Postdoctoral Researcher

Woodwell Climate Research Center Inc • Falmouth, MA

8h • $73,000 - $75,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

Join Woodwell Climate’s Research team as a Postdoctoral Researcher seeking to advance the science of quantifying and valuing the non-carbon climate benefits of Amazon basin forests with an emphasis on those stewarded by Indigenous and Quilombola Territories. The successful candidate will have demonstrated research experience and/or a strong interest in understanding the primary biophysical mechanisms by which forests regulate climate (evapotranspiration (ET), surface roughness, and albedo) and the extent to which these mechanisms exert controls over local-to-regional patterns of temperature and precipitation. Working closely with Woodwell science and policy leaders and external partners, the ideal candidate will have a passion for connecting science to impact, specifically opportunities to support and inform land management decisions, climate policy development, and Indigenous rights advocacy.

Requirements

• Experience working with and/or producing evapotranspiration, surface roughness, and albedo data sets
• Experience in modeling temperature and/or precipitation impacts from biophysical drivers
• Familiarity with tropical forest and savanna ecosystems, particularly the Amazon and Cerrado
• Strong data science, machine learning and/or statistical analysis skills
• A solid background in programming for geospatial analysis using Python, R, or other languages
• Proficiency using GIS software such as Google Earth Engine, QGIS, and/or ArcGIS
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment
• Documented experience in scientific writing and publication in peer-reviewed scientific journals
• Superior communication, networking, interpersonal, and organizational skills
• Strong quantitative reasoning, critical-thinking, and problem-solving skills
• Willingness to travel about 5% of the time
• Ability to engage professionally with research partners from different institutional and cultural contexts
• Ph.D. degree in the biological sciences, ecology, geography, remote sensing, environmental science/data science, or a related field

Responsibilities

• Conducting research to quantify the non-carbon biophysical climate benefits of forests in Amazon Indigenous Territories and their contribution to temperature regulation and precipitation production
• Supporting colleagues in quantifying the economic value of these benefits at local-to-regional scales
• Interfacing with colleagues working on related research seeking to connect site-specific deforestation to hydrologic impacts (e.g., decreased rainfall) and the explicit valuation of these impacts.
• Participating in project meetings, communicating progress, results, analytical challenges, and methodological decisions clearly and concisely
• Sharing progress with project partners including members of local NGOs and Indigenous organizations
• Contributing flexibly to related research projects as needed
• Produce peer-reviewed manuscripts suitable for publication in high-profile scientific journals

Benefits

• generous benefits package
• work life balance

What This Job Offers

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