"Postdoctoral Research Associate"

Postdoctoral Research Associate

Company: The University of Arizona

Job Location: Tucson, 85724

Category: Environmental Science, Ecology, and Forestry

Type: Full-Time

Posting Number: req24306

Department: Sch of Nat Resource&Enviro-Res

Location: Main Campus

Address: Tucson, AZ USA

Position Highlights

The School of Natural Resources and the Environment (SNRE) and the USDA-ARS Southwest Watershed Research Center (SWRC) are jointly hiring a Postdoctoral Research Associate. The successful candidate will be co-advised by Associate Professor William K. Smith (SNRE) and Senior Researcher Russell L. Scott (SWRC). The ideal candidate will be a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher trained in plant physiological approaches and with research experience in water-limited ecosystems.

Work will focus on the physiological functioning of water-limited plants and ecosystems under intensifying hydroclimate extremes. The successful candidate will lead research at the SECA flux tower network (Semiarid ECohydrological Array), which includes eddy covariance flux tower sites - one shrubland, two grasslands, one savanna, and a mixed conifer site - along a water limitation gradient of sites within 100 km of Tucson, Arizona. All sites are collecting weather and AmeriFlux measurements of water, energy and carbon exchange continuously over the last 12-20 years. Due to their location within the Santa Rita Experimental Range (NEON Core Site for the Desert Southwest) and the USDA Walnut Gulch Experimental Watershed, these USDA-ARS sites have LiDAR, NEON airborne remote sensing, comprehensive water balance measurements, soil respiration data, and tower-based remote sensing including multiple thermal imagers and solar-induced fluorescence (SIF) spectrometers, and they have been subjects of numerous dryland empirical, remote sensing, and modeling studies.

The postdoc will be joining a collaborative team but will also have plenty of freedom to develop their own research questions and hypotheses.

Outstanding U of A benefits include health, dental, vision, and life insurance; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; U of A/ASU/NAU tuition reduction for the employee and qualified family members; access to U of A recreation and cultural activities; and more! The University of Arizona has been recognized for our innovative work-life programs. For more information about working at the University of Arizona and relocations services, please

Duties & Responsibilities

• Lead analysis of remote sensing data at the field, drone, and satellite scale.
• Demonstrated experience with field-based physiological approaches, e.g., photosynthesis, transpiration, plant water potential, leaf or stem psychrometers, chlorophyll fluorescence, spectral reflectance, etc.
• Demonstrated experience with spatiotemporal analysis using R, Python, and/or comparable computer programming languages.
• Presenting results at national conferences.
• Leading the development of manuscripts with the aim of publishing at least one paper a year in a high impact journal.

Minimum Qualifications

• PhD in ecosystem ecology or a related field.
• A proven publication record in peer-reviewed scientific journals and a demonstrated high level of productivity.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in dryland ecosystem ecology, with a previous research focus on linking ecosystem fluxes and remote sensing, and on satellite and or proximal remote sensing.

FLSA: Exempt

Full Time/Part Time: Full Time

Number of Hours Worked per Week: 40

Job FTE: 1.0

Work Calendar: Fiscal

Job Category: Research

Benefits Eligible: Yes - Full Benefits

Rate of Pay: NIH Salary Guidelines, Depends on Experience

Compensation Type: salary at 1.0 full-time equivalency (FTE)

Type of criminal background check required: Name-based criminal background check (non-security sensitive)

Number of Vacancies: 1

Contact Information for Candidates

William Smith
wksmith@arizona.edu

Open Until Filled: Yes

Documents Needed to Apply: Resume and Cover Letter