UC Cooperative Extension Specialist - Food Safety, Drones, and Spectral Analysis

UC Cooperative Extension Specialist – Food Safety, Drones, and Spectral Analysis
• University of California, Santa Cruz (Job #25-38)

Application Window

Open date:
December 15, 2025
Next review date:
Tuesday, March 3, 2026, 11:59 pm (Pacific Time)
Final date:
Wednesday, April 29, 2026, 11:59 pm (Pacific Time)
Applications will continue to be accepted until the final date, but those received after the review date will be considered only if the position has not yet been filled.

The University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR), in collaboration with the University of California, Santa Cruz, invites applications for a UC Cooperative Extension (UCCE) Specialist at the Assistant rank. Food safety is a major priority for California agriculture, especially in the fresh produce industry. This position will address evolving food‑safety challenges in specialty crop production and apply agricultural technologies—drones, spectral analysis, and sensors—to help growers protect their harvest while adopting organic and regenerative practices.

UCCE Specialists develop and conduct research and educational programs for outside‑campus clientele. They focus on mission‑oriented research—spanning from basic inquiry to applied solutions that solve societal problems—and disseminate results through peer‑reviewed publications and stakeholder‑facing materials. Extension programs engage the public, collaborate with faculty and partners, and support the university’s public service mission. This role does not include formal classroom instruction.

• Collaborate extensively with UCSC faculty, UC ANR advisors, AES faculty, statewide programs, and industry partners.
• Design and conduct applied research at the intersection of food safety and technology. Key research areas include:
  • Landscape‑level assessments of runoff and water contamination across multiple sources.
  • Multispectral imaging, AI, and drone scouting for vector identification and crop characterization.
  • Impact of amendments and conservation practices on food‑safety outcomes across diverse cropping systems.
  • Legislative recommendations for drone safety, piloting, and licensing in agriculture.
  • Drone applications for spraying, biological payload delivery, and imaging, including regulatory implications of drift, overspray, and community health.
  • Integration of environmental sensors with drone applications for real‑time adaptation.
• Build an effective extension education program, including statewide trainings, workshops, resources, and a website, to help partners implement technology strategies that improve food‑safety outcomes.
• Serve as a resource for UCCE advisors, county commissioners, pest‑control associations, government scientists, and regulatory personnel, and engage youth training and workforce development.
• Publish findings in accessible formats—peer‑reviewed journals, ANR outlets, industry publications, and online platforms—to widen reach and impact.
• Participate in professional societies and scholarly activities to attain state, national, and international recognition.

This statewide position serves the agriculture sector across California, helping farmers, growers, and ranchers move toward more organic/regenerative and high‑tech agriculture.

The position is academically positioned within the UC Santa Cruz Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. UC ANR oversees merit and promotion, in consultation with the UCSC Department Chair. The role includes an additional 0% uncompensated UC ANR CE Specialist appointment ‑site presence is required at the UCSC campus and MBEST; remote work is not permitted.

Education
:
Minimum Ph.D. (or equivalent) in electrical engineering, agricultural engineering, computer engineering, or a related field, or within 12 months of completing the degree.

• Demonstrated expertise in agricultural technologies such as drones.
• Substantive experience in organic and regenerative agriculture, food safety, or technology.
• Excellent written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills for clear presentation to…