Dear ECOLOG -
I have an opening for a postdoc in my lab group at Harvard University (Cambridge, Massachusetts). As described below, this is a great position for those interested in ecological applications of big data. The successful applicant will serve as a data scientist for the PhenoCam network, which uses networked digital cameras mounted at research sites across North America, and around the world, to track seasonal variation in canopy structure and physiological activity. The job is advertised here: https://academicpositions.harvard.edu/postings/7258 To apply go to: https://academicpositions.harvard.edu/postings/7258/pre_apply Please help me get the word out about this exciting postdoc opportunity! Best wishes Andrew Title: Postdoctoral Fellow, PhenoCam Project Data Scientist Overview: The Richardson Lab, in Harvard University’s Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, seeks a postdoctoral research associate to join the PhenoCam (http://phenocam.sr.unh.edu/<http://phenocam.sr.unh.edu/>) project team as a data scientist. The ideal applicant will be interested in ecological applications of big data, and will also have prior training in computer science and programming. PhenoCam uses networked digital cameras mounted at research sites across North America, and around the world, to track seasonal variation in canopy structure and physiological activity. The project team is led by PI Andrew Richardson, with Co-Is Mark Friedl (Boston University) and Steve Frolking (University of New Hampshire). Recent PhenoCam publications have appeared in journals such as Nature Climate Change, Biogeosciences, Remote Sensing of Environment, Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, and Ecological Applications. Duties and Responsibilities: As part of the Richardson Lab, the postdoctoral research associate will take a lead role in PhenoCam data curation, including performing QA/QC on archived image data and derived data products, monitoring data continuity, developing new tools and methods to improve the usefulness and quality of derived data products, and communicating with project collaborators. This is primarily a data analysis and data management position, but it is expected that the postdoctoral research associate will also conduct original research drawing on the vast PhenoCam image archive that has been already acquired (400 sites, 10 million images, 6 Tb of data). Qualifications: A Ph.D., preferably in a field related to ecology or plant physiology, is required, and training in computer science is expected. Applicants must possess very strong quantitative and analytical skills. Applicants must be able to demonstrate proficiency with *nix file management and scripting, and programming (preferably at least two of: C++, python, R, javascript, CSS + HTML5). Experience working with (and manipulating) large data sets is highly desirable, as is experience with system administration. Applicants who have developed publicly-available code (e.g. R package development, contributions to code repositories such as GitHub) should highlight these in their application. Experience with computer vision and image processing will be an asset. Applicants should be creative and highly motivated and enthusiastic about bringing cutting-edge data science approaches and methods to ecological questions. Applicants must be willing to work collaboratively on team projects. Additional Information: The position is supported by external funding, and thus specific tasks and duties must be completed, on schedule, by the postdoctoral research associate. A 12-month commitment is expected. Pending successful performance, the position may be renewed annually. The position is available immediately. A start date of January 1, 2017 is expected. Information about Harvard’s Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology can be found at: http://oeb.harvard.edu/. Information about the Richardson lab can be found at: http://richardsonlab.fas.harvard.edu/ Please email Professor Andrew D. Richardson, <arichard...@oeb.harvard.edu<mailto:arichard...@oeb.harvard.edu>> with any questions. Review of applications will begin on November 30, 2016 and will continue until a suitable candidate is identified. Harvard University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. ******************************************************************************* Andrew D. Richardson Harvard University Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology Harvard University Herbaria, 22 Divinity Avenue Cambridge, MA 02138
