WOODS HOLE RESEARCH CENTER
Postdoctoral Researcher Position
Siberian Primary Boreal Forests - Job #BRPD18
SUMMARY: Woods Hole Research Center seeks a post-doctoral researcher to
co-lead an investigation into Russia’s primary forests. The successful
candidate will work closely with the lead scientist and collaborators to
assess the impact of land use, wildfires, and other disturbances on the
spatial distribution, carbon cycling, and ecosystem services of primary
boreal forests in Siberia, as well as provide policy recommendations for
relevant national and international arenas. The position requires advanced
geospatial modeling skills, knowledge of forest disturbance dynamics, and
ability to lead a collaborative research project. The successful candidate
will join a team of researchers working across the boreal-arctic zone at a
variety of scales.
Responsibilities:
• Analyze the loss of primary boreal forests in Siberia by
integrating field observations, remote sensing, and other geospatial data
sets using a number of approaches.
• Conduct a full spatial carbon accounting of primary forest
conversion and degradation due to wildfires, logging, infrastructure
development, resource extraction, and other land use change.
• Working with project collaborators, produce updated primary forest
maps for Siberia and other boreal regions, assess ecosystem services from
Siberian primary forests, and provide policy recommendations related to
their preservation value.
• Work in a highly collaborative environment to analyze, synthesize,
present, and publish results.
Qualifications and Experience:
• Ph.D. (granted or expected soon) in Environmental Sciences,
Geography, Forestry, Earth System Science, Ecology, or a related
discipline.
• Experience with manipulating large geospatial data sets and
statistical modeling.
• Knowledge of boreal ecosystem science, disturbance dynamics, and
carbon cycling.
• Ability to think and work across disciplines and scales.
• Excellent interpersonal, teamwork, written and verbal
communication skills.
• Knowledge of ecosystem service frameworks, international climate
change policy, and Russian sociopolitical dynamics is preferred.
• Proficiency in Russian language is desirable but not required.
Desired Start Date: September 2018
Salary Range: $51,000 to $56,000, with very generous benefits package.
Appointment: This is a two-year appointment, with the possibility of
extension based on funding and performance.
Application Deadline: June 29, 2018 or until filled
Application Instructions: To apply, please send cover letter referencing
“Post-Doctoral Researcher Job # BRPD18”, curriculum vitae, and contact
information for three references to jobopeni...@whrc.org. Please type
“BRPD18” in the subject line.
The Woods Hole Research Center is an independent, nonprofit institute
focused on environmental science, education, and public policy. The WHRC
focuses on combining analysis of satellite images of the Earth with field
studies and computer models to better understand changes in the world’s
ecosystems, from the thawing permafrost in the Arctic to the expanding
agriculture regions of the tropics.
