Department: CAS Geography
Rank: Postdoctoral Scholar
Annual Basis: 12 Month

Review of Applications Begins

October 29, 2024; Position open until filled

Special Instructions to Applicants

Complete applications should include:
1. A current, updated resume;
2. A cover letter that discusses your qualifications along with identifying any transferable and
3. Names and contact information for three professional references.

Department Summary

The Geography Department is an instructional department within the College of Arts and Sciences that supports significant research activities in various types of geographic study. The Department of Geography has 27 Faculty, 125+ undergraduate majors, and 40+ graduate students.

Position Summary

The Terrestrial Ecosystem Ecology and Landscapes (TEEL) Lab at the University of Oregon is advertising for a post-doctoral researcher position with an anticipated duration of 16 months, to work under the direction of Dr. Melissa Lucash. In our lab, we use a variety of tools (e.g. big data, spatially explicit simulation modeling, field studies) to quantify vegetation, disturbances, and carbon and nitrogen cycling at large spatial scales. Our research is often translational using visualization as the bridge between researchers and managers, because we deem it important to conduct applied research that is useful for managers. We also thrive on collaboration, especially interdisciplinary collaboration across fields like computer science, immersive technology, philosophy, and anthropology. Overall, our research is guided by the belief in the importance of conducting research in a supportive community of learning.

The successful candidate will be a member of an interdisciplinary team of fire ecologists, plant ecologists, and spatial modelers at the University of Oregon (Melissa Lucash), Oregon State University (PI Lisa Ellsworth), University of Idaho (Eva Strand), and U.S. Department of Agriculture at Reno (Beth Newingham). The candidate will also work closely with colleagues at the U.S. Geological Survey and the Bureau of Land Management.

The postdoctoral researcher will help assess the longevity of fuel treatments (i.e. prescribed fire and mechanical mowing) to prevent the invasion of pinyon pine and juniper into sagebrush steppe, which provides critical habitat for greater sage-grouse and pygmy rabbit. The successful candidate will contribute to the modeling efforts to predict the longevity/durability of fuel treatments under climate change, synthesis of long-term data collected as part of the SageSTEP network (https://sagestep.org/), laboratory combustion experiments to understand how fuel moisture affects fire spread, and fieldwork for monitoring field sites primarily in Oregon, Idaho, and Nevada.

Minimum Requirements

• Ph.D. in forestry, environmental science, geography, or related field.

Professional Competencies

• Well-versed in quantitative methods, including R and GIS.
• Knowledge of terrestrial ecosystems and disturbance regimes.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with process-based models.
• Knowledge of shrub or chaparral ecosystems.

All offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of a background check.

The University of Oregon is proud to offer a robust benefits package to eligible employees, including health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off. For more information about benefits, visit https://hr.uoregon.edu/about-benefits.

The University of Oregon is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution committed to cultural diversity and compliance with the ADA. The University encourages all qualified individuals to apply and does not discriminate on the basis of any protected status, including veteran and disability status. The University is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. To request an accommodation in connection with the application process, please contact us at uocareers@uoregon.edu or 541-346-5112.

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