Post-Doctoral Associate in Ecological Pest Management and Organic Strawberry Production

Postdoctoral Associate in Ecological Pest Management and Organic Strawberry Production

University of Minnesota | Department of Horticultural Science | St. Paul, MN

The Rogers Organic Horticulture Lab in the Department of Horticultural Science at the University of Minnesota invites applications for a Postdoctoral Associate to investigate ecological approaches to insect pest management in organic strawberry production.

The successful candidate will focus primarily on evaluating how flowering insectary plantings and supplemental food resources influence natural enemy communities, tarnished plant bug (Lygus lineolaris) populations, and strawberry fruit damage. Research will involve replicated field experiments at University of Minnesota research facilities in St. Paul and Morris, Minnesota, and will integrate horticultural production, insect ecology, and conservation biological control.

The postdoctoral associate will be responsible for coordinating field research activities, contributing to experimental design, overseeing data collection, analyzing results, and preparing peer-reviewed manuscripts and Extension publications. The position will work closely with research staff and collaborators across horticulture, entomology, and Extension, including researchers at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

The Rogers Lab conducts applied research focused on sustainable horticultural production, integrated pest management, invasive insect pests, and the conservation of beneficial insects. Our work combines field and laboratory research with grower partnerships to develop practical, ecologically based pest management strategies for fruit and vegetable production in the Upper Midwest.

The successful candidate will join a collaborative research environment with opportunities to develop independent research questions, mentor undergraduate researchers, participate in Extension programming, and contribute to grant proposals and publications.

The position will be based on the University of Minnesota's St. Paul campus, with periodic travel to research sites in Minnesota.

Appointment:
Full-time (100% FTE), with an initial 12-month appointment and the possibility of renewal contingent upon satisfactory performance and continued funding.

Anticipated start date:
Early 2027, with some flexibility.

• Strawberry Field Research 60%
  • Coordinate and implement replicated field experiments evaluating insectary plantings, supplemental food resources, and natural enemy activity in organic day-neutral strawberry systems.
  • Oversee strawberry field plot establishment, maintenance, treatment implementation, and research sampling in coordination with research staff.
  • Assess tarnished plant bug populations, beneficial insect communities, and insect-related fruit damage.
  • Develop and refine field sampling protocols and data collection procedures.
• Research Data Management 10%
  • Manage research datasets, conduct statistical analyses, and interpret experimental results.
• Research communication – Manuscript/Grant Preparation/Reporting 30%
  • Prepare manuscripts for peer-reviewed journals and present findings at scientific conferences.
  • Collaborate with faculty, research staff, graduate students, and Extension personnel to integrate research findings into practical pest management recommendations.
  • Contribute to research planning, reporting, grant development, and outreach activities.
  • Provide research mentorship and guidance to undergraduate students and other research assistants.

• Ph.D. in horticulture, entomology, agroecology, crop science, ecology, biology, or a closely related field by the appointment start date.
• Demonstrated experience designing and conducting agricultural,…