Postdoctoral Research Scholar, Urban Spatial Ecology
- Arizona State University
- Location: Tempe, AZ
- Job Number: 7119372
- Posting Date: Jan 4, 2023
- Application Deadline: Open Until Filled
Job Description
Position Title: Postdoctoral Research Scholar, Urban Spatial Ecology
Position Description:
The CAP LTER has been funded by the National Science Foundation's Long-term Ecological Research Program (LTER) for 25 years to study the urban ecology of metropolitan Phoenix, Arizona. We are seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral scholar to conduct interdisciplinary social-ecological research with CAP scholars to explore the spatial-temporal drivers and outcomes of environmental patterns and processes across diverse urban ecological infrastructure (UEI). More specifically, the postdoc will develop and analyze land use/cover change and bioclimatic metrics in residential landscapes and open spaces (e.g., urban parks, riparian areas, desert preserves) within the CAP ecosystem at various spatial and temporal scales to understand how varied urban environmental factors shape vegetation and wildlife communities. The ideal candidate will develop their research ideas in collaboration with primary faculty mentor(s) within the CAP LTER Research Teams that organize our work and have the opportunity to work with our land use land cover change group on standard data products that they produce for the CAP research community. The postdoctoral scholar will utilize existing long-term datasets (biophysical, land cover, and social surveys) to answer interdisciplinary research questions. Although CAP has spatial datasets for the study area, many of the biotic datasets (plants and wildlife) are taken at annual or seasonal intervals. Successful candidate will help build bioclimatic and other metrics on a scale that is important to the research questions related to social-ecological dynamics of yards, neighborhoods, parks, and other land use types. Thus, we seek to 1) build annual or seasonal variables related to urban ecological infrastructure (e.g., impervious surface maps – often used to monitor human activity and environmental change); 2) develop reproducible code and standardized protocols to automate the process for future years; and 3) use these datasets and workflows to answer scientific research questions about the structure and functioning of urban ecosystems. We propose to build new spatial-temporal datasets for urban ecological infrastructure (i.e., vegetation cover), annual impervious surface, and climate (i.e., temperature during the hottest quarter).
Job Duties:
Develop relevant original research and answer testable questions using long-term CAP datasets
Data analyses and development of standard data products
Work with our land use land cover change (LULCC) group on standard data products that they produce for the CAP research community, and learn how these spatial datasets are created
Manuscript preparation/publication and dissemination of research at national conferences
Work with CAP collaborators and students, as discussed within the postdoctoral mentoring team
Qualifications:
Required Qualifications
The successful candidate will have a Ph.D. in geography, ecology, environmental science, plant or wildlife science, remote sensing, spatial ecology, or a related field by the time of appointment. The Ph.D. must have been earned within the last four years.
Desired Qualifications
Background in spatial analysis/GIS, statistical or ecological modeling, and data processing and analyses.
Demonstrated record of scientific publication in relevant disciplines, particularly in areas related to the research topics and goals outlined above.
Experience with near-peer or peer-peer mentoring.
Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
Experience integrating different types of datasets (ecological, spatial, and/or social data).
Programming skills (e.g., Python, R, Google Earth Engine or other languages).
Knowledge of and/or interest in the LTER Network and/or long-term datasets and/or bioinformatics, particularly related research topics and goals outlined above.
Commitment to meeting the needs of diverse communities and interacting cooperatively with a range of CAP LTER faculty, students, and staff.
Demonstrated written and verbal communication skills (in English).
Application Instructions:
The initial application deadline is January 30, 2023. Applications will continue to be reviewed weekly thereafter until the positions are filled. To apply, candidates will be asked to submit the following through their Interfolio Dossier:
Cover letter outlining qualifications and experience
Curriculum Vitae, including links to authored publications
Name, phone number, address and e-mail address of three (3) professional references
If you have questions, please email the search committee chair at [email protected].
For the eighth year in a row, ASU has been named the most innovative school in the nation, recognizing the university's culture of groundbreaking research and partnerships, as well as its commitment to helping students thrive in college and beyond. U.S. News and World Report has named ASU as the most innovative university all five years the category has existed.
ASU Knowledge Enterprise advances research, innovation, strategic partnerships, entrepreneurship, and international development. Our success arises from solutions-focused, interdisciplinary research; an entrepreneurial approach that is embedded in every school and department; and a commitment to transform society in a positive way. http://research.asu.edu/
Position Description:
The CAP LTER has been funded by the National Science Foundation's Long-term Ecological Research Program (LTER) for 25 years to study the urban ecology of metropolitan Phoenix, Arizona. We are seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral scholar to conduct interdisciplinary social-ecological research with CAP scholars to explore the spatial-temporal drivers and outcomes of environmental patterns and processes across diverse urban ecological infrastructure (UEI). More specifically, the postdoc will develop and analyze land use/cover change and bioclimatic metrics in residential landscapes and open spaces (e.g., urban parks, riparian areas, desert preserves) within the CAP ecosystem at various spatial and temporal scales to understand how varied urban environmental factors shape vegetation and wildlife communities. The ideal candidate will develop their research ideas in collaboration with primary faculty mentor(s) within the CAP LTER Research Teams that organize our work and have the opportunity to work with our land use land cover change group on standard data products that they produce for the CAP research community. The postdoctoral scholar will utilize existing long-term datasets (biophysical, land cover, and social surveys) to answer interdisciplinary research questions. Although CAP has spatial datasets for the study area, many of the biotic datasets (plants and wildlife) are taken at annual or seasonal intervals. Successful candidate will help build bioclimatic and other metrics on a scale that is important to the research questions related to social-ecological dynamics of yards, neighborhoods, parks, and other land use types. Thus, we seek to 1) build annual or seasonal variables related to urban ecological infrastructure (e.g., impervious surface maps – often used to monitor human activity and environmental change); 2) develop reproducible code and standardized protocols to automate the process for future years; and 3) use these datasets and workflows to answer scientific research questions about the structure and functioning of urban ecosystems. We propose to build new spatial-temporal datasets for urban ecological infrastructure (i.e., vegetation cover), annual impervious surface, and climate (i.e., temperature during the hottest quarter).
Job Duties:
Develop relevant original research and answer testable questions using long-term CAP datasets
Data analyses and development of standard data products
Work with our land use land cover change (LULCC) group on standard data products that they produce for the CAP research community, and learn how these spatial datasets are created
Manuscript preparation/publication and dissemination of research at national conferences
Work with CAP collaborators and students, as discussed within the postdoctoral mentoring team
Qualifications:
Required Qualifications
The successful candidate will have a Ph.D. in geography, ecology, environmental science, plant or wildlife science, remote sensing, spatial ecology, or a related field by the time of appointment. The Ph.D. must have been earned within the last four years.
Desired Qualifications
Background in spatial analysis/GIS, statistical or ecological modeling, and data processing and analyses.
Demonstrated record of scientific publication in relevant disciplines, particularly in areas related to the research topics and goals outlined above.
Experience with near-peer or peer-peer mentoring.
Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
Experience integrating different types of datasets (ecological, spatial, and/or social data).
Programming skills (e.g., Python, R, Google Earth Engine or other languages).
Knowledge of and/or interest in the LTER Network and/or long-term datasets and/or bioinformatics, particularly related research topics and goals outlined above.
Commitment to meeting the needs of diverse communities and interacting cooperatively with a range of CAP LTER faculty, students, and staff.
Demonstrated written and verbal communication skills (in English).
Application Instructions:
The initial application deadline is January 30, 2023. Applications will continue to be reviewed weekly thereafter until the positions are filled. To apply, candidates will be asked to submit the following through their Interfolio Dossier:
Cover letter outlining qualifications and experience
Curriculum Vitae, including links to authored publications
Name, phone number, address and e-mail address of three (3) professional references
If you have questions, please email the search committee chair at [email protected].
For the eighth year in a row, ASU has been named the most innovative school in the nation, recognizing the university's culture of groundbreaking research and partnerships, as well as its commitment to helping students thrive in college and beyond. U.S. News and World Report has named ASU as the most innovative university all five years the category has existed.
ASU Knowledge Enterprise advances research, innovation, strategic partnerships, entrepreneurship, and international development. Our success arises from solutions-focused, interdisciplinary research; an entrepreneurial approach that is embedded in every school and department; and a commitment to transform society in a positive way. http://research.asu.edu/
