[ES_JOBS_NET] POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER POSITION IN COASTAL BIOGEOCHEMISTRY

[Havalend Steinmuller]

POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER POSITION

The Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium (LUMCON <https://lumcon.edu/>), a program of the Board of Regents, is a consortium is a statewide academic endeavor to focus and strengthen the effectiveness of foundational marine science needed to address the environmental and socioeconomic challenges facing Louisiana and the nation. LUMCON provides unparalleled opportunities in coastal, marine, and oceanographic science and education to the research community and public alike.  Anchored by a first-rate marine laboratory, the DeFelice Marine Center, LUMCON is embedded in Louisiana's dynamic wetland environment and conveniently located on a gateway to the open waters of the Gulf.  LUMCON operates a world-class fleet of research vessels unmatched on the US Gulf Coast.  In 2023, LUMCON expanded its programs through the opening of a maritime research and outreach facility (Blue Works) on the Maritime Campus in Houma, Louisiana.  

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Coastal Biogeochemistry Lab <http://www.coastalbiogeochemistrylab.com/> at the Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium (LUMCON), led by Dr. Havalend Steinmuller, is seeking a Postdoctoral Researcher to join our research team.  We are looking for a highly motivated, collaborative, and organized scientist to lead field and laboratory research on how salinity gradients and hydrologic alteration drive biogeochemical transitions across coastal Louisiana wetlands.

The position is supported by a Department of Energy-funded project examining coupled plant-soil-microbe processes across a full estuarine salinity gradient in the Terrebonne-Timbalier Estuary.  The project pairs an intensive field measurement campaign (porewater chemistry, continuous redox and hydrology monitoring, soil characterization, gas flux, and nitrogen cycling) with a reciprocal marsh-organ transplant experiment designed to isolate salinity and impoundment effects on biogeochemical process rates.  Field data collected by the postdoc will directly parameterize reactive transport and land-surface models developed by our national laboratory partners, and the postdoc will serve as the primary scientific point of contact between the field and modeling teams.

This candidate will directly support the Exploring Gulf Region Ecosystem Transitions (EGRET) project, an interdisciplinary and multi-institutional collaboration focused on disturbance-driven ecosystem transitions and their impacts across the United States Gulf Coast. EGRET employs an integrated model–experiment (ModEx) approach accelerated by artificial intelligence (AI) to advance predictive understanding of how plant–microbial–soil interactions vary across inundation and salinity gradients to shape ecological, hydrological, and geomorphological responses to abrupt disturbance. A cohort of postdoctoral researchers will be hired across multiple institutions to collaboratively support scientific advances guided by AI/ML, remote sensing, process-based modeling, field observations and experiments, and advanced analytical techniques. 

The postdoc will report directly to Dr. Steinmuller and will work closely with co-investigators Dr. Brian Roberts and Dr. Ken Krauss.  The postdoc will help coordinate the work of project technicians and will mentor undergraduate laboratory assistants and/or volunteers.  The postdoc will be expected to lead peer-reviewed publications, present at national meetings, and participate in outreach efforts associated with the Coastal Biogeochemistry Lab and LUMCON.  There will be opportunities to develop independent research within the scope of the project and to collaborate on other projects within LUMCON.

This is a full-time, twelve-month appointment based at LUMCON's DeFelice Marine Center in Cocodrie, Louisiana.  The initial appointment is for one year, renewable for a second-year contingent on satisfactory performance and continued funding. The approximate start date for this position will be November 2026. 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

•     Ph.D. in biogeochemistry, soil science, coastal/marine science, ecology, microbial ecology, oceanography, environmental science, chemistry, or a related field.  Degree must be completed by the start date.
•     Demonstrated record of peer-reviewed publication appropriate to career stage.
•     Valid driver's license.
•     Ability to lift 40 pounds and participate in extended field work within the hot, humid climate of south Louisiana.
•     Comfortable working outdoors in and around water.
•     Comfortable working independently and as part of a team.
•     Experience with statistical computing and data analysis.
•     Familiarity with data management and quality control of environmental datasets.
•     Organizational skills and strong attention to detail.
•     The skills and certifications necessary to operate and trailer LUMCON small vessels (https://lumcon.edu/small-boats/) or the willingness to quickly obtain these skills.
IDEAL CANDIDATE/PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

•     Research experience in wetland, estuarine, or soil biogeochemistry, particularly carbon and nitrogen cycling under variable redox conditions.
•     Experience with laboratory instrumentation such as gas chromatographs, elemental analyzers, spectrophotometers, total organic carbon analyzers, and/or membrane inlet mass spectrometry.
•     Experience with field-based flux measurements (static or dynamic chambers) and with anaerobic incubation approaches.
•     Experience deploying and maintaining continuous environmental sensor arrays and dataloggers (e.g., Campbell Scientific, In-Situ Aqua TROLL) in remote or harsh field settings.
•     Experience with soil coring, soil physicochemical characterization, and porewater sampling.
•     Experience collaborating with modelers or contributing field data to model parameterization efforts.
•     Experience with vegetation surveys, plant traits, or plant eco-physiological measurements in coastal wetlands.
•     Experience mentoring students or supervising technical staff.
•     Completion of a Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Boater Education course or an applicable alternate course.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

Essential and other important responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to the following:

•     Coordinate, schedule, and execute field campaigns across four estuarine field sites, including logistics, permitting support, and equipment readiness.
•     Lead construction, deployment, and monitoring of reciprocal marsh-organ transplant arrays in vegetated and bare treatments.
•     Collect and process porewater, soil, sediment, and plant samples; conduct laboratory analyses and anaerobic mineralization incubations.
•     Conduct static chamber gas flux measurements and support nitrogen cycling analyses.
•     Deploy, calibrate, and maintain continuous water quality, redox, and hydrologic monitoring instrumentation.
•     Manage, quality control, archive, and document project datasets; serve as the data and sample liaison to project partners.
•     Lead and contribute to peer-reviewed publications and present results at national scientific meetings.
•     Assist with project reporting to the sponsor.
•     Attend lab and project meetings (often off-site), including regular calls with project partners. 
•     Operate small vessels.
•     Assist with instrument maintenance and laboratory support tasks.
•     Mentor undergraduate students and/or volunteers and help coordinate the work of project technicians.
•     Participate in outreach activities associated with the Coastal Biogeochemistry Lab and LUMCON.
HOW TO APPLY:

Applicants should email Dr. Steinmuller (hsteinmuller at lumcon.edu <mailto:hsteinmuller at lumcon.edu>) with a cover letter describing research interests and fit for the position, a current CV, and contact information for three references.


Havalend Steinmuller, PhD
Assistant Professor
Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium
8124 Hwy. 56 | Chauvin, LA 70344
Email: hsteinmuller at lumcon.edu <mailto:hsteinmuller at lumcon.edu>
lumcon.edu <https://www.lumcon.edu/>





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