Impacts of climate on vegetation survival and mortality in Southwestern United States.
A postdoctoral fellowship is available within the Earth and Environmental Sciences Division at Los Alamos National Laboratory to develop and apply a plant hydraulic and carbon metabolism model for simulation of vegetation physiology, survival and mortality across regional landscapes. The successful applicant will work within an interdisciplinary team focused on explaining patterns of vegetation survival and mortality in response to climate variability and on linking vegetation models with downscaled climate models for improved simulation of regional climate change. This project includes field, laboratory and model-based research on plant water relations, carbon balance and stable isotopes of carbon and water. The postdoc will work within LANL’s Ecohydrology group and will work closely with LANL’s Climate Modeling group in Theoretical Division, the University of New Mexico (Prof. Will Pockman) and the University of Utah (Prof. John Sperry). Results from this work will be of value to fundamental understanding of plant biology and climate as well as for application to climate change simulations. Required skills include experience using numerical simulation models, demonstrated ability to publish peer-reviewed papers, effective written and oral communication skills, willingness to work in a team environment, and a Ph.D. pending or received within the last five years. Desired skills include knowledge of physiological or ecosystem ecology. Candidates may be considered for the prestigious Director's, Oppenheimer, Feynman or Reines Fellowships. For more information please contact Nate McDowell ([EMAIL PROTECTED], http://climateresearch.lanl.gov/) or Todd Ringler ([EMAIL PROTECTED], http://public.lanl.gov/ringler/ringler.html). To be considered for the position please send a resume and short statement of your future research goals to Dr.’s McDowell and Ringler.
