Eastern Cereal and Oilseed Research Centre of Research Branch, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada is preparing a job posting for an entry level professional ($40k - $50k per annum) crop growth modeller. The position will be for a 2-year term starting May, 2000 and will involve development of a remote sensing / crop growth integrated software package in collaboration with a private sector software developer. The individual will work on a team of 7 scientists and programmers and will be responsible for the input data and program adaptations. Basic qualifications are as follows:

                Education:      Completion of an MSc or Ph.D. in crop physiology, agronomy or agricultural engineering with specialization in crop growth or environmental models, computer applications and information technology.

                Language:       English essential

                Experience:     - in conducting research related to the principles, concepts, development and application of crop models for major Canadian crops such as corn, soybean, wheat and canola,
        - with the DSSAT family of models would be an asset.

                Knowledge:      - of crop physiology and crop growth modelling,
                - of resource data as it pertains to the input requirements of crop models,
        - of procedures for the application of remote sensing, computer models and geographic Information Systems (GIS) for crop development monitoring,
- of data management procedures for large computerized data bases,
- of experimental design and statistical procedures.

                Abilities:      - to identify the means of improving the accuracy of crop models through calibration and algorithm improvements,
        - to write computer programs in Fortran and/or other languages,
- to assess the data input requirements of crop growth models and of available computerized databases and make recommendations concerning programming modifications required,
- to develop detailed specifications of program descriptions, decision tables and logic flow using block diagrams,
- to identify data transfer functions that will allow crop models to operate spatially with incomplete and proxy input datasets,

This is a call of interest only, and suitable candidates will be notified of the official job posting. Please note that we cannot pay for relocation, and that qualified Canadian citizens have priority. To express your interest, please contact:

Dr. Ted Huffman
Eastern Cereal and Oilseed Research Centre,
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
960 Carling Ave., Ottawa, ON., K1A 0C6
Ph: (613) 759-1846
Fx: (613) 759-1924
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