Post Doctoral Assoc -MC

Post Doctoral Assoc FT-MC

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Job no: 500372
Work type: Staff - Full-Time
Location: Main Campus - Academic Toledo, OH
Categories: Full-Time, Post Doc, None

The Department of Environmental Sciences, at the University of Toledo, OH seeks a post-doctoral fellow to study ecosystem-scale carbon and water fluxes and their drivers in coastal wetlands along a flooding and salinity gradient. Data is collected by three established flux tower sites located at the Plum Island Ecosystems LTER. A particular focus lies on partitioning ecosystem fluxes of carbon and water into their component fluxes to analyze their environmental controls using current and past data from the sites.

Possible research questions include the impact of drought, varying salinity conditions and/or physiological controls (C3, C4 photosynthesis) on carbon and water fluxes. This position is part of a highly collaborative project, and the successful candidate will have the opportunity to help inform subsurface hydrological field measurements as well as laboratory experiments (e.g. rhizoboxes or mesocosm) conducted by collaborating groups. The anticipated start date for the position is March 1, 2026.

Funds are available for 2 years. Coastal marshes are ideal systems to study the interaction of hydrology and (carbon) biogeochemistry. This project will contribute to advance mechanistic understanding of highly dynamic, coupled hydrology and biogeochemistry (plant and microbial processes) driving coastal marsh ecosystem function. Hydrologic processes (including transpiration) control transport, mixing, and availability of solutes in marsh platform soils. Biogeochemical transformations capitalize on the availability of these solutes.

Continuous measurements as eddy covariance measurements are valuable tools to better quantify flux rates of water and carbon, determine their controlling factors and serve as benchmark for biogeochemical models. This position is part of a cluster of projects funded by the Simons Foundation. The project, “Ecosystem on the Edge:
How Coastal Marsh Plants and Microbes Thrive in an Oscillating Environment,” is led by the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) in collaboration with Northeastern University, University of Toledo, MIT, University of Lausanne, and University of Georgia, affording the successful candidate the opportunity for exciting and diverse collaborations. This postdoc will be based at U. Toledo and will provide leadership on partitioning ecosystem-scale water fluxes into transpiration and evaporation as well as analyze drivers of carbon and water fluxes.

Both information will inform experiments conducted by collaborators on the project. The candidate will also check, maintain, and archive data following Ameriflux (and similar) protocols, and work with the PIE LTER research team to assist with data review and archiving. Contact Dr. Inke Forbrich, inke.forbrich with questions or for more information about this position.

• PhD or equivalent Doctoral Degree in an appropriate discipline is required
• Good written and verbal communication skills (in English) required
• Strong analytical skills
• Ability to work cooperatively with a multidisciplinary research team
• Ability to perform experiments with initiative and independence, under general direction from the Principal Investigator.
• Sound knowledge of best practices in research for appropriate field.
• Effective Decision-making and problem-solving skills required
• Must be detail oriented, and highly organized with the ability to keep accurate records.
• Ability to work closely with students, faculty and other staff to maintain research efficiency of the project.

The University of Toledo is an equal opportunity employer. The University of Toledo does not discriminate in employment, educational programs, or activities on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, ancestry, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, military or veteran status, disability, familial status, or political affiliation. The University is dedicated to attracting and retaining the best and brightest talent and fostering a culture of respect.

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