Postdoctoral Opportunity: Hydraulic redistribution in forests

The Carnegie Institution for Science’s Global Ecology group invites applications for a Postdoctoral Fellow based in West Lafayette, Indiana. Scientists in the Global Ecology group conduct basic and applied research into the interactions among the Earth’s ecosystems and people. The selected fellow will join a collaborative team of scientists studying hydraulic redistribution in temperate deciduous forests, and working to better represent hydrodynamic processes in land surface models. The fellow will work under the guidance of Dr. Jeff Dukes at the Carnegie Institution for Science, and in collaboration with Drs. Elin Jacobs and Lisa Welp at Purdue University, Zoe Cardon at The Ecosystems Center/MBL, and Yilin Fang at PNNL.

The successful applicant will be expected to publish papers based on an existing and growing dataset being collected at Martell Forest, a research property in West Lafayette, Indiana owned by Purdue’s Department of Forestry and Natural Resources. The team has been collecting data on sap flux, soil moisture, and other plant physiological and environmental variables, to better quantify water flow within and through trees at the site, particularly from and to the soil. The fellow will help supervise and participate in this local fieldwork in a limited manner, but their primary responsibility will be to analyze associated data and work interactively with their mentor and the team to ensure that experimental data are robust, can be used to inform related modeling work, and are published. We will be looking for candidates who have experience with relevant fieldwork and some interest in modeling (though running models is not expected for this position).

This project will be based in West Lafayette, Indiana; the Fellow will be expected to work with researchers on site, conduct some field work, and interact regularly with project leaders. The initial appointment will be for one year, but can be extended based on performance and funding availability. The position is available immediately, and the ideal start date would be soon, but the exact 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. The postdoc will have regular opportunities to interact virtually with researchers in the new 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. The Center focuses on the integration of process-based models with empirical constraints from advanced in situ and spaceborne Earth observations. The Center’s 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.

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.

Required Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in biology, forestry, earth system science, or a related field;
• Extensive experience with plant ecophysiological measurements in field settings;
• Excellent mathematical and statistical skills;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills;
• Strong publication record;
• Evidence of ability to work independently and in teams;
• Commitment to a collegial workplace.

Applications will only be considered when submitted through our application portal. Applicants are required to submit a cover letter that details their experience with plant physiological measurements, a CV, and the names and contact information of at least three professional references.