Postdoctoral Fellowship in Forest Ecology / Fire Ecology – Temple University (Philadelphia)
Summary of Position A postdoctoral fellowship is available in the Sewall Lab in the Department of Biology at Temple University. The postdoctoral fellow will investigate the effects of prescribed fires and other forest management efforts on a target forest community in south-central Pennsylvania. Primary objectives include research to understand the effects of prescribed fires, thinning, and other management efforts on (1) forest communities, (2) wildfire risk, and (3) tree growth rates. Research is focused on both the development of manuscripts for publication and clear communication of results to collaborating forest managers via reports, presentations, and informal consultations. The position will primarily focus on analysis of a rich set of existing data available from the field site, but some field work is also possible. The postdoctoral fellow will also be expected to develop and train collaborating professional foresters in effective and feasible protocols for forest and fire monitoring. Opportunities will also exist to collaborate on ongoing applied research on bats, butterflies, and forest and grassland ecosystems that is being conducted at the same site. Work will be based in the Sewall Lab (https://sites.temple.edu/bjsewall/opportunities/) at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (USA), with regular visits to the field site at Fort Indiantown Gap National Guard Training Center (http://ftig.png.pa.gov/Pages/default.aspx), a 17,100-acre area of working landscapes, native eastern deciduous forest, and rare remnant Pennsylvania grasslands. This site is 100 miles northwest of Philadelphia and 22 miles northeast of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Required Qualifications - Ph.D. in Forest Ecology, Fire Ecology, Forestry, or related field; - Expertise in statistical analysis of forest data or fire data; - Expertise in sampling designs in forestry or ecological research; - Strong understanding of forestry data collection techniques and the ability to clearly interpret forestry data; - Previous field experience in forestry, forest ecology, or fire ecology; - Expertise in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) analyses; - Excellent communication skills; - Ability to train professional foresters in protocols for forest and fire monitoring; - Ability to interact in a consistently positive manner and to foster positive relationships with foresters, academic researchers, students, and military personnel; - Have or able to obtain a valid driver’s license Preferred Qualifications - Previous training in Forestry from a program accredited by the Society of American Foresters - Experience working on a prescribed fire or wildfire crew - Experience working on a military installation - Experience mentoring students in research Terms of Employment - Start date: October 1, 2017 or later (start date is flexible) - Duration: One year, with extension depending on funding availability - Compensation: $47,484 per year salary or higher, depending on experience – for more details, see http://www.temple.edu/grad/pfo/ How to Apply - Send a cover letter that describes your qualifications for the position, your CV, and a list of contact information of three references via email to Dr. Brent Sewall at [email protected] - Please put “Forest Ecology Postdoctoral Fellow” in the subject line of the email - Optional: please provide pdfs of your publications relevant to this position - Position will remain open until filled
