Postdoctoral Researcher (Carbon Monitoring on US Rangelands)

Woodwell Climate Research Center

Falmouth, MA, United States

Mission:

Woodwell Climate Research Center (Woodwell Climate) conducts science for solutions at the nexus of climate, people, and nature. We partner with leaders and communities for just meaningful impact to address the climate crisis.

Woodwell Climate is a rapidly growing, top-ranked, independent non-profit climate research institute whose mission is to advance science-based climate policies through scientific research and outreach. Our world-leading research and impact helps individuals, organizations, corporations, communities, and nations understand the realities of climate change, recognize the impact on our planet, and embrace the urgent action needed to safeguard the future of life on Earth.

Summary/Objective:

Join Woodwell Climate’s soil carbon team as a Postdoctoral Researcher working on a multi-year project developing and deploying a carbon monitoring system for conservation practices across the Northern Great Plains Ecoregion. This position is part of a large team that includes researchers, conservation practitioners, and rangeland managers at National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the National Audubon Society, World Wildlife Fund and Columbia University. The successful candidate will improve, parameterize, and implement a high-performance computing (HPC) platform-based modeling system which leverages remote sensing imagery, field measurements, and survey datasets with both machine learning and process-based models.

Responsibilities include but not limited:

Collaborate on improvements to the Rangeland Carbon Tracking and Monitoring tool
Liaise with project partners across institutions
Efficiently process and downscale spatial and remote sensing data products from multiple platforms
Adapt and refine code for carbon cycle model
Develop an efficient pipeline for implementing the model at scale (millions of acres)
Develop a web application for the public to access the model
Lead the development of manuscripts describing model development and application

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Demonstrated knowledge of carbon cycling in terrestrial ecosystems
Experience improving and implementing carbon cycle models
Strong data science skills including proficiency in spatial data analysis
Strong coding skills using R and Python (C/C++ or Fortran a plus)
Experience with cloud-computing and Google Earth Engine
Superior oral and written communication and networking skills
Ability to work as a member of a highly collaborative team in a fast-paced environment
Familiarity with management of working lands a preferred
Experience with machine learning / artificial intelligence a preferred
Willingness to travel about 10% of time

Qualifications:

Ph.D. (granted or expected soon) in Soil Science, Environmental Data Science, Earth System Science, Ecology, Geography, Environmental Engineering, Computer Science or a related discipline

Physical Requirements:

In the office:

Ability to tolerate sustained periods of walking, standing, sitting
Ability to lift 25 pounds
Ability to communicate, verbally and written
Ability to kneel, bend, and carry items
Ability to use phone and computers
Repetitive movements

Work Environment:

The functions of this role are primarily conducted indoors, but occasional travel to meet with project partners and visits to field sites (i.e. ranches in the Northern Great Plains) will be required.

Hours of Work:

This role is paid on a salaried, exempt, basis.
Typically, full-time employees work 40 hours during a Monday through Friday workweek. However, this is a salaried position. Therefore, the individual is expected to work as required to complete the duties of the position. This may mean weekend hours and/or hours beyond 40 per week.

Other Duties:

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Application review will begin ongoing

Desired Start Date: August 1, 2024

Fixed-term: This position is for one-year with the potential to extend for two additional years dependent upon performance and availability of funds.

Classification and Compensation: This is a full-time, salaried, exempt position, the annual salary range starting at $69,000 dependent on qualifications/experience. Woodwell offers a generous benefits package and work life balance.

Location: Falmouth, Massachusetts or remote.

Application Instructions: To apply, please send your cover letter addressing your experience and qualifications in relation to the responsibilities of this position and curriculum vitae as a single PDF to our career’s portal.

Please visit Woodwell's website to learn more about Woodwell’s work.

Located on a 10-acre campus near the village of Woods Hole, the Woodwell Climate Research Center (Woodwell) is a private, non-profit research center. Woodwell is a leading source of climate science that drives the urgent action needed to solve climate change. Woodwell has 100+ staff members and is excited to welcome new employees to this work.

Woodwell is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, mental, or physical disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, familial status, veteran status, or genetic information. Woodwell is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for all individuals in employment practices, services, programs, and activities.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Woodwell

WE NEED ALL VOICES IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE

Climate change is the greatest challenge of our lifetimes. Woodwell Climate Research Center (Woodwell) understands that the climate crisis—from causes to consequences—is inextricably linked with persistent social injustice. Effectively addressing either requires addressing both. The climate crisis demands that we bring to bear all of the knowledge, expertise, innovation, and creativity that we can collectively muster, and those who have been marginalized and disproportionately impacted must be heard.

The work Woodwell does—the questions we ask, the ways we seek answers, and the strategies we put forward—is stronger when shaped by a diversity of knowledge, perspectives, and experiences. We strive to welcome, respect, and amplify differing voices. We value individuals as they are, with all their differences in race, age, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, language, and mental and physical abilities.

Woodwell acknowledges that our organization, and the scientific community more broadly, have a long way to go in living up to these ideals. We approach the work of improving our organization with the same ambition and commitment to systemic change that we bring to addressing climate change.

We will inevitably make mistakes, but we will continue to listen, learn, and do this critical work. We understand that this work requires an ongoing commitment from each and every one of us. We are actively engaged in building and sustaining an equitable and inclusive culture within our organization, and in fostering greater diversity in climate science.