Postdoctoral Researcher

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory • Berkeley, CA

4d • $6,790 - $9,234 • Onsite

About The Position

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory’s Climate and Ecosystem Sciences Division seeks a Postdoctoral Researcher to investigate controls on soil carbon and nutrient cycling and how these cycles are affected by soil temperature and depth. The researcher will contribute to a grassland soil-warming experiment in Point Reyes, California, advancing mechanistic understanding of soil biogeochemistry and plant-soil feedbacks. Research will use field and laboratory measurements, including isotopic analysis, remote sensing, and AI/ML, to study and scale effects of soil warming, depth, moisture, and plant processes on ecosystem cycling of carbon, nitrogen, and other nutrients.

The researcher will join a multidisciplinary team working in soil biogeochemistry, plant and microbial ecology, geochemistry, and process-rich modeling. The primary advisor is Margaret Torn. The role also offers opportunities to investigate model structures and parameters; plant physiological responses; proximal remote sensing; microbial carbon use efficiency and community responses; subsurface water and dissolved organic matter chemistry; and soil organic matter and organo-mineral interactions.

This is a full-time, two-year postdoctoral appointment, with possible renewal depending on performance, funding, and operational needs. The anticipated start date is March 1, 2027, although later dates will be considered. The position is primarily performed at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in Berkeley, California. Candidates must be eligible to work in the U.S. at hire and have less than three years of paid postdoctoral experience. The position is union represented and subject to a background check. The monthly salary range is $6,790–$9,234, with the starting salary expected to be $6,790 or above; compensation is determined by postdoctoral step rates and relevant post-degree experience.

Requirements

• Recent Ph.D. in ecology, soil science, biogeochemistry, earth sciences, or a related field.
• Demonstrated expertise in biogeochemistry.
• Demonstrated experience conducting fieldwork.
• Experience handling large datasets and applying statistical analyses.
• Relevant laboratory experience.
• Ability to spend multiple days per month at a field site, including overnight stays.
• Must have less than three years of paid postdoctoral experience.
• Must be eligible to work in the U.S. at the time of hire.

Nice To Haves

• Proficiency in R, Matlab, or equivalent software for efficient data handling and organization.
• Background in modeling soil biogeochemical cycling.
• Familiarity with manipulative experiments.
• Experience monitoring microclimates.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary research team.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to carrying out a whole-soil warming experiment with a multidisciplinary research team.
• Develop and pursue research questions and innovative techniques related to soils and plant-soil interactions.
• Characterize carbon and nutrient cycling, including nitrogen, phosphorus, and trace gas fluxes, in the warming experiment.
• Measure and use elemental and isotopic composition of soil, plant, and/or gas samples.
• Communicate research outcomes through scientific publications and presentations.
• Set up, operate, and maintain field and laboratory instruments.
• Contribute to grant proposals and progress reports.
• Evaluate model structures and parameters and contribute to improving model capabilities, as research opportunities allow.
• Participate in studies of plant physiological responses, proximal remote sensing, microbial carbon use efficiency and community responses, or subsurface water and dissolved organic matter chemistry, as research opportunities allow.
• Contribute to laboratory investigations of soil organic matter and organo-mineral interactions, as research opportunities allow.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Retirement savings through the UC Defined Contribution Safe Harbor Plan, with additional voluntary UC retirement savings options available.
• 24 days of Personal Time Off per fiscal year, plus sick leave and paid holidays.
• Eight weeks of Postdoctoral Paid Family Leave for qualifying family and parental needs.
• Berkeley Lab Postdoc Association opportunities for networking, social events, professional development, and scientific exchange.
• Collaborative and inclusive culture.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree