Proposal to UC-ANR Program Council for CE Specialist Recruitment
Air Quality Specialist
Department of Environmental Sciences
College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, UCR
The Department of Environmental Sciences at UCR proposes to recruit for an Air Quality
Specialist as an 11-month Assistant Cooperative Extension (CE) Specialist (0.7 FTE) and
Assistant Professor (IR) (0.3 FTE). The Air Quality Specialist will hold a career track position
in the Department of Environmental Sciences within CNAS at UCR. The CE/IR split
appointment is consistent with all three existing CE Specialist positions in the Department.
Position Description: Agricultural practices are recognized to influence air quality in a number
of ways, and the USEPA has recently added agriculture to the list of emissions under its purview.
For example, potential new regulations concerning both ammonia and particulates are on the
near horizon. Critical nutrient loads continue to be a major concern for the “pristine” ecosystems
found throughout California’s mountainous regions. Aerosols such as ammonium nitrate are
major components of the fine, airborne particulates (PM2.5) that are know to cause asthma and
related health issues, especially in children and the elderly. Fugitive dust emissions from
agricultural lands, and from agricultural wastewater repositories, can also be important sources
of PM2.5. For example, further recession of the Salton Sea as a result of the water transfer is
expected to generate vast areas of dust-emissive sediments. Moreover, application of pesticides
and soil fumigants can result in offsite exposure and deposition that negatively affects both
natural ecosystems and human health. Efforts to meet volatile organic compound (VOC)
standards are placing great pressure on both growers and the chemical industry. Greenhouse gas
emissions from agricultural systems are another major issue that may come under regulatory
scrutiny in the future. Within DANR, there is a critical need for applied scientists with expertise
in the quantification of these emissions, transport and deposition processes, as well as possible
mitigation strategies. The incumbent is thus expected to have expertise in ambient
measurements of airborne contaminants, aerosol and gas fluxes, deposition modeling, and related
topics. This hire will complement existing Air Pollution Research Center (APRC) researchers, as
well as the new climatologist position in the College. This individual would contribute to the
Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Soil and Water Sciences, or Environmental
Science and Management tracks of the graduate program in Environmental Sciences, and offer
courses on atmospheric sciences and air quality. A Ph.D. in atmospheric sciences, environmental
sciences, or a related discipline is required.
Relevance to the ANR Strategic Vision: The position will directly address the Initiative for
Sustainable Natural Ecosystems, and would have natural linkages to the Initiative to Improve
Water Quality, Quantity and Security, and the Initiative to Enhance the Health of Californians
and California's Agricultural Economy. The individual will be actively engaged in research and
extension in support of these initiatives in their role as CE Specialist and will support the
activities of other research and extension academics in addressing the ANR Strategic Vision,
including faculty and CE Specialists at UCR and other campuses, UC CE Advisors, and non-UC
researchers where appropriate.
Extension: Within ANR, there is very limited expertise in air resources, despite the increasing
importance of agriculture-related air quality problems. As CE Specialist in Air Quality, the
appointee will provide regional and statewide leadership in extension activities in measurement
and management of air quality through interactions with farmers and advisors, the California Air
Resources Board (CARB), California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR), other local
and state regulatory agencies and organizations, and with national monitoring networks such as
the National Atmospheric Deposition Program.. Extension and outreach is expected to be
conducted through presentations, meetings, and workshops, organization of conferences, webbased media, technical and outreach publications, and participation in ANR Workgroups and
ANR Strategic Initiative Coordinating Conferences.
Research: Air quality remains a critical issue for California. Research is needed to understand
the impact of agricultural systems on air quality, consequent impacts on both terrestrial and
aquatic ecosystems and on human health, as well as strategies to minimize these impacts.
Included in this research is the need to understand and manage greenhouse gas emissions. This is
considered a highly fundable area of research, with funding sources including CARB, CDPR,
commodity boards (e.g., strawberry commissions), AQMDs, USDA, EPA, and climate change
initiatives.
ANR continuum: The CE Air Quality Specialist works closely with AES faculty (from UCR,
UCB, and UCD), CE Specialists including those stationed at the Kearney Center, and Farm
Advisors involved in agricultural and natural systems that impact, or are impacted by, air quality.
The position is thus expected to be tied to those working on soil and water resources and their
management. The CE Air Quality Specialist is further expected to work closely with state
regulatory agencies and various commodity boards on a range of existing and emerging air
quality issues.
Support: The appointee will have research and office space in the Department of Environmental
Sciences, and an appropriate initial complement package will be negotiated to help with program
start up. The appointee will be expected to secure extramural funding to support a significant
outreach program in addition to grant funding for their research and extension program. As a CE
Specialist, the individual can also apply for state funding from CNAS as seed money for new
projects.
Location: The location of a CE Specialist in Air Quality at UCR maximizes interactions with the
Coachella and Imperial Valleys and the air quality issues related to emissive sediments at the
Salton Sea, CAFOs in Chino and the Central Valley, fumigant and volatile pesticide emissions
from strawberries and other crops in San Diego, Orange, Los Angeles, Ventura, Fresno, Kern
and Tulare counties. The location at UCR also allows interaction with US Forest Service and
National Park Service in the study of impacts of air quality on watersheds and terrestrial
ecosystems in the San Bernardino, San Gabriel and Sierra Nevada mountains. Location at UCR
also allows natural collaborative interactions with other CE and CE/I&R specialists, APRC
scientists, and with related AES faculty.