Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Plant Ecology and Climate Change The Bellemare Lab in the Department of Biological Sciences at Smith College invites applications for a postdoctoral fellowship in plant ecology and climate change research for a new federally funded project through SERDP. The fellowship is full-time and offers highly competitive salary and benefits. Anticipated start date is June 1, 2015, but may be negotiable; the appointment is expected to be for three years, contingent on anticipated funding.
Candidates must have strong plant identification skills, prior field research experience, and a valid driver's license. Ph.D. in plant ecology, botany, or related field is required by time of appointment. Under the supervision of project Co-PI Dr. Jesse Bellemare (http://www.smith.edu/biology/faculty_bellemare.php), the postdoctoral fellow will play a major role in a multi-year effort investigating plant speciesÂ’ horticultural distributions and cases of intra- continental naturalization to gain insight into speciesÂ’ tolerances of novel climatic conditions beyond their native ranges. These data will be used to develop a new generation of distribution models to better understand speciesÂ’ fundamental ecological niches, predict likely responses to climate change, and inform conservation strategies for endangered plant species. The postdoc will coordinate a large-scale field effort to document populations of continental U.S. native plants that have naturalized beyond their native range boundaries; connect with major herbaria and regional botanists to assemble information on potential naturalization sites; conduct multi-week field campaigns to locate and survey naturalized plant populations in multiple regions of the U.S.; coordinate and oversee undergraduate research students and/or a volunteer citizen science effort to augment field surveys; provide assistance with database management and quantitative analyses; and actively collaborate with research partners in the lab of project Co-PI Dr. Dov Sax at Brown University. Located in Northampton, MA, Smith College is the largest women's college in the country and is dedicated to excellence in teaching and research across the liberal arts. Related resources include the Departments of Biological Sciences and Biochemistry, the Program in Environmental Science & Policy, the Concentration in Climate Change, the Botanic Gardens, and the MacLeish Field Station. The Five College Consortium, comprised of Smith, Amherst, Mount Holyoke, and Hampshire Colleges and the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, provides a rich intellectual and cultural life and broad collegial opportunities. Submit application at http://smithcollege.hiretouch.com with a cover letter, CV, and names of three potential references. Review of applications will begin May 8, 2015. Smith College is an EO/AA/Vet/Disability Employer
