Postdoctoral Fellow in forest carbon dynamics
University of Florida, Gainesville, Department of Biology
Supervisor: Jeremy Lichstein
(http://biology.ufl.edu/People/faculty/jlichstein.aspx)
This project contributes to the development of a new individual-based
forest ecosystem dynamics model designed to study the response of
forests to climate change, natural disturbance, forest management,
and elevated CO2 in an Earth System modeling framework. The new
forest model will merge the Perfect Plasticity Approximation (PPA)
forest model (recently developed in Steve Pacala's lab at Princeton
University) with the NOAA Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory
(GFDL) LM3V land model, the terrestrial component of the GFDL Earth
System Model ESM2.1. This is a collaborative effort involving
partners at the University of Florida, Princeton University, and the
US Forest Service Northern Research Station.
The model is currently being developed for the coterminous US and
will provide a template for future global applications. Model
development includes implementing the PPA algorithm in LM3V,
organizing and analyzing data sets that could constrain processes in
the model across a range of spatial and temporal scales, and building
on existing algorithms for model-data synthesis. Key data sources
include the Ameriflux network of eddy covariance towers, forest
inventory data, and plant trait databases. The successful candidate
will work with collaborators to develop an overall work plan for the
research team, as well as identify key contributions to personally
implement and publish in peer-reviewed scientific journals. These
contributions could include, but are not limited to:
(1) Developing a prototype of the new forest model for a single US
forest type. This effort will provide a template for future
applications at broader geographic scales, and will address regional
questions related to the response of carbon cycling and forest
species composition to global change.
(2) Developing a high spatial resolution version of the existing LM3V
model for the US, which will facilitate deployment of the new forest
model at the US-scale. Important questions that can be addressed with
this intermediate product include the impact of historical
disturbances due to fire, insect outbreaks, and wind storms on the
carbon balance of US forests. USFS collaborators are actively
developing the relevant datasets on historical disturbance.
(3) Testing and improving the response of the PPA forest model to
natural disturbance and forest management across a range of US forest
types. This research program will further our understanding of how
disturbance affects the diversity and species composition of natural
and managed forests.
For a detailed description of the project, send an email to
[email protected] with subject FOREST POSTDOC INFO.
Qualifications:
PhD in ecology, forestry, plant physiology, geosciences, atmospheric
sciences, applied mathematics, or related field; strong quantitative
and writing skills. Preference will be given to applicants with (1)
research experience in forest ecology or the carbon cycle; and (2)
strong mathematical, statistical, and computational skills (i.e.,
proficiency with one or more scientific programming languages, such
as C, FORTRAN, or R). Applicants who lack these qualifications should
explain in a cover letter their motivation for transitioning to
forest ecosystem modeling research.
The preferred start data is September 2011, but there is some flexibility.
Appointment length: two years
Competitive salary and benefits are offered.
To Apply:
Email a single PDF including (1) 1-2 page statement of research
interests and goals; (2) CV; and (3) contact information for three
references to Jeremy Lichstein ([email protected]) with subject
FOREST POSTDOC APPLIC. Applications will be reviewed as they are
received, and the position will remain open until filled.
Minorities, women and members of other underrepresented groups are
encouraged to apply. The University of Florida is an equal
opportunity institution.
