"Postdoctoral Research Associate"

The Department of Environmental Sciences, at the University of Toledo, OH seeks a postdoctoral research associate to study the methane cycling in coastal ecosystems under different flooding regime. A particular focus lies on separating microbial pathways that contribute to methane fluxes using stable isotopes of carbon and hydrogen. Furthermore, possibilities exist to participate in an ecosystem-scale freshwater flooding experiment as well as improve model representation of methane cycling. Experience and interest in using stable isotopes and/or measuring fluxes along the soil/water-plant-atmosphere continuum is welcome. The anticipated start date for the position is October 1, 2025.

Hydrological intensification will lead to changes in inundation and drainage patterns within coastal ecosystems. In the Great Lakes region, lake levels vary on different timescales but are predicted to rise in the next decades. A new ecosystem-scale manipulation in a diked upland forest system in collaboration with the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge will address ecological and biogeochemical responses to increased flood duration and depth. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to help develop and lead this experiment. Depending on interest, the incumbent will also have the opportunity to collect and/or synthesize data from established transects covering wetland, transitional and upland areas where data collection is on-going.

This position is part of the DOE funded project – Coastal Observation, Mechanism, and Predictions Across Systems and Scales - Field Measurements and Experiments (COMPASS-FME). This large project is led by the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in collaboration with multiple partners, including the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) and Argonne National Lab. The COMPASS - FME project aims to understand the coupled interactions of plants, microbes, soils/sediments, and hydrology within coastal systems to inform multi- scale, integrated models from reaction scales to the coastal interface. The project’s research emphasis is primarily on terrestrial and wetland processes that are influenced by coastal waters, such as the fluxes and transformations of carbon, nutrients, and redox elements through these systems. This project includes several national labs, and research institutions in the W. Basin of Lake Erie and Chesapeake Bay, affording the successful candidate the opportunity for exciting and diverse collaborations. There will be opportunities for close collaboration with project partners and scientists at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Argonne National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center and The University of Toledo.

This postdoc will be based at U. Toledo and will develop sampling strategies and lead data collection and analysis aimed at understanding coastal ecosystem biogeochemical response to hydrological changes. The candidate will also be responsible for data curation in preparation of uploading to scientific databases and work with the COMPASS research team to assist with data review and archiving.

Contact Dr. Inke Forbrich, inke.forbrich@utoledo.edu with questions or for more information about this position.