Faculty, Postdoc and Graduate Assistant Positions
Explore open positions below!
Two Fully Funded Ph.D. Student Positions in AI and Robotics for Precision Livestock Farming
POSITION DESCRIPTION
Dr. Ramesh Bahadur Bist’s Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (AIR) Lab in the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering at North Carolina State University has openings for two fully funded Ph.D. positions. Highly motivated candidates are encouraged to apply. Prospective Ph.D. students will engage in research on artificial intelligence, robotics, machine vision, infectious disease mathematical modeling, and automation for precision livestock farming applications. The anticipated start date is Spring 2026, Fall 2026, or Spring 2027. The minimum stipend will be $33,000/year plus tuition coverage, health insurance, and travel funding for conference attendance. The stipend is eligible for annual increases based on strong academic performance and research achievements.
QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIRED SKILLS
➢ B.S. / M.S. in Agricultural Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or other closely related disciplines.
➢ Experience or interest in at least two of the following areas:
o Robotics, control systems, or autonomous navigation.
o Familiarity with ROS, embedded systems, or robotic simulation tools.
o 2D/3D Computer vision, machine learning, deep learning, and AI frameworks (TensorFlow, PyTorch, OpenCV, etc.).
o Experience in multispectral/hyperspectral imaging or LiDAR data processing is a plus.
o Multi-scale mathematical modeling, spatial analysis and/or network analysis.
➢ Strong programming skills (e.g., C/C++, Python, R-studio, MATLAB).
➢ Strong oral and written communication skills.
➢ Experience in handling large datasets and running robust quantitative analysis.
➢ Demonstrated publication or conference presentation record.
➢ Knowledge of Livestock, such as poultry, swine, cattle, and other small ruminants.
HOW TO APPLY
If you are interested in these positions, please email your CV and research statement to Dr. Ramesh Bahadur Bist at rbbist@ncsu.edu. Use the subject line: Prospective PhD Application – Firstname Lastname. Please note that applicants are required to submit a full application through the graduate admissions portal. The final decision will be made by the graduate office. More information about the application and admission process can be found at https://grad.ncsu.edu/admissions/. Information about BAE department is available at https://bae.ncsu.edu/.
Postdoctoral Position in AI, Robotics, and Infectious Disease Modeling for Precision Livestock Farming
POSITION DESCRIPTION
Dr. Ramesh Bahadur Bist’s Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (AIR) Lab in the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering at North Carolina State University has openings for a postdoctoral researcher position. Highly motivated candidates are encouraged to apply. Prospective postdoctoral researchers will engage in research on artificial intelligence, robotics, machine learning, infectious disease modeling, on-farm biosecurity, disease intervention and control strategies for improving precision livestock farming. The anticipated start date is Summer 2026, Fall 2026, or Spring 2027. The minimum salary for the postdoc position will be $59,000/year (plus benefits and health insurance) and commensurate with the individual’s qualifications and experience. The initial contract will be 12 months, with the possibility of an extension based on funding availability.
QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIRED SKILLS
➢ A Ph.D. or met all Ph.D. requirements for a postdoc position in Computational biology, epidemiology, applied mathematics, Statistics, Agricultural Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or other closely related disciplines.
➢ Experience or interest in at least two of the following areas:
o Disease predictive mathematical modeling and time-series analysis.
o Spatial analysis or network analysis.
o Disease spread modeling.
o Epidemiology, social networks, mathematical modeling, disease spread modeling, and evolutionary epidemiology.
o Development of new machine learning models or enhancement of existing models.
o Build an affordable and user-friendly unmanned ground and aerial vehicles.
➢ Strong programming skills (e.g., C/C++, Python, R-studio, MATLAB).
➢ Knowledge of Livestock, such as poultry, swine, cattle, and other small ruminants.
➢ Excellent research skills and grant writing experience.
➢ Experience in handling large datasets and running robust quantitative analysis.
➢ Demonstrated publication or conference presentation record.
➢ Strong desire for independent field research and group projects.
HOW TO APPLY
If you are interested in this position, please email your CV and research statement to Dr. Ramesh Bahadur Bist at rbbist@ncsu.edu. Use the subject line: Prospective Postdoc Application – Firstname_Lastname. Please note that applicants are required to submit a full application through https://jobs.ncsu.edu/. If you have general questions about the application process, you may contact Human Resources at (919) 515-2135 or workatncstate@ncsu.edu. Information about BAE department is available at https://bae.ncsu.edu/.
2-year MS graduate research assistantship on leather waste valorization to biocarbon materials for energy storage
Advised by Dr. Joe Sagues
Fall 2025 or Spring 2026
If interested, email Dr. Sagues @ wjsagues@ncsu.edu
2-year MS graduate research assistantship on industrial composting with CO2 capture
Advised by Dr. Joe Sagues
Fall 2025 or Spring 2026
If interested, email Dr. Sagues @ wjsagues@ncsu.edu
2-year MS position
This project is funded by the Binational Agricultural Research and Development Initiative via USDA. The focus is on developing a fleet of surface autonomous vehicles (SAVs) that perform automated functions in aquaculture. These functions include water quality sensing, data acquisition; image processing; feeding and related tasks. Experience in electronics, coding and robotics required. A BS degree in BAE, ECE or related field required.
For further information contact Dr. Steve Hall, Professor, Director, Marine Aquaculture Research Center, BAE NCSU, Raleigh NC. 225-281-9454 shall5@ncsu.edu
PhD Student Position Announcement: Development of a Decision Support System for Irrigation and Drainage
Management
North Carolina State University is inviting applications for a Graduate Research Assistantship (GRA) position in the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering ( https://www.bae.ncsu.edu/) to work with Dr. Chadi Sayde
and Dr. Chad Poole on a precision irrigation and drainage project. Full tuition and competitive stipend will be provided as part of the GRA appointment.
We are seeking a motivated PhD student to lead a pioneering project focused on the development of an advanced Irrigation and Drainage Decision Support System (DSS). This DSS will leverage the synergies between cutting-edge remote sensing technologies and in-situ soil moisture data to optimize irrigation and drainage practices. The candidate will play a crucial role in integrating machine learning algorithms with comprehensive feedback data from both in-situ and remote sensing sources, aiming to refine irrigation and drainage schedules with precision.
Project Overview:
The selected student will be tasked with the development and rigorous evaluation of the DSS at two distinct research sites. Through a hands-on approach, the candidate will:
Utilize in-situ soil moisture sensors and weekly UAV-based remote sensing data to construct corn water stress indices under varying conditions, including wet, dry, and control scenarios.
Develop a robust model that correlates remotely sensed data, such as NDVI and canopy temperature, with the crop coefficient (KC) and stress coefficient (KS) specific to corn cultivation. This model will undergo thorough testing at both sites.
Explore the relationship between NDVI values and KC, acknowledging that environmental factors may influence this dynamic. The project aims to refine these correlations to reflect local conditions accurately.
Statewide Contribution:
An exciting aspect of this project involves enhancing the existing Statewide Soil Moisture Network by:
Analyzing data from the network, which features soil moisture and precipitation stations across 12 locations
in North Carolina.
Integrating this data with remotely sensed information to generate field-specific drought indices and KC values, thereby contributing valuable insights to the state’s agricultural water management practices.
Developing a user platform for disseminating the data to growers, agents, and industry during the growing season.
Developing education and training materials necessary to help growers utilize in-situ data in water management.
Candidate Profile:
We are looking for a candidate with a strong background in agricultural water management, remote sensing, machine learning, or related fields. The ideal candidate will have a passion for applying technological solutions to agricultural challenges, demonstrating both innovative thinking and practical skills in data analysis and model development.
Application:
Interested candidates are invited to apply for this exciting opportunity to contribute to a sustainable future in agricultural practices. Please provide your CV, a cover letter detailing your interest and qualifications for the project, and any relevant academic transcripts or publications. Email your application to Dr. Chadi Sayde
(csayde@ncsu.edu).