Summary

Incumbent will be assigned to the Integrated Orchard Management and Automation for Deciduous Tree Fruit Crops Research Unit, in Kearneysville, WV. The Integrated Production and Automation project develops and integrates entomological, horticultural, and engineering technology to solve major problems affecting temperate tree fruit production.

Major Duties:

Specific objectives of the incumbent's independent and collaborative research include:

1) identifying and understanding key whole tree and rootstock-scion interactions; 

2) identifying physiological, genetic, and/or cultural mechanisms that enhance tolerance to environmental stress (drought, freezing, heat, elevated CO2), nutrient- and water use-efficiency, growth habits and/or fruit quality; 

3) developing new production systems that are designed specifically for automated practices and/or for value-added products. Objectives will be met through field, greenhouse, growth chamber, and laboratory experiments.  

Methodologies necessary to carry out this work include: equipment and protocols to assess drought tolerance and WUE, photosynthesis, and dormancy, quantification of phytochemicals such as hormones, sugars, lipids, and other signaling molecules, molecular biology techniques, phloem/xylem sampling and analysis, tissue fixation and microscopy, horticultural techniques for assessing phenotypes associated with plant growth and development as well as fruit quality, and technologies for studying genotype-by-environment interactions.  

Travel Required

Occasional travel - Domestic and International travel may required to attend scientific meetings, training, and conferences.

Supervisory status

No

Promotion Potential

15