"Postdoc Scholar - Marine ecology ESPM The Coastal Climate Resilience Lab - MCECO - ESPM Ecosystem Sciences Div - Carlson Lab"

Position Description

Postdoc Employee - Marine ecology - ESPM. The Coastal Climate Resilience Lab (PI Rachel Carlson, Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management) seeks a postdoctoral researcher in the area of marine ecology and ocean optics. The postdoc will work on the project 'Impacts of Extreme Freshwater Events on Marine Freshwater Plumes and Phytoplankton Community Structure', under the guidance of PI Carlson and co-PIs Albert Ruhi (UC Berkeley) and Kelly Hondula (Arizona State University).

Project rationale and scope: Climate change is driving an increase in the frequency and intensity of rainfall anomalies like Extreme Atmospheric Rivers (EARs), leading to freshwater pulses in the ocean and causing major shifts in ocean salinity nearshore. These climate-driven freshwater pulses are increasing in the California Current System, potentially inducing phytoplankton community change and Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs). However, the extent, magnitude, and timing of freshwater plumes in the California Current at present and under future climate change are unknown. The overarching goal of the project is to understand how climate change is poised to alter the dynamics of extreme freshwater episodes with regards to their magnitude and timing in the ocean, and link these events to phytoplankton coastal dynamics. Specific project goals are the following:

• Develop the first observational freshwater plume map for the U.S. West Coast during recent extreme runoff events;
• Convert climate scenarios for extreme rainfall into forecasts of future coastal runoff under climate change, and
• Analyze changes in marine ecological (phytoplankton) communities during and after freshwater extremes (low-salinity pulses) at multiple spatial and temporal scales.

Responsibilities:

• Define specific questions and methods around the effects of freshwater plume exposure on phytoplankton communities.
• Develop and interpret phytoplankton metrics using multi- and hyperspectral satellite sensors, customized to taxa and water quality typical of the U.S. West Coast. Apply data from ocean color and/or land imaging satellite missions as appropriate (e.g. PACE, Sentinel 3, MODIS, Sentinel 2, Landsat, Planet).
• Lead time series analysis to identify extreme hydrological events and measure impacts on phytoplankton across time and space.
• Lead a case study on the above topics in a local region in California (to be identified).
• Lead data cleaning, quality control, analytical documentation, and SOP development.
• Prepare manuscripts for publication as lead author.
• Contribute to lab knowledge exchange and community-building activities. Attend lab meetings in ESPM Oceans and Freshwater groups.

Mentoring: The postdoctoral researcher would be based in the research laboratory of PI Dr. Rachel Carlson on the UC Berkeley campus. They would also be co-mentored by Dr. Albert Ruhi (co-PI, ESPM, Berkeley) and remotely by Dr. Kelly Hondula (Arizona State University). They would receive additional guidance from collaborator Dr. Cynthia Gerlein-Safdi (Civil and Environmental Engineering, Berkeley) and assistance from at least one PhD student. In person work is required, but a hybrid working arrangement may be considered.

The postdoctoral researcher would meet regularly with the PI and the project team, and would participate in regular goal-setting and development plan activities. They would have the opportunity to participate in campus data science, wilderness first aid, faculty development, and other professional development opportunities. They would have the opportunity to guest lecture in the PI's coastal ecology class, mentor undergraduate research students, and attend one USA-based conference each year. The PI's group provides a supportive work environment that recognizes and supports people of diverse identities and needs, and prioritizes anti-racist practices and field safety.

Qualifications

Basic qualifications (required at time of application): PhD (or equivalent international degree) or enrolled in a PhD degree program (or equivalent international degree).

Additional qualifications (required at time of start): Ph.D. (or equivalent international degree) required by the appointment start date. No more than three years of post-degree research experience by the start date.

Preferred qualifications: PhD in marine ecology, environmental science, computational ecology, or related fields. Knowledge of phytoplankton biology, ecology, and taxonomy. Experience with temperate nearshore ecosystems and California Current oceanographic dynamics. Experience developing and applying ocean color remote sensing algorithms to satellite data, especially for phytoplankton in coastal ecosystems. Proficiency in R, Python, and code documentation/metadata creation. Experience with high-performance computing. Experience with time series and/or spatial analysis, and statistical modeling. Strong record of developing peer-reviewed publications as lead author. Proficiency in developing public-facing or outreach materials for scientific products.

Salary range: A reasonable estimate for this position is $69,073-$77,030. See the salary scale for details.