OEB Employment

Postdoctoral Researcher – Measurements and modeling of forest-atmosphere CO2 exchange

Duties and Responsibilities:
As part of the Richardson Lab, the Postdoctoral Researcher will participate in a variety of ongoing research projects in New England. The successful applicant, who will be based in Cambridge, will join a productive research team that includes colleagues from Harvard University, the USDA Forest Service, the University of New Hampshire, the University of Maine, and the Woods Hole Research Center. Current projects in the Lab include carbon cycling studies at the Howland Forest (Maine) and Bartlett Experimental Forest (New Hampshire) AmeriFlux sites, related work at the Harvard Forest (Massachusetts), and a webcam-based network (“PhenoCam”) to study the phenology of forest trees across the northeastern US and adjacent Canada.

Specific duties of the Postdoctoral Researcher will include modeling and analysis of long-term eddy covariance measurements of forest-atmosphere CO2 exchange, and integration of these and ancillary ecological measurements with a forest C model using data-model fusion techniques. Periodic field trips to research sites within New England will be expected throughout the year.

The position is partially funded by grants from the Department of Energy’s Terrestrial Carbon Processes (TCP) program, and the Northeastern Regional Center of DOE’s National Institute for Climate Change Research.

Basic Qualifications:
A Ph.D. in biometeorology, ecology (preferred sub-field: ecological modeling or physiological ecology), forest science, atmospheric sciences, or a related field, is required. Applicants should be enthusiastic, creative, and highly motivated; excellent communication skills, and a strong publication record are expected. Applicants must also possess strong quantitative and analytical skills, knowledge of at least one programming language, and some experience working with large data sets (e.g., eddy flux or remote sensing data).

Additional Qualifications:
Previous experience with inverse modeling (“data-model fusion”, “data assimilation”, “parameter estimation”, etc.) is desirable but not essential if quantitative skills are otherwise excellent. Familiarity with field instruments (meteorological and ecophysiological) would be beneficial. Must possess (or promptly obtain) a valid US driver’s license, and must be able to lift and carry equipment and tools.

Additional Information:
A 12-month commitment is expected; pending satisfactory performance and availability of funding, the position may be renewed for a second year.

Information about Harvard’s Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology can be found at: http://www.oeb.harvard.edu/

Please submit applications (including cover letter, CV, and the names and contact information for three references) via email (with the subject line “APPLICATION FOR POSTDOCTORAL POSITION”) to: Professor Andrew D. Richardson, arichardson@oeb.harvard.edu. Applications must be received by October 15, 2009, to receive full consideration.

Harvard University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.