Post-Doctoral Associate

University of Minnesota • Minneapolis, MN

35d • $61,008 - $70,000 • Remote

About The Position

A postdoctoral researcher is sought for a team of USDA Forest Service, Natural Resource Conservation Service, and University of Minnesota researchers to advance landscape level estimation of soil moisture across northern Minnesota forests. The project requires expertise in hydrological modeling to estimate water availability in and to forests, as well as technical expertise to guide validation measurements and ensure data quality and consistency. Knowledge of soil water availability and dynamic fluctuations over time is critical to forest management, timber operations, and water supply for rural communities. However, landscape-scale estimation of soil water availability in forests, let alone in landscapes with distinct elements (lakes, wetlands, and uplands), is challenging. More effort is needed to enhance regional to national capacity to provide timely and accurate forecasting of soil moisture availability. This is a critical junction due to changing weather conditions such as more severe and prolonged drought, more intense and variable rainfall, and shorter, warmer winters that affect forest productivity. Soil moisture is also vital to managing susceptibility to and devastation from wildfire. The implementation of this project will improve quantification of available soil water, with resulting impacts for forest managers, timber harvesting operations, and fire susceptibility. Based upon the availability of existing long-term data and research facilities, and presence of complex landscape elements (lakes, forests, and wetlands) that typify the upper Midwest, this project will be focused on the Marcell Experimental Forest (MEF) in north, central Minnesota. The MEF was established to study hydrological responses to forest management, including long-term monitoring to document the magnitude and duration of responses as forests regenerate. The postdoc will work on implementing a Distributed Hydrology Soil Vegetation Model (DHSVM), produce calibrated simulations, and validate the model for the MEF. The research includes: empirical investigation of high-resolution soil data (moisture, texture, bulk density, etc.) as well as seasonal neutron probe and gravimetric moisture data for use in the DHSVM model; consideration of other relevant water balance data (precipitation, streamflow, evapotranspiration, etc) available from catchment studies; use of pedotransfer functions to estimate water retention capacity values from the existing soil surveys at the MEF; assembling data from Web Soil Survey to implement, refine, and initiate calibration of the model; preparation of model input files; refining goals and tasks as needed; documentation and publication of data; collaboration with with experts in biogeochemistry, ecohydrology, meteorology, soil science, and forestry; and dissemination of findings through professional meetings, workshops, conferences, and peer-reviewed journal publications. The exact research topics and activities will be designed to fit individual interests and expertise. We are looking for someone to start immediately.

Requirements

• PhD in hydrology, soil science, or closely related fields
• Ability to work independently and with a large team
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Commitment to broad engagement with research partners including senior personnel, graduate students, and technical support staff.

Nice To Haves

• Experience and proficiency with DHSVM or similar types of distributed hydrologic modeling
• Experience with and expertise in soil moisture measurement and monitoring methods
• Familiarity with small catchment studies and long-term monitoring studies

Responsibilities

• lead soil data analysis, model implementation, and dissemination of research findings
• development and guide implementation of new data collection
• participate in meetings, working groups, required trainings, and professional development opportunities
• work with Forest Service personnel to document and publish data

Benefits

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training
• Medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Financial counseling services
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Industry: Educational Services
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees