Postdoctoral Research Associate in Arctic Ecology and Climate Change The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign invites applications for a full-time postdoctoral research associate for newly funded research on shrub functional traits and belowground carbon cycling in the Alaskan tundra. The successful candidate will work with Drs. Jennifer Fraterrigo and Feng Sheng Hu at the University of Illinois as part of a collaborative effort with research partners Drs. Ken Tape and Eugenie Euskirchen at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks. Responsibilities will include field data collection to characterize plant traits and belowground carbon cycling, sample and data analysis, and writing scientific publications for submission to peer-reviewed journals. The successful candidate will be encouraged to pursue new research directions, and will help manage the lab and interact with graduate and undergraduate students. The initial term of appointment is one year, renewable for one additional year contingent upon satisfactory progress. Salary is competitive and commensurate with previous experience. The expected start date is January 1, 2017.
Required: PhD in ecology, environmental science or a closely related field within the past 5 years; field research experience measuring plant traits (preferably for arctic vegetation) and soil carbon cycling; experience with statistical analysis using the R programming language; strong publication record. Desired: Experience with hierarchical modeling in a Bayesian framework; strong communication skills that allow for working effectively as a member of a spatially distributed collaborative research team. Candidates should email (in a single PDF file) a cover letter, CV, statement of research interests and accomplishments, and the names and contact information (including email addresses) for three references to Dr. Jennifer Fraterrigo (j...@illinois.edu). Please indicate 'Arctic Postdoc' in the subject line. Inquires should also be directed to Dr. Fraterrigo. Review of applications will begin July 18th, 2016, and continue until the position is filled.