POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP ON GLOBAL CHANGE AND FOREST DYNAMICS AT COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY.
A postdoctoral position is available at Colorado State University to work with a team of plant ecologists global change and forest dynamics. The successful candidate will join a diverse team of investigators that work in the Northeastern U.S., the Rocky Mountain West, and the Neotropics. The postdoc is based in Fort Collins, Colorado, with the lead investigator, Dr. Patrick Martin, but will offer collaboration opportunities with all project investigators. The position has two years of guaranteed funding, with an additional year possible. The start date is flexible, but preferred ASAP and before January 1st, 2009. Depending on the interests and strengths of the fellow, the postdoc will focus on interactions between global change and forest dynamics in one of three projects: 1. Forest response to climate change in the Rocky Mountains. 2. Historic and future landscape forest dynamics in subtropical montane forests. 3. Invasive species and forest dynamics. Each project is thematically and methodologically linked, with a focus on generating useful predictions of forest dynamics in the face of global change. The research will focus on modelling of species distribution and abundance responses to climate change. The results of field research will be integrated in a spatially-explicit, individual-based dynamic forest simulator (SORTIE-ND; http://www.sortie-nd.org), where scenarios of climate change, range expansion/contraction, competitive interactions, and disturbance-climate dynamics (esp. fire) will be explored. A hallmark of this research and SORTIE is the express linkage between field research and modeling, and the development and use of novel approaches to data analysis based on likelihood methods and information theory. Field work to gather data to parameterized models and conduct companion studies is required. Qualifications and skills. We seek candidates with proficiency in at least some of the following areas: * Spatial/GIS/Remote Sensing techniques for analyzing ecological data. * Interest and experience using quantitative models of forest dynamics (e.g. SORTIE). * Statistical, quantitative, and programming skills (R, S-plus, etc.). Areas include maximum likelihood analysis, experimental design, general linear models, multivariate analysis, structural equation modeling, and/or simulations (Monte Carlo, etc.). * Knowledge of the relevant flora: Northeastern USA, Rocky Mtns, and/or neotropical montane flora. * Excellent writing and communication skills. * Experience supervising students and/or technical staff. Requirements. A Ph.D. in plant ecology, ecological modeling or related field, completed before the start date. Research experience in forests is essential, ideally focused on forest dynamics and/or natural disturbances. Proficiency in Spanish is a must for those with interests in tropical forests. Review of applications will begin immediately and until the position is filled. Application materials. Email an electronic application package including (1) a full CV, (2) PDFs of relevant publications, (3) a cover letter addressing your research interests, qualifications relevant to the position, and which of our three project areas most interests you and why, and (4) the names and contact information of 3 references. Please send application materials or requests for further information to: Dr. Patrick H. Martin Colorado State University [EMAIL PROTECTED]
