Post Doctoral Research Associate

Position Summary

The EcoClimate Variability Lab in the Department of Geography at the University of Georgia (UGA) invites applications for a two-year postdoctoral position to investigate the forces controlling hydroclimate in eastern North America (ENA) over the last 21,000 years. Working with Dr. David Fastovich, the successful candidate will help synthesize a network of leaf wax hydrogen isotope records from five well-dated lake sediment archives along a latitudinal gradient through ENA. The project uses the last deglaciation as a natural experiment to disentangle the influence of greenhouse gas, ice sheet, and ocean heat transport forcings on northward moisture transport and the westerly storm tracks that deliver precipitation to the region. Reconstructed records will be compared against isotope-enabled climate simulations to constrain hydroclimate sensitivities and identify the model components responsible for persistent precipitation biases in ENA.

Ideal candidates will have experience, or interest in developing skills, in two or more of the following: synoptic-scale climatology of North America, analysis of climate model output, and leaf wax biomarker geochemistry.

Duties/Responsibilities

• Climate data and modeling analysis (30%)
• Manuscript preparation and writing (30%)
• Sample preparation and isotopic Measurement (20%)
• Professional development (10%)
• Grant preparation and writing (5%)
• Field work (5%)

Relevant/Preferred Education, Experience, Licensure, Certification in Position

PhD in Earth Science, Geology, Geography, or related discipline

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and/or Competencies

Experience in organic geochemistry or climate model analyses