Postdoctoral Fellow

Department: DGE – Global Ecology

Salary: $80,850

Location: Pasadena, CA

Carnegie Science’s Global Ecology Group in the Division of Biosphere Sciences & Engineering (BSE) is seeking a motivated, creative, and collaborative Postdoctoral Fellow in the field of microbial ecology and biogeochemistry to advance understanding of how microbial ecological interactions drive nutrient transformations in the ocean. 

The Postdoctoral Fellow will work primarily under the guidance of Dr. Emily Zakem, with opportunities to collaborate with other researchers at Carnegie, the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), the University of Southern California (USC), Stanford University, and beyond. Research for this position will use theory and computational modeling to understand how microorganisms drive ocean biogeochemical cycling. Specific project focuses are flexible, and may include, for example, the ecology and biogeochemical impacts of aerobic and anaerobic metabolisms in anoxic marine zones, the global-scale ecology of nitrification in relation to the carbon cycle, or the ecological dynamics controlling the consumption, respiration, export, and/or elemental stoichiometry of organic matter. 

Responsibilities:

• Collaboratively design and conduct cutting-edge research
• Publish results in high-quality peer-reviewed journals 
• Present results at scientific conferences

Required Qualifications: 

• Ph.D. or equivalent by the start of the appointment in the natural sciences, engineering, or mathematics. A background in oceanography, biogeochemistry, ecology, or microbiology is helpful but not essential;
• Strong interest in advancing understanding in microbially driven nutrient cycling in the ocean or other aquatic environments through theory and modeling;
• Experience in scientific programming and numerical modeling;
• Excellent critical thinking and quantitative analysis skills;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills;
• Demonstrated ability to drive projects forward in a timely manner;
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and in teams;
• Commitment to a collegial and inclusive workplace.

The start date for the position is flexible, with the earliest possible appointment beginning in Aug 2024, and review of applicants will be ongoing until the position is filled. Initial appointments are for one year, with possible renewal based on performance and funding availability. The location for the position will be on the Caltech campus in Pasadena, CA. Carnegie offers competitive salary and comprehensive benefits, including partial reimbursement of relocation expenses. Applications consist of 1) a cover letter listing examples of specific research questions you are interested in answering (not the specific tools or approaches you would use), if you could work on any topic you’d like (note that this may be different from what you actually end up working on at Carnegie), 2) a CV, and 3) contact information for three references. All must be submitted through our application portal (see blue bar below). Please contact Emily Zakem (ezakem@carnegiescience.edu) with any questions about the position.

At Carnegie, we are committed to building a diverse and inclusive community. We believe academic environments should be places where diverse groups of people with a variety of viewpoints and ideas can thrive and work together. As such, we encourage applicants from underrepresented groups and backgrounds to apply. The Carnegie Institution is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of gender, race/ethnicity, protected veteran status, disability, or other protected group status.

Postdoctoral Fellow: Climate mitigation and adaptation solutions

Department: DGE – Global Ecology

Salary: $80,850

Location: Stanford, CA

Carnegie Institution for Science Department of Global Ecology (DGE) at Stanford is seeking creative, collaborative postdoctoral scholars to advance our work on improving water and agricultural sustainability under warming. Research will be highly data-driven, through quantitative research and spatial model development. 

Fellows will work primarily under the guidance of Dr. Lorenzo Rosa. Fellows will collaboratively design and conduct cutting-edge research, publish results in peer-reviewed journals, and present results at scientific conferences.  

Our research focuses on assessing the potential benefits and unintended climate and environmental consequences of innovations engineered to satisfy the increasing global demand for food, energy, and water. In our work, we aim to address the most urgent questions surrounding the sustainability of the Earth System. There will be flexibility regarding scientific questions to be studied, but potential areas of focus include:

• Mapping water scarcity under climate change in agricultural and energy systems;
• Analyzing solutions to water scarcity under global warming, including water storage and desalination;
• Quantifying climate change impacts on water resources;
• Quantifying how agriculture will be impacted by climate change and how farmers can adapt to new conditions;
• Assessing solutions to achieve net-zero energy emissions in agriculture.

Postdoctoral Fellows typically lead projects and help on other projects; peer-reviewed publication of results in high-quality journals is the norm. We want to hire people who see helping the group be successful as a key element in their own success strategy.

Postdoctoral Fellows at DGE have access to valuable research resources to launch successful scientific careers in academia and industry. Research resources include technical support staff, research equipment, and computing/IT resources. DGE seeks to provide a culture of mentoring and professional development for all postdoctoral scientists; additional professional development/training programs are offered internally. 

Responsibilities: 

• Work closely and collaboratively with other scientists to design, implement, analyze and summarize innovative research;
• Publish results in high-quality, peer-reviewed journals; 
• Present results at conferences and seminars. 

Required Qualifications: 

• Ph.D. in any scientific or engineering discipline with a grounding in energy, agriculture, hydrology, earth and environmental science, or related field;
• Analyses of large spatio-temporal agricultural datasets;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills;
• Strong quantitative analysis skills;
• Evidence of ability to work independently and in teams;
• Commitment to a collegial and inclusive workplace. 

Multiple positions are available with flexible start dates to begin within 12 months. Although initial appointments are for one year, the position is renewable and postdocs in the Department usually stay for two to three years. Carnegie offers competitive salary and comprehensive benefits. Applications will only be considered when submitted through our application portal. Applicants are required to submit a CV, cover letter, a research proposal, and the names and contact information of at least three professional references.  Please contact Lorenzo Rosa (e-mail: lrosa@carnegiescience.edu) with any questions about the position. 

Carnegie is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will receive consideration of employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, veteran status or any other characteristics protected by law. We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse research community and we encourage applications by members of all underrepresented groups.

Please submit your application by clicking on the Apply Now box below or visit this link here:

https://jobs.carnegiescience.edu/jobs/apply/71446/

Postdoctoral Opportunity: Geophysical modeling to address climate challenges

Department: DGE – Global Ecology

Salary: $80,850

Location: Stanford, CA

Carnegie Institution Science Department of Global Ecology (DGE) invites applications for a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at its Stanford Campus. Founded in 2002, scientists at DGE conduct basic and applied research into the interactions among the Earth’s ecosystems and people. The Carnegie Institution has a deep commitment to scientific excellence and diversity; we strongly encourage applications from candidates who will enrich and foster a culturally diverse and inclusive environment. 

Selected fellow(s) will join a highly collaborative and productive team of scientists aimed at developing information that can help address climate challenges. This work will be performed under the guidance of Dr. Ken Caldeira, a Senior Scientist with Gates Ventures and Senior Scientist (Emeritus) with Carnegie Institution for Science.

Improved geophysical and geochemical understanding can help address climate challenges. Topic areas where improved understanding would be helpful include: aviation-induced cirrus clouds, geophysical and geochemical energy sources (e.g., winds, sun, geothermal energy, geologic H2), and solar geoengineering. We are eager to work with people who can bring modeling and/or analytic skills to bear on these or related topic areas.

We have broad support for research aimed at helping humans to live sustainably on this planet in the face of climate change, but not every project need fall under this rubric. We have the ability, but not the necessity, to hire additional postdocs who will be a good fit for our group. Successful candidates will be open to addressing a wide range of issues, have good mathematical skills, have experience performing numerical simulations and/or analyzing data, be creative, and be good at completing projects. Postdoctoral Fellows typically lead projects and help out on other projects. Peer-reviewed publication of results in high-quality journals is the norm. 

Postdoctoral Fellows at DGE have access to valuable research resources to launch successful scientific careers in academia and industry. Research resources include technical support staff, research equipment, and computing/IT resources. Opportunities to partner with other DGE scientists may also be available depending on Fellow(s)’ interests. DGE seeks to provide a culture of mentoring and professional development for all postdoctoral scientists; funding is available for travel to scientific conferences; additional professional development/training programs are offered internally.

Multiple positions are available with flexible start dates to begin within 18 months of this posting. Initial appointments are for 1 year, with possible renewal up to 4 years. Carnegie offers competitive salary and comprehensive benefits. In addition, a budget is available to partially reimburse relocation expenses for successful candidates and their immediate families.

Responsibilities: 

• Work closely and collaboratively with other scientists to design, implement, analyze and summarize innovative research to inform climate and energy decision-making;
• Publish results in high-quality, peer-reviewed journals; 
• Present results at conferences and seminars. 

Required Qualifications: 

• Ph.D. in any scientific or engineering discipline with a grounding in the physical sciences or engineering;
• Excellent mathematical skills and basic computer programming;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills;
• Evidence of ability to work independently and in teams;
• Commitment to a collegial and inclusive workplace. 

Informal inquiries and questions about these positions should be directed to Ken Caldeira (e-mail: kcaldeira@carnegiescience.edu). Applications will only be considered when submitted through our application portal (see blue bar below). Applicants are required to submit a cover letter, CV, and the names and contact information of at least three professional references. 

Carnegie is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will receive consideration of employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, veteran status or any other characteristics protected by law. We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse research community and we encourage applications by members of all underrepresented groups.

Postdoctoral Opportunity: Quantitative modeling and analysis at the intersection of economic development and climate mitigation

Department: DGE – Global Ecology

Salary: $80,850

Location: Stanford, CA

Carnegie Institution Science Department of Global Ecology (DGE) invites applications for a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at its Stanford Campus. Founded in 2002, scientists at DGE conduct basic and applied research into the interactions among the Earth’s ecosystems and people. The Carnegie Institution has a deep commitment to scientific excellence and diversity; we strongly encourage applications from candidates who will enrich and foster a culturally diverse and inclusive environment. 

Selected fellow(s) will join a highly collaborative and productive team of scientists aimed at developing information that can help address climate challenges. This work will be performed under the guidance of Dr. Ken Caldeira, a Senior Scientist with Gates Ventures and Senior Scientist (Emeritus) with Carnegie Institution for Science.

The discussion of addressing climate challenges is never far from discussions of economic development and equity. We seek to engage in quantitative modeling and analysis that can inform decision making aimed at achieving multiple goals in a world composed of many actors, with differing goals and differing beliefs, each operating under conditions of deep uncertainty. We are eager to work with people who can bring modeling and/or analytics skills to bear on these or related problems.

We have broad support for research aimed at helping humans to live sustainably on this planet in the face of climate change, but not every project need fall under this rubric. We have the ability, but not the necessity, to hire additional postdocs who will be a good fit for our group. Successful candidates will be open to addressing a wide range of issues, have good mathematical skills, have experience performing numerical simulations and/or analyzing data, be creative, and be good at completing projects. Postdoctoral Fellows typically lead projects and help out on other projects. Peer-reviewed publication of results in high-quality journals is the norm. 

Postdoctoral Fellows at DGE have access to valuable research resources to launch successful scientific careers in academia and industry. Research resources include technical support staff, research equipment, and computing/IT resources. Opportunities to partner with other DGE scientists may also be available depending on Fellow(s)’ interests. DGE seeks to provide a culture of mentoring and professional development for all postdoctoral scientists; funding is available for travel to scientific conferences; additional professional development/training programs are offered internally.

Multiple positions are available with flexible start dates to begin within 18 months of this posting. Initial appointments are for 1 year, with possible renewal up to 4 years. Carnegie offers competitive salary and comprehensive benefits. In addition, a budget is available to partially reimburse relocation expenses for successful candidates and their immediate families.

Responsibilities: 

• Work closely and collaboratively with other scientists to design, implement, analyze and summarize innovative research to inform climate and energy decision-making;
• Publish results in high-quality, peer-reviewed journals; 
• Present results at conferences and seminars. 

Required Qualifications: 

• Ph.D. in any scientific or engineering discipline with a grounding in the physical sciences or engineering;
• Excellent mathematical skills and basic computer programming;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills;
• Evidence of ability to work independently and in teams;
• Commitment to a collegial and inclusive workplace. 

Informal inquiries and questions about these positions should be directed to Ken Caldeira (e-mail: kcaldeira@carnegiescience.edu). Applications will only be considered when submitted through our application portal (see blue bar below). Applicants are required to submit a cover letter, CV, and the names and contact information of at least three professional references. 

Carnegie is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will receive consideration of employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, veteran status or any other characteristics protected by law. We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse research community and we encourage applications by members of all underrepresented groups.

Postdoctoral Opportunity: Empirical foundations of estimates of climate damage and adaptive capacity

Department: DGE – Global Ecology

Salary: $80,850

Location: Stanford, CA

Carnegie Institution Science Department of Global Ecology (DGE) invites applications for a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at its Stanford Campus. Founded in 2002, scientists at DGE conduct basic and applied research into the interactions among the Earth’s ecosystems and people. The Carnegie Institution has a deep commitment to scientific excellence and diversity; we strongly encourage applications from candidates who will enrich and foster a culturally diverse and inclusive environment. 

Selected fellow(s) will join a highly collaborative and productive team of scientists aimed at developing information that can help address climate challenges. This work will be performed under the guidance of Dr. Ken Caldeira, a Senior Scientist with Gates Ventures and Senior Scientist (Emeritus) with Carnegie Institution for Science.

Analyses of the social cost of carbon indicate that climate damage might manifest itself most strongly in heat-induced mortality and damage to crop yields. We are eager to work with people who can quantitatively assess the empirical foundation for climate damage projections, and/or who can analyze the potential for adaptive responses to these climate threats. We are eager to work with people who take empirical and quantitative approaches to these or related problems.

We have broad support for research aimed at helping humans to live sustainably on this planet in the face of climate change, but not every project need fall under this rubric. We have the ability, but not the necessity, to hire additional postdocs who will be a good fit for our group. Successful candidates will be open to addressing a wide range of issues, have good mathematical skills, have experience performing numerical simulations and/or analyzing data, be creative, and be good at completing projects. Postdoctoral Fellows typically lead projects and help out on other projects. Peer-reviewed publication of results in high-quality journals is the norm. 

Postdoctoral Fellows at DGE have access to valuable research resources to launch successful scientific careers in academia and industry. Research resources include technical support staff, research equipment, and computing/IT resources. Opportunities to partner with other DGE scientists may also be available depending on Fellow(s)’ interests. DGE seeks to provide a culture of mentoring and professional development for all postdoctoral scientists; funding is available for travel to scientific conferences; additional professional development/training programs are offered internally.

Multiple positions are available with flexible start dates to begin within 18 months of this posting. Initial appointments are for 1 year, with possible renewal up to 4 years. Carnegie offers competitive salary and comprehensive benefits. In addition, a budget is available to partially reimburse relocation expenses for successful candidates and their immediate families.

Responsibilities: 

• Work closely and collaboratively with other scientists to design, implement, analyze and summarize innovative research to inform climate and energy decision-making;
• Publish results in high-quality, peer-reviewed journals; 
• Present results at conferences and seminars. 

Required Qualifications: 

• Ph.D. in any scientific or engineering discipline with a grounding in the physical sciences or engineering;
• Excellent mathematical skills and basic computer programming;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills;
• Evidence of ability to work independently and in teams;
• Commitment to a collegial and inclusive workplace. 

Informal inquiries and questions about these positions should be directed to Ken Caldeira (e-mail: kcaldeira@carnegiescience.edu). Applications will only be considered when submitted through our application portal (see blue bar below). Applicants are required to submit a cover letter, CV, and the names and contact information of at least three professional references. 

Carnegie is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will receive consideration of employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, veteran status or any other characteristics protected by law. We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse research community and we encourage applications by members of all underrepresented groups.

Postdoctoral Research Associate in quantitative analysis of aquatic ecosystem dynamics and harmful algal blooms

Department: DGE – Global Ecology

Salary: $74,000 – $80,850

Location: Stanford, CA

Department of Global Ecology at the Carnegie Institution for Science (CIS), Stanford campus is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate to analyze data on spatial and long-term variation of plankton community composition to uncover drivers of harmful algal blooms (HABs) and patterns of plankton community responses to changing environmental conditions.

The position is based in Dr. Elena Litchman’s lab, with the possibility of working remotely, and will involve collaborations with researchers at other institutions. 

The Postdoctoral Research Associate will be responsible for developing novel methods to identify the drivers of HABs and characterizing community dynamics and resilience in a changing climate using multiple datasets on spatial and temporal variation in lake plankton. 

Position Duties

• Identify compelling scientific questions, design and conduct high-level research;
• Lead and contribute to research papers to be published in the peer reviewed literature.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in ecology, data science, environmental statistics or related field;
• Experience working with environmental data;
• Experience with quantitative data analysis and advanced statistical modeling approaches and publications in this area;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills;
• Evidence of ability to work independently and in teams;
• Commitment to a collegial and inclusive workplace. 

Contact Elena Litchman at elitchman@carnegiescience.edu if you have questions about this position.  Applications will only be considered when submitted through our application portal (see blue bar below). Please include a cover letter, CV, and names and contact info of three references. The review of applications will begin immediately, and the position will remain open until filled. Compensation is competitive and will be commensurate with work experience and skills.

Carnegie is an equal opportunity employer.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, disability or any other protected status in accordance with applicable laws.

 

Postdoctoral Fellow: Climate responses of ecosystems and communities

Department: DGE – Global Ecology

Salary: $80,850

Location: Stanford, CA

The Carnegie Institution for Science’s Global Ecology group invites applications for a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at its Stanford Campus. Scientists in the Global Ecology group conduct basic and applied research into the interactions among the Earth’s ecosystems and people. The Carnegie Institution has a deep commitment to scientific excellence and diversity; we strongly encourage applications from candidates who will enrich and foster a culturally diverse and inclusive environment. 

The selected fellow will join a collaborative team of scientists working to understand how ecosystems on land respond to environmental conditions (and changes), to better represent those responses in models, and to build understanding of pathways to a more sustainable society. The fellow will work under the guidance of Dr. Jeff Dukes, a Senior Staff Scientist with the Carnegie Institution for Science.

There is some flexibility in the specific work of the Postdoctoral Fellow, but in general the successful applicant will be expected to examine the influence of microclimates on vegetation, the influence of vegetation on microclimates, and the ways in which microclimates’ effects on ecosystem processes scale up to the landscape level and beyond.  The fellow could become involved in local fieldwork, and/or use land models, remotely sensed datasets, and global databases to examine the importance of microclimatic influences from the local to the global level.  We will be looking for candidates who have interest in being involved in some level of fieldwork and some level of modeling.  The exact mix of these is flexible, and to be determined.

Responsibilities: 

• Work closely and collaboratively with other scientists to design, implement, and summarize experiments and analyses that explore microclimatic heterogeneity and its implications for ecosystem processes, from local to global scales;
• Publish results in high-quality, peer-reviewed journals; 
• Present results at conferences and seminars. 

Required Qualifications: 

• Ph.D. in biology, earth system science, or a related field;
• Excellent mathematical skills and basic computer programming;
• Working familiarity with a land surface model and/or its components;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills;
• Evidence of ability to work independently and in teams;
• Commitment to a collegial and inclusive workplace. 

Familiarity with geographical information systems would also be a benefit.

This project will be based on the Stanford campus; the Fellow will be expected to work on site.  The initial appointment will be for one year, but can be extended based on performance and funding availability. The position is available immediately, but the starting date is flexible. Informal inquiries and questions about the position should be directed to Jeff Dukes (e-mail: jdukes@carnegiescience.edu ). 

Postdoctoral Fellows at Carnegie have access to valuable research resources to launch successful scientific careers in and beyond academia, including technical support staff, research equipment, and computing/IT resources. Opportunities to partner with other Carnegie scientists may also be available depending on the Fellow’s interests. Carnegie seeks to provide a culture of mentoring and professional development for all postdoctoral scientists; funding is available for travel to scientific conferences, and additional professional development/training programs are offered internally.

Applications will only be considered when submitted through our application portal (see blue bar below). Applicants are required to submit a cover letter, CV, and the names and contact information of at least three professional references.

Carnegie is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will receive consideration of employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, veteran status or any other characteristics protected by law. We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse research community and we encourage applications by members of all underrepresented groups.

Postdoctoral Fellows: Land-surface modeling

Department: DGE – Global Ecology

Salary: $80,850

Location: Stanford, CA

Researchers at the Carnegie Institution for Science are seeking up to three creative, collaborative postdoctoral scholars to advance understanding of land-surface mediated Earth system feedbacks. These fellows will be part of the soon-to-be-launched MC³ 4 Earth Center, a collaborative joint center bringing together the Carnegie Institution for Science, Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, California Institute of Technology, and Columbia University. 

The MC³ 4 Earth Center is dedicated to redefining the frontiers in modeling, analyzing, and predicting the complex dynamics of Earth’s land surfaces and their interactions within the broader climate system. We emphasize the integration of process-based models with empirical constraints  from advanced in situ and spaceborne Earth observations. Our commitment extends to training the next generation of Earth scientists, equipping them with state-of-the-art computing skills (including ML and AI), coupled with comprehensive knowledge of land surface processes, for them to become leaders and innovators in this critical field.

Successful candidates will work with Carnegie Global Ecology faculty engaged in the MC³ 4 Earth center (Drs. Joe Berry, Jeff Dukes, Anna Michalak, Lorenzo Rosa) as well as collaborators at the other center institutions to dramatically enhance our capabilities in analyzing, modeling, and forecasting the dynamics of Earth’s land surface. Fellows will design and conduct cutting-edge research, publish results in peer-reviewed journals, and present results at scientific conferences.  Fellows will be based on-site in Carnegie’s Global Ecology building, on the campus of Stanford University.

We anticipate that Fellows will be co-mentored across at least two of the Carnegie research groups engaged in the MC³ 4 Earth center. There will be flexibility regarding scientific questions to be studied within the broad scope of the center and the diverse interests of the participating faculty, and especially the creative insight of the fellows. 

Postdoctoral Fellows at Carnegie have access to valuable research resources to launch successful scientific careers in academic, private sector, or government positions. Research resources include technical support staff, research equipment, and computing/IT resources. We seek to provide a culture of mentoring and professional development for all postdoctoral scientists; additional professional development/training programs are offered internally.

Responsibilities: 

• Work closely and collaboratively with other scientists to design, implement, analyze and summarize innovative research;
• Publish results in high-quality, peer-reviewed journals; 
• Present results at conferences and seminars. 

Required Qualifications: 

• Ph.D. in any scientific or engineering discipline with a grounding in ecology, hydrology, earth and environmental science, or related field;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills;
• Strong quantitative analysis skills;
• Evidence of ability to work independently and in teams;
• Commitment to a collegial and inclusive workplace. 

Multiple positions are available with flexible start dates in 2024. Although initial appointments are for one year, the positions are renewable and postdocs in the group usually stay for two to three years. Carnegie offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits. 

Applications will only be considered when submitted through our application portal. Applicants are required to submit a CV, cover letter, a one to two page statement of research interests, and the names and contact information of at least three professional references. The research statement should describe possible lines of inquiry aligned with the candidate’s interests and expertise as well as those of the Carnegie faculty engaged in the center. Please email mc3postdocs@carnegiescience.edu with any questions about the positions. Review of applications will begin July 15, 2024 and will be ongoing thereafter.

Carnegie is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will receive consideration of employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristics protected by law. We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse research community and we encourage applications by members of all underrepresented groups.

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

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.