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

UC Cooperative Extension Specialist Food Safety, Drones, and Spectral Analysis (Position #25-38)

Application Window:
Open December 15, 2025 – Final April 29, 2026. Applications received after February 10, 2026 are considered only if the position remains open.

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. The Specialist will address evolving food safety challenges in specialty crop production, applying scientific and technical expertise to the intersection of food safety and organic/regenerative farming practices. The role focuses on leveraging agricultural technologies—drones, spectral analysis, sensors—to help California growers ensure crop safety while maintaining organic and regenerative practices.

• Collaborate extensively with UCSC faculty, UC ANR’s advisors, specialists, AES faculty, statewide programs, and external partners including other UC campuses, California State University Monterey Bay, Hartnell College, Cabrillo Community College, and industry stakeholders.
• Design and conduct applied research focused on food safety and technology. Potential research areas include:
  • Runoff and water contamination assessments across multiple sources (rangeland, urban, etc.).
  • Technology for assessing food safety risk (multispectral imaging, AI) via aerial/terrestrial drone scouting for vector identification and crop characteristics.
  • Impact of amendments on food safety outcomes.
  • Effects of conservation practices (soil amendments, compost, hedgerows, wetlands) on food safety across cropping systems and regions.
  • Legislative recommendations for drone safety, piloting, and licensing.
  • Novel drone applications (spraying, payload delivery, imaging) and effectiveness by scale and frequency.
  • Integration of environmental sensors with drone applications for real‑time adaptation based on site data.
  • Impact of transitioning to drone spray applications on regulations and community health.
• Build an effective extension education program—statewide trainings, workshops, educational resources, website—to help partners and clientele implement technology strategies for improved food safety.
• Serve as a resource for UCCE Advisors, county agricultural commissioners, pest control associations, government scientists, and regulatory personnel.
• Engage in youth training and workforce development, informing the skills needed to train the next generation of agricultural workers with high‑tech abilities.
• Publish findings in accessible formats (peer‑reviewed journals, ANR outlets, industry publications, online platforms).
• Participate in professional society activities and scholarly contributions to attain recognition at state, national, and international levels.

State‑wide coverage across California. The Specialist will serve farmers, growers, and ranchers throughout the state, supporting diverse communities through the state‑wide network of campus‑based researchers and county‑based advisors.

The appointment is academically positioned within the UC Santa Cruz Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and overseen by UC ANR. The Specialist holds a 0% (uncompensated) CE Specialist appointment at UCSC and must be available onsite at the UCSC campus and the Monterey Bay Education, Science, and Technology Center.

• Minimum:
  Ph.D. (or equivalent) in electrical, agricultural, or computer engineering or related field. Candidates within 12 months of completing a Ph.D. are eligible.
• Demonstrated expertise in agricultural technologies such as drones.
• Substantive experience in organic/regenerative agriculture, food safety, or technology.
• Excellent written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills; ability to present to non‑scientific audiences.
• Record of research productivity with peer‑reviewed publications.
• Track record of effectively engaging diverse stakeholders and leading collaborative research teams.
• Documentation of research,…