Department: DGE – Global Ecology

Salary: $80,850

Location: Stanford, CA

Postdoctoral Research Associate: Quantifying climate impacts on inland and coastal eutrophication

Department: DGE – Global Ecology

Salary: TBD Competitive

Location: Stanford, CA

The Department of Global Ecology at the Carnegie Institution for Science (CIS) is seeking Postdoctoral Research Associates to contribute to research that aims to quantify climate change impacts on freshwater and coastal water quality via influences on nutrient delivery to, and on conditions within, water bodies. Our approach is highly data-driven, with a common methodological thread being the development and application of statistical approaches for optimizing the use of limited in situ and remote sensing environmental data.

There will be considerable flexibility regarding specific scientific questions to be examined, but potential areas of focus include:

• Attribution of historical water-quality trends and extreme events to climate change and variability;
• Assessment of historical and future nutrient loading, phytoplankton blooms, and hypoxia in data-poor regions;
• Development of approaches for using modern satellite-based observations for assessing global variability in lacustrine phytoplankton blooms;
• Development of partnerships with other labs on targeted field-based projects for assessing climate drivers of water quality impairments;
• Assessment of water quality management strategies in terms of their robustness to future changes in climate and, conversely, their potential climate impacts.

The position is based in Dr. Anna M. Michalak’s lab and will involve extensive collaboration with researchers at the other institutions, offering excellent opportunities for joint mentoring and career development.

The Postdoctoral Research Associate will be responsible for identifying innovative strategies for developing a quantitative basis for understanding the impacts of climate on water quality, as well as possible feedbacks with the climate system. While we are interested in site-specific studies, our long-term focus is on developing understanding that is at least in part transferable across systems, such that we can inform processes and variability in poorly sampled regions and at aggregate regional scales.

Position Duties

• Identify compelling scientific questions, design and conduct high-level research, and collaborate with other members of the Michalak Lab on topics within the broad area defined above.
• Coordinate with outside collaborators to identify key scientific opportunities and modeling strategies.
• Lead and contribute to research papers to be published in the peer reviewed literature.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in hydrology, limnology, remote sensing, earth science, or related field;
• Experience working with water quantity or quality observations at regional, continental and/or global scales;
• Experience with quantitative data analysis and modeling approaches;
• Experience exploring questions about climate and/or water quality;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.

Informal inquiries about these positions can be made by emailing Anna Michalak at michalak@carnegiescience.edu.  Formal applications for employment must be submitted by clicking on the bar below, and must include a cover letter, CV, and list of at least three references.

The review of applications will begin immediately and the position will remain open until it is filled. Compensation is competitive and will be commensurate with work experience and skills.