Position available: Postdoctoral fellowship in Vegetation Dynamics Modelling
A position for a postdoctoral associate is available at the Southeast Environmental Research Center (http://sercweb.fiu.edu/) in the Institute of Water and Environment (http://inwe.fiu.edu/) at the Florida International University. The postdoctoral associate will work on a recently National Park System-funded project "Simulation of vegetation dynamics in the Marl prairie landscape using the Everglades Landscape Vegetation Succession (ELVeS) Model". The goal of the project is to develop a spatially explicit predictive model for Everglades vegetation dynamics in response to major drivers. The major objectives are to explore the distribution models that discriminate among marl prairie (MP) vegetation assemblages along environmental gradients and simulate the MP vegetation dynamics using ELVeS. The postdoctoral scholar will develop alternatives and improvements to the currently used joint probability methods in ELVeS, explore fire dynamics modeling in the context of the MP vegetation, test selected probabilistic models and approaches for marl prairie and adjacent species assemblages, validate selected methods, and supervise and finalize Java coding of the model. The postdoctoral associate will also co-lead documentation of the methods, biological justifications of the modeling approach and parameterizations, validations, and guides to the use of the model. The postdoctoral scholar will work with Drs. Jay Sah and Michael Ross at Florida International University (FIU), and Dr. Leonard Pearlstine at the South Florida Natural Resource Center (SFNRC), Everglades National Park, Homestead, FL. The position will be based in South Florida Terrestrial Ecology Lab (SOFTEL) at Florida International University, as well as at SFNRC, where the postdoc will spend 3-4 days a week working with Dr. Pearlstine. Candidates for the position must have a PhD in Ecology or closely related field. Strong quantitative knowledge of statistical probability and probability-based modeling procedures used in spatial data analysis and vegetation dynamics modeling is required. The candidate should have extensive practical experience in the use of R and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Demonstrated skills with coding languages, Java, in particular, is desirable. The candidate should also have a demonstrated record of publication in this field in peer-reviewed journals, proven communication skills for presentation at scientific meetings and be able to work within project deadlines in a team environment. The position is available for 1 year and four months with a starting date of 09/01/2017. The salary is $47,500/year plus benefits. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled and the review of the applications will begin 06/15/2017. Interested candidates should send an email with a single PDF containing 1) a cover letter describing their research interest, 2) a curriculum vitae, 3) three letters of references, and 4) three or more representative reprints to Dr. Jay Sah ([email protected]). Please use "Vegetation Modeling Postdoc + [your last name]" in the subject line in your email. The Southeast Research Center (SERC) is a research-intensive and productive academic unit with strong expertise in freshwater ecology, biogeochemistry, and tropical/subtropical ecosystem dynamics. SERC is housed and administrated in the Institute of Water & Environment, one of FIU's Pre-eminent Programs. FIU is a public research university in Miami with a highly diverse, vibrant, and growing student body located near the edge of the Everglades. Our multiple campuses serve over 50,000 students, placing FIU among the ten largest universities in the nation. FIU is Carnegie-designated as both a research university with high research activity and a community-engaged university. FIU leads the nation in granting bachelor's degrees, including in the STEM fields, to minority students, and is first in awarding STEM master's degrees to Hispanics. FIU is a member of the State University System of Florida and is an Equal Opportunity, Equal Access Affirmative Action Employer. For more information about Florida International University, go to http://www.fiu.edu/index.htm Dr. Jay Sah Southeast Environmental Research Center (SERC) Institute of Water & Environment Florida International University University Park/OE-148 Miami, FL 33199 Tel: 305-348-1658 (W); 305 613 5044 (M)
