Postdoctoral Research Associate, CAP, U.S. Geological Survey Climate Adaptation Science Centers

Description

The University of Montana is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate to join the 2025-2027 Future of Species Range Shifts cohort as part of the Climate Adaptation Postdoctoral (CAP) Fellows Program, hosted by the U.S. Geological Survey Climate Adaptation Science Centers. The successful applicant will conduct research related to species-specific assessments of climate connectivity and potential range shifts within the North Central and Rocky Mountain protected area network, as well as join eight other postdocs from around the country to conduct a national synthesis project related to species range shifts. The successful candidate will work with Dr. Solomon Dobrowski (University of Montana) and Dr. Sean Parks (US Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station) and will collaborate with an interdisciplinary research team.

This project will develop species-specific assessments of climate connectivity and potential range shifts for a suite of woody plant species within the North Central and Rocky Mountain protected area network. More specifically, we will use spatial climate analogs and Forest Inventory and Analysis data to 1) project potential climate induced range shifts in woody plant taxa for national parks, national forests, and the unprotected matrix of federal, state, and tribal lands between these areas; 2) evaluate climatic and non-climatic factors that may facilitate or impede successful range shifts; 3) provide our management partners with geospatial datasets on potential vegetation compositional shifts and factors that impede climate connectivity; and 4) provide decision support tools for interpreting these results.

The University of Montana is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and has a strong institutional commitment to the principle of diversity in all areas. In that spirit, we are particularly interested in receiving applications from a broad spectrum of qualified people who would assist the University in demonstrating its five priorities for action: Place student success at the center of all we do; drive excellence and innovation in teaching, learning, and research; embody the principle of “mission first, people always"; partner with place; and proudly tell the UM story.

 

Position Details

Title:  Postdoctoral Research Associate (appointment renewable for up to two (2) years)

Salary: $70,000 per year
Benefits: Medical Insurance/Mandatory Retirement Contribution/Professional Development/Partial Tuition Waiver/Wellness program.

 

About the Climate Adaptation Postdoctoral (CAP) Fellows Program

The U.S. Geological Survey Climate Adaptation Science Centers (CASCs) are building the next generation of science leaders through the Climate Adaptation Postdoctoral (CAP) Fellows Program. The CAP Fellows Program sponsors cohorts of post-doctoral researchers for two-years to conduct regional-to-national scale analyses of emerging climate research needs centered around one theme. The unifying theme for this cohort is the Future of Species Range Shifts. The program will include nine postdoctoral fellows distributed across the country, with one fellow based in each of the nine Regional CASCs. Each postdoctoral candidate will work with their PI(s) and associated leaders in the field to lead a regionally relevant project pertaining to the mechanisms and implications of climate-mediated range shifts.

Concurrently with the regional project, the Fellows will participate in an independent national-scale synthesis effort on the cohort’s unifying theme, the Future of Species Range Shifts, and gain valuable experience in collaborative research. While the national synthesis topic may relate to the regional research projects, it will typically address nationally pressing research questions related to the cohort topic; synthesize the state of the science on the cohort topic across all CASC regions; and advance our understanding of management-relevant applications of this information. Fellows will conduct