Postdoctoral Scholar–Dryland Soil Nitrogen Cycling and Ecosystem Ecology Center for Conservation Biology, University of California at Riverside
We are seeking a Postdoctoral Scholar to investigate dynamics and controls on soil N trace gas emissions and cycling in southern California drylands. The researcher will work on two projects: 1) a network of wetting experiments distributed across a nitrogen deposition gradient from Los Angeles to the eastern edge of Joshua Tree National Park and 2) a recently initiated seasonal rainfall manipulation in a 30-year post-fire Pinyon Juniper woodland. Research activities will include substantial field work and opportunities for integrating field data with process models. Instruments available for the project include field-deployable automated soil chambers and several fast-response analyzers: NO, N2O isotopomers, δ13C-CO2, δ13C-CH4, NH3, and water isotopes. Collaborative opportunities are encouraged to integrate field work with soil molecular biology, atmospheric modeling, isotope geochemistry, remote sensing, and/or eddy covariance approaches. Development of individual research activities and collaborations with others is encouraged. Candidates will need excellent preparation in field ecosystem ecology, ecohydrology, biogeochemistry, or soil science. Candidates with experience using or collaborating with environmental sensing techniques, remote and in-situ data integration, or land surface modeling approaches are encouraged to apply. The position is based at the University of California, Riverside (UCR), in both the labs of Pete Homyak (https://envisci.ucr.edu/faculty/homyak.html) and Darrel Jenerette (http://plantbiology.ucr.edu/people/faculty/jenerette.html). The successful candidate will provide leadership to the research team, which includes graduate and undergraduate students, technicians, postdocs, and other faculty. Riverside is an excellent location for ecosystem research featuring large gradients resulting from maritime effects, elevation, and human development. UCR provides valuable training opportunities—in addition to opportunities with both lab groups, UCR has a vibrant postdoctoral association and broader community that values diversity. Salary and benefits are competitive and based on experience. The position will be offered as an annual contract with an expectation the position will be renewed for two years. Applications should be sent as a single PDF containing cover letter with qualifications and research interests, CV, and contact information for three references to either Pete Homyak (phom...@ucr.edu) or Darrel Jenerette (darrel.jenere...@ucr.edu). Initial review of candidates will begin Nov 1, 2018 with a start date on or following January 2, 2019. We encourage applications from participants with backgrounds underrepresented in higher education. The University of California is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer with a strong institutional commitment to the achievement of excellence and diversity among its faculty and staff. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. UCR is a world-class research university with an exceptionally diverse undergraduate student body. Its mission is explicitly linked to providing routes to educational success for underrepresented and first generation college students. The campus is located within one hour of downtown Los Angeles, a city that provides world-class cultural opportunities. Riverside also provides easy access to numerous outdoor recreational areas, including forest, alpine, ocean, and desert environments.
