What are the responsibilities and job description for the Postdoctoral Fellow - Landscape Modeler position at Colorado State University?
Position Location
Fort Collins, CO
Work Location
Position qualifies for hybrid/in-office work
Research Professional Position
No
Posting Number
202500058AP
Position Type
Admin Professional/ Research Professional
Classification Title
Postdoctoral Fellows
Number of Vacancies
1
Work Hours/Week
40
Proposed Annual Salary Range
$56,000 - $61,000
Employee Benefits
Colorado State University is not just a workplace; it’s a thriving community that’s transforming lives and improving the human condition through world-class teaching, research, and service. With a robust benefits package, collaborative atmosphere, commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, and focus on work-life balance, CSU is where you can thrive, grow, and make a lasting impact.
- Review our detailed benefits information here.
- Explore the additional perks of working at CSU here.
- For the total value of CSU benefits in addition to wages, use our compensation calculator.
Desired Start Date
02/06/2025
Position End Date (if temporary)
To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by 11:59pm (MT) on
01/30/2025
Description of Work Unit
The Department of Ecosystem Science and Sustainability (ESS) integrates the latest ecosystem science into the real-world sustainable management of natural resources. Research is often related to the challenges humans face in sustainably managing ecosystem services and the amazing ways in which organisms interact with their environments to form complex ecosystems.
Position Summary
The Landscape Modeling Lab (Department of Ecosystem Science and Sustainability at Colorado State University) seeks a postdoctoral researcher interested in processed-based modeling of landscape-scale wetland carbon, soil, water, and plant dynamics. The successful applicant may work on multiple funded projects conducted in partnership with Ducks Unlimited, the USDA, and NASA. A primary goal will be to evaluate and adapt DayCent as a mechanism for understanding soil carbon and Green House Gas (GHG) flux in depressional wetlands enrolled in the USDA Conservation Reserve Program. Target wetlands are located in the United States High Plains and larger Great Plains region, and are sampled as part of a funded grant with multiple institutional partners, including USDA, USGS, Ducks Unlimited, and university collaborators. We welcome applicants with strong open-source modeling backgrounds who are not interested in field work. But there is also an opportunity to conduct field work within High Plains playa wetlands. These are semi-arid depressional wetlands on private agricultural and shortgrass prairie lands, across Texas, Colorado, Kansas and Nebraska. Potential field work will collect plant, water, soil, and GHG data. GHG collection may involve unmanned aerial vehicle, chamber, and/or eddy covariance tower methods.
Required Job Qualifications
- A PhD is required.
- Experience in process-based modeling such as DayCent and programming in an open source language, such as R.
- A track record of successful writing, such as publications or grants is also required.
Preferred Job Qualifications
- Experience with DayCent or other ecosystem carbon models (example: CMEM)
- Experience with reproducible research flows and open source programming.
- Experience with remote sensing analyses, including remote sensing of wetlands and wetland carbon.
- Experience with unmanned aerial vehicle deployment and/or data processing.
- Experience with field work in remote environments, especially wetlands.
- Experience with eddy covariance carbon flux or chamber-based gas sampling and data processing is also potentially useful.
- A US drivers license or international equivalent and clean driving record are helpful and should be indicated in the application.
Diversity Statement
- Reflecting departmental and institutional values, candidates are expected to have the ability to advance the Department’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.
Essential Duties
Job Duty Category
Research
Duty/Responsibility
The applicant will conduct research related to process-based carbon modeling in wetland dominated landscapes to help understand the role of wetlands in global carbon dynamics. The applicant will use existing and new data sets, will work with existing model code and generate new coding frameworks as needed.
The applicant will document research results and write grants and publications to disseminate results and help grow the research scope.
The applicant will contribute to other tasks as assigned.
Percentage Of Time
85%
Job Duty Category
Project Management
Duty/Responsibility
The applicant will contribute to research reports that document research deliverables to research sponsors.
The applicant will participate in meetings with research collaborators to coordinate work and products among research partners.
The applicant will contribute to other tasks as assigned.
Percentage Of Time
15%
Application Details
Special Instructions to Applicants
Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications in the announcement to be considered for hire. Apply no later than 1/30/2025 for full consideration at jobs.colostate.edu. Mailed or emailed applications will not be accepted.
Upload each of the items below individually as a Word Document (.doc), PDF (.pdf), or Rich Text Format (.rtf). Please note that incomplete applications cannot be considered. Please remove social security numbers and birth dates from application materials. A complete application consists of:
1) Statement of Qualifications (one-page letter addressing each qualification described in the announcement) uploaded in the ‘Cover Letter’ slot.
2) Resume
References may be requested from finalists. References will not be contacted without prior notification to candidates.
CSU is committed to full inclusion of qualified individuals. If you are needing assistance or accommodations with the search process, please reach out to the listed search contact. Please note, applicants may redact information from their application materials that identifies their age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution.
Upload each of the items below individually as a Word Document (.doc), PDF (.pdf), or Rich Text Format (.rtf). Please note that incomplete applications cannot be considered. Please remove social security numbers and birth dates from application materials. A complete application consists of:
1) Statement of Qualifications (one-page letter addressing each qualification described in the announcement) uploaded in the ‘Cover Letter’ slot.
2) Resume
References may be requested from finalists. References will not be contacted without prior notification to candidates.
CSU is committed to full inclusion of qualified individuals. If you are needing assistance or accommodations with the search process, please reach out to the listed search contact. Please note, applicants may redact information from their application materials that identifies their age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution.
Conditions of Employment
Pre-employment Criminal Background Check (required for new hires)
Search Contact
Sabrina Broderick Sabrina.Broderick@colostate.edu
EEO Statement
Colorado State University is committed to providing an environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based on race, age, creed, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, gender, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, or pregnancy in its employment, programs, services and activities, and admissions, and, in certain circumstances, marriage to a co-worker. The University will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. Colorado State University is an equal opportunity and equal access institution and affirmative action employer fully committed to achieving a diverse workforce and complies with all Federal and Colorado State laws, regulations, and executive orders regarding non-discrimination and affirmative action. The Office of Equal Opportunity is located in 101 Student Services.
The Title IX Coordinator is the Director of the Office of Title IX Programs and Gender Equity, 123 Student Services Building, Fort Collins, CO 80523-0160, (970) 491-1715, titleix@colostate.edu.
The Section 504 and ADA Coordinator is the Director of the Office of Equal Opportunity, 101 Student Services Building, Fort Collins, CO 80523-0160, (970) 491-5836, oeo@colostate.edu.
The Coordinator for any other forms of misconduct prohibited by the University’s Policy on Discrimination and Harassment is the Vice President for Equity, Equal Opportunity and Title IX, 101 Student Services Building, Fort Collins, Co. 80523-0160, (970) 491-5836, oeo@colostate.edu.
Any person may report sex discrimination under Title IX to the Office of Civil Rights, Department of Education.
The Title IX Coordinator is the Director of the Office of Title IX Programs and Gender Equity, 123 Student Services Building, Fort Collins, CO 80523-0160, (970) 491-1715, titleix@colostate.edu.
The Section 504 and ADA Coordinator is the Director of the Office of Equal Opportunity, 101 Student Services Building, Fort Collins, CO 80523-0160, (970) 491-5836, oeo@colostate.edu.
The Coordinator for any other forms of misconduct prohibited by the University’s Policy on Discrimination and Harassment is the Vice President for Equity, Equal Opportunity and Title IX, 101 Student Services Building, Fort Collins, Co. 80523-0160, (970) 491-5836, oeo@colostate.edu.
Any person may report sex discrimination under Title IX to the Office of Civil Rights, Department of Education.
Background Check Policy Statement
Colorado State University strives to provide a safe study, work, and living environment for its faculty, staff, volunteers and students. To support this environment and comply with applicable laws and regulations, CSU conducts background checks for the finalist before a final offer. The type of background check conducted varies by position and can include, but is not limited to, criminal history, sex offender registry, motor vehicle history, financial history, and/or education verification. Background checks will also be conducted when required by law or contract and when, in the discretion of the University, it is reasonable and prudent to do so.
Salary : $56,000 - $61,000
