Earth System Science Postdoc

Lawrence Berkeley National Lab's (LBNL) Climate & Ecosystems Division has an opening for a Earth System Science Postdoc to join the team. In this exciting role, you will focus on understanding how structurally and functionally diverse temperate forests respond to fires and other disturbances, using remote sensing and terrestrial biosphere models.

You will join a large dynamic interdisciplinary department that is making climate and carbon cycle observations and developing and applying ecosystem, atmospheric process, and climate models. LBNL is a renowned center of expertise in many areas of climate and ecosystem-related fundamental and applied science.

What You Will Do:

• Implement a remote-sensing based initialization of forest structure and forest functional diversity for the Functionally Assembled Terrestrial Ecosystem Simulator (FATES), a new demographic vegetation model. This implementation will use existing airborne lidar and airborne imaging spectroscopy data for temperate forests in California.
• Develop lidar simulators and implement hyperspectral canopy radiation transfer models to FATES outputs, to benchmark predictions of structural and functional diversity of forest ecosystems.
• Analyze and interpret forest ecology and ecosystem process datasets and model outputs.
• Lead and contribute to peer-reviewed scientific articles, and present findings at seminars and conferences.
• Collaborate with other members of the project research team both internal and external to Berkeley Lab and develop new collaborations as appropriate to further the scientific goals of the program.

Additional Responsibilities as needed:

• Along with senior project team members, may mentor undergraduate and graduate students and visitors.

What is Required:

• Ph.D. (or equivalent) in Remote Sensing, Ecology, Data Science, Forestry, Earth System Science or related discipline.
• Expertise in analysis of large remote sensing data sets applied to forest ecology or ecosystem process studies.
• Strong background in high-performance computing environments and coding experience with R and/or Python.
• Strong oral and written communication skills including demonstrated technical writing capabilities to efficiently organize scientific findings for publication and presentation
• Experience with open-source collaboration platforms such as GitHub.
• Ability to conduct research independently while maintaining and developing collaborations within an interdisciplinary and diverse team.

Desired Qualifications:

• Background in machine-learning techniques for large data sets.
• Research experience in forest ecosystems, particularly those impacted by fires.
• Experience with application and interpretation of results of terrestrial biosphere models.
• Familiarity with ecological theory and observational approaches.
• Familiarity with the Fortran programming language in use by Earth system modelers.

For full consideration, please apply by July 26, 2022.

Notes:

• This is a full-time, 1 year, postdoctoral appointment with the possibility of renewal based upon satisfactory job performance, continuing availability of funds and ongoing operational needs. You must have less than 4 years of paid postdoctoral experience. Salary for Postdoctoral positions depends on years of experience post-degree.
• This position is represented by a union for collective bargaining purposes.
• Salary will be predetermined based on postdoctoral step rates.
• This position may be subject to a background check. Any convictions will be evaluated to determine if they directly relate to the responsibilities and requirements of the position. Having a conviction history will not automatically disqualify an applicant from being considered for employment.
• Work will be primarily performed at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA.

Based on University of California Policy - SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) Vaccination Program and U.S Federal Government requirements, Berkeley Lab requires that all members of our community obtain the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as they are eligible. As a condition of employment at Berkeley Lab, all Covered Individuals must Participate in the COVID-19 Vaccination Program by providing proof that vaccination requirements have been met or submitting a request for Exception or Deferral. Visit covid.lbl.gov for more information.

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