valid driver's license and willingness to travel between research sites (NJ-NY)

* Excellent written and oral communication skills

* Ability to manage multi-site research projects and large datasets

* Familiarity with statistical software (e.g., R, SAS)

* Ability to work independently and collaboratively in interdisciplinary teams

* Valid driver's license and willingness to travel between research sites (NJ-NY)

* Experience with non-chemical weed control technologies, including electrical weed control systems

* Knowledge of specialty crop production systems (vegetable and/or perennial crops)

* Familiarity with field-based research methods and data collection in applied agricultural systems

* iTerra High Pulse Power ( HPP) WALL-E system

* Zasso XPower (E*Coffee) and eWeeding Roller systems

* Precision agriculture and weed control technologies

* Field research facilities at Rutgers RAREC and Cornell AgriTech

* Combination of field, greenhouse, and laboratory work

* Fieldwork under varying environmental conditions

* Travel required between Rutgers (NJ) and Cornell (NY) research sites

The School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, located on the George H. Cook Campus, is one of the undergraduate schools of Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey. We pursue excellence in research, teaching, and outreach in areas of study that address the biological spectrum from molecules to ecosystems. Our emphasis is on both the fundamental sciences and the social and human dimensions. We offer 21undergraduate majors, including plant and animal sciences, microbiology, biotechnology, agricultural business and food systems, landscape architecture, food and nutritional sciences, ecology and evolution, marine science and oceanography, environmental sciences and meteorology, human ecology, entomology, and environmental economics.

In addition to instruction in the classroom, field, and laboratory, our students have opportunities for experiential learning on and off campus, including a growing emphasis on international experiences through short- and long-term study abroad. Students also have access to a robust program of applied research and outreach hosted by the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station laboratories, farms, business incubators, and marine stations throughout the state.

This research is part of a national effort to develop scalable, non-chemical weed control solutions in response to herbicide resistance, regulatory pressures, and increasing demand for sustainable agriculture. The project evaluates multiple electrical weed control technologies, including pulsed high-power systems and continuous-contact platforms, which deliver electrical energy to plant tissues and cause irreversible cellular damage through thermal and physical disruption. These approaches provide effective weed control without chemical residues and with no known mechanisms for resistance evolution.

Location: Rutgers P.E. Marucci Center and RAREC (NJ) and Cornell AgriTech (NY)