[ES_JOBS_NET] postdoc and research scientist positions at University of New Mexico

[Marcy Litvak]

Hi everyone,
Please see ad below for a  postdoc and technician position at University of
New Mexico to work on newly funded project from NSF Ecosystems with Will
Pockman. Marcy Litvak, Andy Fox and Susan Schwinning.

Thanks and hope everyone is having a great summer!
Marcy


Project:   This research is designed to improve our ability to predict the
impact of large numbers of trees dying in semi-arid forested ecosystems.
Forest mortality caused by drought has recently increased on every forested
continent and is now recognized as a global phenomenon. The study focuses
on piñon-juniper woodlands, the third largest biome in the U.S. In the
Southwestern US, higher temperatures and decreased precipitation have increased
drought severity, reducing tree health, and triggering widespread regional
forest mortality across the region. This research is motivated by previous
research showing that piñon mortality unexpectedly triggers one or more
mechanisms that lead these woodlands to become both hotter and drier,
potentially altering the environmental conditions that control future
vegetation and ecosystem recovery. These surprising results challenge our
expectations that that more water would be available for those trees that
survived in forests following disturbance. Drought-induced mortality is
predicted to increase globally in the coming decades. This work will
contribute key data on the specific roles of woody plants in regulating
water availability and ecosystem services in water-limited semiarid
ecosystems when large numbers of trees die. The modeling will provide
explicit predictions of biomes that are vulnerable, or likely to be
vulnerable, as climate changes, and key environmental factors that increase
that vulnerability.  We are looking for one postdoctoral researcher and one
research technician to start as soon as possible.   The positions will both
be based out of University of New Mexico, but will require several days
spent each week at the field site.


*Postdoctoral Required qualifications:* Ph.D., at time of appointment, in
Plant Physiological Ecology, Ecosystem Ecology, Earth System Science,
Forest Hydrology, or a related field.  Excellent mathematical and spoken
and written English language skills required.  Knowledge and understanding
of plant physiological processes and soil moisture dynamics is preferred
and experience with hydrologic partitioning in arid-land ecosystems is a
plus.  Preferred qualifications: Experience measuring or modeling sap flux,
soil water dynamics, and/or mechanistic modeling of plant physiological
processes, especially in regard to plant and soil hydraulic function and
site hydrology, and experience with: field or laboratory manipulations of
plant- soil systems, modeling and large datasets, and fluency in an
analysis environment such as R, Matlab, or Python.

*Inquiries and applications* (cover letter, CV, and the names and contact
information for a minimum of 3 references) should be directed to Dr. Marcy
Litvak (mlitvak at unm.edu) or Dr. William Pockman (pockman at unm.edu).
Applications will be considered until the position is filled.  Ability to
start by July 2016 strongly preferred.


*------------------------------------------------------------*

*Research Technician job duties/qualifications: *

Successful candidate will be responsible for the installation and
day-to-day operation of instrumentation in a piñon-juniper woodland located
within 3 hours of Albuquerque, New Mexico.  The research involves girdling
either piñon or juniper to assess the mechanisms controlling the site
response following mortality, with particular emphasis on the changes in
plant and soil water status.  The successful candidate will participate in
establishing the research plots, installing instrumentation to gather
pre-treatment data, implementation of the treatments and post-treatment
measurements.  Once the site is fully instrumented, the candidate will
maintain all systems and will work with postdoctoral and graduate
researchers to make field measurements associated with this project,
including measurements of plant growth, physiology and water relations, and
soil moisture content. The candidate will participate in data management,
data analysis, and the preparation of peer-reviewed publications of
research findings.       Preference will be given to someone with
demonstrated proficiency: in:

1) heat ratio sapflow methods, measurement of plant water potential, 2)
datalogger programming; 3) repair and maintenance of experimental
infrastructure; 4)  operating and maintaining solar powered systems; 5)
managing, summarizing and analyzing field and laboratory data, particularly
large data sets; 6) supervision of students in field settings and 7)
ability to work long hours in the field when necessary

Successful candidate will be responsible for the installation and
day-to-day operation of instrumentation in a piñon-juniper woodland located
within 3 hours of Albuquerque, New Mexico.  The research involves girdling
either piñon or juniper to assess the mechanisms controlling the site
response following mortality, with particular emphasis on the changes in
plant and soil water status.  The successful candidate will participate in
establishing the research plots, installing instrumentation to gather
pre-treatment data, implementation of the treatments and post-treatment
measurements.  Once the site is fully instrumented, the candidate will
maintain all systems and will work with postdoctoral and graduate
researchers to make field measurements associated with this project,
including measurements of plant growth, physiology and water relations, and
soil moisture content. The candidate will participate in data management,
data analysis, and the preparation of peer-reviewed publications of
research findings.


Please apply at UNM jobs. Research Scientist 1 job posting 0834545

https://unmjobs.unm.edu/applicants/jsp/shared/frameset/Frameset.jsp?time=1465994766531

Any questions should be directed to Dr. Marcy Litvak (mlitvak at unm.edu) or
Dr. William Pockman (pockman at unm.edu). Applications will be considered
until the position is filled.  Ability to start by July 2016 strongly
preferred.
Marcy Litvak
Associate Professor
Biology Department          505-277-5580 work
University of New Mexico    505-277-0304 fax
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