UToledo Careers

Title: Post Doctoral Associate

Department Org: Environmental Sciences - 101250

Employee Classification: P1 - Post Doctoral Assoc FT-MC

Bargaining Unit: Professional Staff Association

Primary Location: MC AC

Shift:  1

Posted Salary: Salary commensurable based on experience

Job Description:

The Department of Environmental Sciences, at the University of Toledo, OH seeks a post-doctoral fellow to study ecosystem-scale carbon and water fluxes and their drivers in coastal wetlands along a flooding and salinity gradient. Data is collected by three established flux tower sites located at the Plum Island Ecosystems LTER. A particular focus lies on partitioning ecosystem fluxes of carbon and water into their component fluxes to analyze their environmental controls using current and past data from the sites. Possible research questions include the impact of drought, varying salinity conditions and/or physiological controls (C3, C4 photosynthesis) on carbon and water fluxes. This position is part of a highly collaborative project, and the successful candidate will have the opportunity to help inform subsurface hydrological field measurements as well as laboratory experiments (e.g. rhizoboxes or mesocosm) conducted by collaborating groups. The anticipated start date for the position is August 1, 2024. Funds are available for 2 years with the possibility to extend this position for up to 2 years.

Coastal marshes are ideal systems to study the interaction of hydrology and (carbon) biogeochemistry. This project will contribute to advance mechanistic understanding of highly dynamic, coupled hydrology and biogeochemistry (plant and microbial processes) driving coastal marsh ecosystem function. Hydrologic processes (including transpiration) control transport, mixing, and availability of solutes in marsh platform soils. Biogeochemical transformations capitalize on the availability of these solutes. Continuous measurements as eddy covariance measurements are valuable tools to better quantify flux rates of water and carbon, determine their controlling factors and serve as benchmark for biogeochemical models.

This position is part of a cluster of projects funded by the Simons Foundation. The project, “Ecosystem on the Edge: How Coastal Marsh Plants and Microbes Thrive in an Oscillating Environment,” is led by the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) in collaboration with Northeastern University, University of Toledo, MIT, University of Lausanne, and University of Georgia, affording the successful candidate the opportunity for exciting and diverse collaborations.

This postdoc will be based at U. Toledo and will provide leadership on partitioning ecosystem-scale water fluxes into transpiration and evaporation as well as analyze drivers of carbon and water fluxes. Both information will inform experiments conducted by collaborators on the project. The candidate will also check, maintain, and archive data following Ameriflux (and similar) protocols, and work with the PIE LTER research team to assist with data review and archiving.

Interested candidates should submit a cover letter including research goals, CV and list of three references.

Minimum Qualifications:

o PhD or equivalent Doctoral Degree in an appropriate discipline is required
o A successful candidate will have the following:
o Good written and verbal communication skills (in English) required
o Strong analytical skills
o Ability to work cooperatively with a multidisciplinary research team
o Ability to perform experiments with initiative and independence, under general direction from the Principal Investigator.
o Sound knowledge of best practices in research for appropriate field.
o Effective Decision-making and problem-solving skills required
o Must be detail oriented, and highly organized with the ability to keep accurate records.
o Ability to work closely with students, faculty and other staff to maintain research efficiency of the project.

Conditions of Employment:

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

The University of Toledo is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. The University of Toledo does not discriminate in employment, educational programs, or activities on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, ancestry, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, military or veteran status, disability, familial status, or political affiliation. 

The University is dedicated to the goal of building a culturally diverse and pluralistic faculty and staff committed to teaching and working in a multicultural environment and strongly encourages applications from women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, dual-career professionals and covered veterans.

The University of Toledo provides reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you require accommodation to complete this application, or for testing or interviewing, please contact the HR Compliance at  hrcompliance@utoledo.edu or 419-530-4747 between the hours of 8:30AM and 5:00PM or apply online for an accommodation request. 

Computer access is available at most public libraries and at the Office of Human Resources located in the Center for Administrative Support on the Main Campus of the University of Toledo.