Postdoctoral Research Associate I

The ideal candidate will bring their unique background and scientific expertise to the collaborative partnership. The Postdoctoral Scientist will spearhead the development, execution, and dissemination of the funded project, with strong support from Dr. Aaron Lien, Dr. Kris Hulvey, Dr. Megan Nasto, seasonal field crews, and project collaborators.

The scientists and staff at UArizona and WLC are passionate about rangelands of the western U.S. and the rural communities that rely on them. We are equally passionate about building strong, respectful relationships with project partners based on trust and communication. The ideal Postdoctoral Scientists shares these passions, values, and goals.

We are looking for a Postdoctoral Scientist that wants to make a difference to the management of local landscapes while also building knowledge that can have a broader impact. The place-based research of UArizona and WLC will directly influence local rangeland management, including grazing decisions that support local systems and producer needs.

This position is eligible to work from Utah or Arizona.

Outstanding UA benefits include health, dental, vision, and life insurance; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; UA/ASU/NAU tuition reduction for the employee and qualified family members; access to UA 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 click here .

THE PROJECT:
The overall objective of this project is to provide the NRCS with quantitative data on the carbon sequestration and other ecosystem service benefits of riparian restoration practices on semi-arid rangelands. The post-doc selected for this position will plan and implement a research project to measure change in soil carbon storage in restored riparian areas.

Outcomes of the work include data that allows NRCS to take carbon sequestration and climate adaptation benefits into account when assessing the impacts of conservation practices and selecting practices for funding. Riparian areas provide significant ecosystem services such as wildlife habitat, water quality and quantity, and carbon sequestration at higher rates than surrounding uplands. They are also critical areas for management, with the potential to provide important water and forage resources to agricultural producers, even in times of drought. On western and central U.S. rangelands, riparian areas are also widely degraded, providing a significant opportunity for restoration and management.

Position Duties:

• Develop and execute a research plan to estimate the soil carbon sequestration benefits of riparian restoration.
• Select and develop a deep social and biological understanding of research sites and maintain relationships with project partners.
• Design and implement a sampling strategy, including hiring seasonal field crews and processing and analyzing soil samples.
• Conduct statistical analyses and write research updates/reports and peer-reviewed scientific papers with project partners.
• Present research results to in public and private meetings with project partners, and professional meetings, and to other stakeholders.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to spend long days in extreme field conditions including cold, heat, and bugs.
• Ability to work independently with proficiency in prioritizing responsibilities, time-management, and organization.
• Ability to work safely in a remote location.
• Proficiency with statistical analysis of ecological data, preferably in R.
• Proficiency in ArcGIS or QGIS.

• Ph.D. completed by January 1, 2024, in any one of the following: ecology, plant biology, soil science, restoration ecology, conservation ecology, rangeland science, biogeochemistry, ecosystem ecology, or any other related science-based field.

• Experience and success in writing peer-reviewed scientific manuscripts.
• Experience presenting research at stakeholder meetings, workshops, and conferences.
• Strong interpersonal skills including experience working with multiple stakeholder groups including producers, state and Federal agencies, and academic scientists.
• Experience living and working in a remote location with a field crew.