[ES_JOBS_NET] Postdoc Position - Stony Brook University

[Serbin, Shawn]

Postdoctoral Fellow

Assimilation of imaging spectroscopy data to improve the representation of
vegetation dynamics in ecosystem models

A post-doctoral position in ecosystem model-data synthesis, remote sensing,
and ecological forecasting is available with Dr. Shawn Serbin in the
Department of Sustainability Studies
(http://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/sustainability/) at Stony Brook
University (http://www.stonybrook.edu/), Stony Brook, New York.

This NASA-funded project focuses on the integration of remote-sensing data,
specifically high-spectral resolution field and imaging spectroscopy data,
within an efficient model-data assimilation framework, to improve the
characterization of vegetation dynamics in terrestrial ecosystem models.
The project is part of the larger predictive ecosystem analyzer (PEcAn)
scientific workflow system (http://pecanproject.org), which aims to make
ecosystem models, data assimilation, and forecasting more accessible,
automated, and repeatable.

The primary objective is to comprehensively examine the potential for direct
assimilation of optical remote sensing observations into sophisticated
ecosystem models, starting with the Ecosystem Demography 2.2 model, to
better initialize and constrain projections of surface energy balance,
vegetation composition, and carbon pools and fluxes.  The project combines
remote sensing, radiative transfer modeling, ecosystem modeling, and
advanced statistical and computation approaches to diagnose the drivers of
spatial and temporal variability in the terrestrial carbon cycle and the
sources of uncertainty in these estimates.  The initial focus of the project
is the temperate/boreal transition zone in northern Wisconsin, a region that
is expected to show large climate change responses and is one of the most
data-rich regions in the country, but will expand in scope to sites around
the continental U.S. in years 2 and 3.  The results from this project will
provide an important step toward the operational capacity to assimilate
reflectance observations, uniformly, within sophisticated ecosystem models
with the goal of constraining model projections of energy, water, and carbon
pools and fluxes of terrestrial ecosystems.


Qualifications:

Required qualifications are a doctoral degree in a relevant ecological,
environmental, or computer science field. The ideal candidate would have
experience with more than one of the following areas: ecosystem process
models, remote sensing data, imaging spectroscopy (i.e. hyperspectral) data,
radiative transfer modeling in the optical domain, open-source programming
environments (e.g. R, Python), linux, data assimilation, scientific writing.


Application Process:

The successful candidate will be hired through the Department of
Sustainability Studies at Stony Brook University where Dr. Serbin holds an
affiliate faculty position, but the candidate will be expected to spend
their time within the Terrestrial Ecosystem Science & Technology (TEST;
http://www.bnl.gov/test/) group at Brookhaven National Laboratory (www.
bnl.gov<http://bnl.gov>).

Interested applicants are encouraged to submit a cover letter, CV, and
contact info for 3 references to Dr. Shawn Serbin (sserbin at bnl.gov<mailto:sserbin at bnl.gov>).  Review
of applications will begin on October 15th but will remain open until
filled.  A competitive salary and benefits package is available.



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Shawn P. Serbin
Environmental & Climate Sciences Department
Brookhaven National Laboratory
Upton, NY 11973-5000

Phone: +1-631-344-3165
Fax: +1-631-344-2060
Email: sserbin at bnl.gov<mailto:sserbin at bnl.gov>
Bio:  http://www.bnl.gov/envsci/bio/serbin-shawn.php
TEST Group: http://www.bnl.gov/TEST/
Twitter: @doctorjackpine
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