Postdoctoral Fellow II

Overview

The Postdoctoral Fellow II will join a multi-institution NSF project focused on predicting the effects of climate change and variability on population dynamics of the invasive annual grass Bromus tectorum across western North America (https://bromecast.wixsite.com/home). Our goal is to determine the relative value of data on genetic variability, physiological tolerances, demographic rates, and interspecific interactions for ecological forecasting at the regional scale. The project combines genetic sequencing with four intensive common garden experiments and over forty less intensive distributed experiments. This position, in Peter Adler's lab at Utah State University (https://qcnr.usu.edu/labs/adler_lab/), will lead synthetic data analyses and modeling studies based on all these different data sources. The successful applicant will work closely with Megan Vahsen (https://mvahsen.weebly.com/), Mevin Hooten (https://mhooten.github.io/) and Jesse Lasky (http://www.personal.psu.edu/jrl35/psu/index_JRL.html) and their respective post-docs. The position is funded for one year, with extension to two years contingent on success. The salary will be $55,000 and the position begins January 1, 2025. This posting will remain open until filled. Application screening begins on September 1st.

Responsibilities

The position is 100% research. The post-doc will assist with data collection and sample processing, lead data analyses, build statistical and simulation models, prepare and submit manuscripts to peer-reviewed journals, and present research at national and international meetings. The post-doc will also have the option to participate in outreach activities.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• PhD in ecology, biology, statistics, or related field
• A record of publication in peer-reviewed journals
• Demonstrated skills in scientific computing
• Data analysis experience, specifically fitting dynamic models to empirical data

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience programming in R
• Experience with both frequentist and Bayesian statistics
• Background in plant ecology

Required Documents

Along with the online application, please attach:

Resume/CV to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under “Resume/CV"

Name and contact information for 3 professional references to be entered into Candidate Profile

Cover letter to be typed/pasted at the end of your application

Research Statement to be typed/pasted at the end of your application

**Document size may not exceed 10 MB.**

Advertised Salary

$55,000, plus excellent benefits

ADA

Employees work indoors and are protected from weather and/or contaminants, but not, necessarily, occasional temperature changes. The employee is regularly required to sit and often uses repetitive hand motions.

College/Department Highlights

Utah State University is Utah's land-grant university with its main campus located in Logan, which offers the amenities of a college town within the Cache Valley metropolitan zone of 115,000 people. Cache Valley is a 90-minute freeway drive north of Salt Lake City and its international airport. Positioned along the scenic Wasatch Mountains and Bear River Range, the region offers a bonanza of outdoor activities within minutes of campus and is within a day's drive of eight national parks, numerous national monuments, and vast areas of publicly-owned rangeland and forest.As an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer, USU is dedicated to recruiting stellar candidates from a diverse pool, including women, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities. Post-docs at USU receive outstanding medical, retirement, and professional benefits.Further information:Ecology Center: https://ecology.usu.edu/Department of Wildland Resources: http://qcnr.usu.edu/wild//Logan and Cache Valley: http://www.tourcachevalley.com/Direct queries to Peter Adler, at peter.adler@usu.edu.

University Highlights

Founded in 1888, Utah State University is Utah’s premier land-grant, public service university, with a strong commitment to excellence, access, and inclusion, empowering people to lead successful lives of involvement, innovation, and impact. Utah State provides high-quality education to 27,500-plus students locations throughout the state, including at three residential campuses, eight statewide campuses, and 23 education centers. USU Online educates students from all 50 states and 55 countries. For over 25 years, USU Extension has served and engaged Utahns in all of Utah’s counties. As an R1 research institution, Utah State is dedicated to advancing knowledge through research and scholarly activities, providing a high-quality undergraduate and graduate education at an affor