Deadline: Tue, 08/08/2023 - 12:00pm Employer: Purdue University Job Field: Forestry Job Type: Full Time Location: Indiana Location Detail: West Lafayette, IN Job Description: The Department of Forestry and Natural Resources in West Lafayette, Indiana, is seeking applicants for a postdoctoral scientist. This position is funded for a minimum of 18 months through the U.S. Forest Service Northern Research Station, the Department of Defense, and the Hardwood Tree Improvement and Regeneration Center. Additional tenure in the position is conditional on successful grantsmanship. The successful candidate will be involved in data collection, data analysis and writing for several projects within both the Saunders’ and Jenkins’ labs. These include fire effects on regeneration and wildlife populations at the Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment (www.heeforeststudy.org), a large multidisciplinary research project examining the relationship of silvicultural practices to changes in plant and animal species within forests across Indiana, and at the Naval Surface Warfare Center – Crane Division, a long-term silviculture trial using expanding group shelterwoods and prescribed fire to regenerate oak and increase structural complexity of Central Hardwood oak forests. The incumbent will assist in data analysis and writing for several studies on National Forests in the Central Hardwood Region including regeneration and understory response to shelterwood and prescribed fire treatments on the Hoosier National Forest, and a regional cost-benefit analysis of prescribed fire as applied to oak-dominated forests for regeneration purposes. Lastly, the incumbent will assist in collection of ground-truth data for several projects in the Center for Digital Forestry (https://ag.purdue.edu/digital-forestry/), including a lead role in an effort to use cutting-edge LiDAR and orthophotogrammetry for operational silvicultural treatments. Opportunities will also exist to gain teaching and extension experience, if desired, and to develop independent research related to the aforementioned projects. Qualifications: • Ph.D. in Forest Science, Fire Ecology or closely-related field • Field work experience, preferably in a research setting. The individual should be comfortable with collecting field data in adverse environmental conditions typical of southern Indiana. • Strong oral and written communication skills • Strong analytic skills including knowledge of experimental design, ordination, and mixed-effects models • Demonstrated technical and scientific writing (i.e., journal articles, technical reports or manuscripts) • A desire to be team player and mentor to junior staff in the labs • Possess or quickly obtain a valid driver's license; must have good driving record. Miscellaneous: Position is subject to background check. We acknowledge that Purdue University is built upon and near the ancestral homelands of the Indigenous People. We honor and appreciate the Bodéwadmik (Potawatomi), Lenape (Delaware), Myaamia (Miami), and Shawnee People who are the original Indigenous caretakers of this land. Purdue University is an equal opportunity/equal access/affirmative action employer, fully committed to achieving a diverse workforce. Salary: 52,000 - 60,000 per year Benefits: Subsidized insurance with health and dental. How to Apply: To apply, please provide 1) a cover letter, 2) CV/resume detailing academic training and experience, 3) a sample of technical or scientific writing in which you were a lead author, and 4) a list of three references with contact information (emails and phone numbers). Please send application materials via email to both Mike Saunders (msaunder@purdue.edu, 765-430-1440) and Mike Jenkins (jenkinma@purdue.edu, 765-494-3602). Questions can be directed to either Dr. Saunders or Dr. Jenkins. Applications will be reviewed as they are received, with the position offered ASAP. A desired start date, albeit negotiable, is August 1; this position can be remote for 2-3 months if needed.
