Portland State University & The Nature Conservancy Natural Climate Solutions Postdoctoral Research Fellowship
The Department of Environmental Science and Management and the Department of Geography at Portland State University (PSU) are seeking a postdoctoral research associate to work in partnership with The Nature Conservancy's (TNC) Oregon Chapter to assist in developing the science foundation for conservation strategies that enhance nature's role in mitigating and adapting to the impacts of climate change within the Pacific Northwest. The overall vision of the position is inspired in translational ecology (Schlesinger 2010; Enquist et al. 2017) with the goal of supporting the development of land management strategies that reduce GHG emissions and increase sequestration for natural and working lands while simultaneously providing strong conservation and broad societal co-benefits. The postdoctoral research associate will work with PSU faculty in both departments and TNC staff to (1) develop protocols and conduct research related to the following objective and (2) communicate results through peer-reviewed journal articles, conference presentations, and potentially briefings with government and elected officials: Research Objective: The postdoctoral research associate will extend the work of Cameron et al. (2017) and build on existing TNC science. The first project will be to conduct a meta-analysis of existing literature and datasets to identify the potential for various natural climate solution "pathways" to contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and/or increased carbon sequestration in the Pacific Northwest. Natural climate solutions pathways may include but are not limited to avoided conversion of natural lands, ecological restoration, improved forest management, reforestation, and other related conservation actions. The natural climate solutions pathways analysis may also address the contribution of different pathways to reducing greenhouse gas emissions (and/or increasing carbon sequestration) under various social, economic, or policy scenarios, as well as the projected impacts of climate change on these pathways (via altered physical and biological processes). The Department of Environmental Science and Management and the Department of Geography are two departments within PSU's School of the Environment. Both departments maintain an interdisciplinary focus on developing sustainable ecosystems and human communities, with faculty and researchers spanning the social, biological, and physical sciences. The postdoctoral researcher will have opportunities to mentor graduate and undergraduate students in the co-PIs respective units and research labs and participate in the multiple ongoing research clusters across the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. PSU has over 27,000 students (including nearly 6,000 graduate students) and 124 post-graduate programs hosted in eight schools and colleges. PSU's main urban campus is located in vibrant downtown Portland, just an hour's drive from the Pacific Coast, the Cascade Mountains, and the Columbia River Gorge. PSU's location gives faculty, postdocs, and students easy access to a range of community and agency (from the city through the federal level) partners, a diversity of cultural experiences, award-winning public transportation, a strong biking culture, and a network of urban trails and natural areas. TNC is the world's largest conservation nongovernmental organization, striving to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends. The research associate will work as part of the Conservancy's Oregon science team and will have opportunities to connect and network with Conservancy scientists across the globe. The postdoctoral fellow will also be expected to apply for the TNC NatureNet grant program<https://naturenetsciencefellows.org/> (https://naturenetsciencefellows.org/), which will provide additional research funding and further expand training and mentorship opportunities. Start date: by September 30, 2018 Term: The initial appointment is for 1-year (1.00 FTE); funding exists for a 1-year renewal based on performance. Salary: $57,000 (+ benefits) Requirements: Candidate for the position must have a PhD in natural resource management, environmental science, geography, ecology, forestry, or a related discipline * Demonstrated scientific writing and communication skills (required) * Experience with quantitative data analysis (R, Python, Matlab, or other programming language) * Demonstrated interdisciplinary experience Preferred Qualifications: * Prior experience/ training in climate-human-ecosystem interactions to impact management and decision making from local to global scales. * Prior experience/ training in the co-generation of knowledge with stakeholders in need of management solutions. * Experience with theory integration and/ or analysis of large data sets. * Experience facilitating small to medium sized meetings with faculty and partners. Questions: Dr. Max Nielsen-Pincus ([email protected]), Dr. Andrés Holz ([email protected]), or Dr. Ryan Haugo ([email protected]). To apply: Please submit your application to the Portland State University employment website at https://jobs.hrc.pdx.edu/postings/27202/<https://jobs.hrc.pdx.edu/>. The following materials will be required for your application: * Cover letter describing your scholarly interest and relevant experience * 2-page draft research proposal for the NatureNet postdoctoral research grant program, see: naturenetsciencefellows.org. * Curriculum vitae * Writing sample of 1 or more relevant publications * 3 references (including, name, phone number, email, and relationship) Applications review will begin on August 6. Reference Cameron, D.R., Marvin, D.C., Remucal, J.M. & Passero, M.C. 2017. Ecosystem management and land conservation can substantially contribute to California's climate mitigation goals. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science of the United States of America 114:12833-12838. Enquist, C. A., S. T. Jackson, G. M. Garfin, F. W. Davis, L. R. Gerber, J. A. Littell, J. L. Tank, A. J. Terando, T. U. Wall, B. Halpern, et al. 2017. Foundations of translational ecology. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 15:541-550. Schlesinger, W. H. 2010. Translational Ecology. Science 329:609-609.
