Postdoc fellowship to study vegetation-insect dynamics Summary: A postdoc position is available starting spring 2016 in support of a collaborative research project between the Earth and Environmental Sciences Division at Los Alamos National Laboratory and the Department of Entomology at the University of Minnesota. The collaborative project entails studying vegetation-insect dynamics under a warming climate scenario through the implementation of a dynamic insect population module coupled with an existing vegetation vulnerability module in the Department of Energy (DOE) sponsored Earth System Model. The postdoc will also collaborate closely with scientists from National Center of Atmospheric Research (NCAR), Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBL) and Oakridge National Laboratory (ORNL) for the model development. The postdoc will be based at Los Alamos National Lab working with Drs. Chonggang Xu and Nathan McDowell, but will visit the forest entomology laboratory of Dr. Brian Aukema (University of Minnesota) for at least 2-3 weeks per year. Support is available for two years, with a potential third year extension pending successful project progress. Interested candidates are invited to submit their c.v., a paragraph outlining their research interest(s), and the names of three references. We will start the review early January 2016 but the search will continue until a suitable candidate is found. Please address your questions to Drs. Xu and Aukema; c...@lanl.gov and bhauk...@umn.edu.
Required skills include experience using numerical simulation models and demonstrated ability to publish peer-reviewed papers, effective written and oral communication skills, willingness to work in a team environment, and a Ph.D. received within the last five years. Desired skills include knowledge of entomology, ecology, and/or tree physiology and demonstrated proficiency and comfort in programming (e.g., C, R, operating in a Linux environment). Familiarity with Earth System Models is a plus. The salary range is $73,000- $87,000 per year based on experience. Candidates may be considered for a Laboratory Director's Fellowship and outstanding candidates may be considered for the prestigious J. Robert Oppenheimer, Richard P. Feynman or Frederick Reines Fellowships. For general information about LANL’s postdoctoral program please refer to the http://www.lanl.gov/careers/career-options/postdoctoral-research/postdoc-program/index.php. Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is a multidisciplinary research institution engaged in strategic science on behalf of national security. LANL enhances national security by ensuring the safety and reliability of the U.S. nuclear stockpile, developing technologies to reduce threats from weapons of mass destruction, and solving problems related to energy, environment, infrastructure, health, and global security concerns. Amongst these concerns is climate change impacts and the DOE mission to help project future climate by improving DOE-sponsored Accelerated Climate Modeling for Energy (ACME). Located in northern New Mexico, LANL sits at 7,200' in the Southern Rocky Mountains. The town is an outdoor enthusiast’s paradise with more than 300 days of sunshine per year during our four distinct seasons. Only thirty miles away, Santa Fe includes a wide array of cultural activities, including a wonderful outdoor opera house, world-class museum and art galleries and a great selection of fine restaurants. The Department of Entomology at the University of Minnesota is ranked in the top ten of graduate programs in insect science annually. The Twin Cities offer all the amenities of a large metropolitan city - restaurants, sports, the arts, culture - yet the Department's location on the St. Paul campus provides a small-town feel. Off campus, there are a wealth of outdoor recreational opportunities at state parks and more throughout the upper midwest.
