Start date: Flexible, between March-June 2021
Duration: 36 months with the potential to renew
Location: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama
I am recruiting a post-doctoral research associate to join our team investigating the interplay between hydrology, biogeochemistry, and microbial communities in shaping responses to stream intermittency across three geographic regions. The “Aquatic Intermittency effects on Microbiomes in Streams (AIMS),”project is funded through the NSF EPSCoR RII Track 2 FEC program and led by colleagues at the University of Kansas, with collaborators at University of Mississippi, University of Southern Mississippi, University of Oklahoma, Kansas State University, and Idaho State University. The aim of the project is to quantify and predict how drying in stream networks impacts downstream water quality, in order to better inform policy and management in Mountain West, Great Plains, and Southeastern Forest ecosystems. This highly interdisciplinary post-doctoral position offers an opportunity to be involved in a large-scale research project by leading efforts in data collation, database management, data analysis and visualization, field and lab work, and other research tasks. The successful candidate will interact regularly with the PIs, other post-docs, graduate students, undergraduates, and collaborators from other Universities and local stakeholder groups.
Responsibilities will include:
Lead and support research. The successful candidate will lead sensor set-up and data collation, build and maintain workflows and data pipelines for data QA/QC, and facilitate data sharing within and outside of the lab group. The position will require travel to sites in Alabama, as well as traveling out of state to assist with data collection in Idaho, Kansas, Oklahoma, and North Carolina.
Data analysis. The successful candidate will assist with ongoing analyses and also have the opportunity to develop and pursue independent research questions related to project goals.
Mentoring. The successful candidate will work closely with PIs, graduate students, and undergraduate students to collect and process data.
Assist with general research operations. The successful candidate will be the go-to person for a variety of tasks required for running a successful collaborative research project. These tasks include purchasing and maintaining equipment, contribution to writing of manuscripts and reports, and assisting students and/or other post-docs to support the general mission of the AIMS project.
Qualifications:
The ideal candidate should have experience conducting fieldwork in streams, experience with sensors and sensor networks, strong communication skills, project management skills, experience working with large datasets, a background in basic ecological principles, familiar with conducting water chemistry and hydrologic analyses, excellent computational skills, and the ability to effectively manage large data sets. The applicant should be creative and independent, have excellent organizational, communication, and writing skills, a good publication record in ecology or other related fields, and an interest in working as part of a large collaborative team. A general interest in freshwater ecology would be advantageous, but applicants with diverse research backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Candidates must have received a Ph.D. in ecology, limnology, fisheries, or a related field by the start date.
Salary: $55,000 annually plus benefits.
To apply: Applicants interested in the position should send an email with subject “AIMS postdoc” including a one-page cover letter describing their interest and qualifications along with their CV to Dr. Carla Atkinson (clatkinson@ua.edu) and copy Drs. Jon Benstead (jbenstead@ua.edu) and Nate Jones (cnjones7@ua.edu). Applicants must apply by submitting an application to the Biological Sciences Departmental postdoctoral pool at https://staffjobs.ua.edu/en-us/job/512012/postdocvisiting-scientist-biol....
Materials should include:
1. Cover letter mentioning the “Aquatic Intermittency effects on Microbiomes in Streams (AIMS)” position, a description of past research accomplishments and future research goals, and the names and contact information for 3 references (maximum of two pages).
2. Curriculum vitae
Review of applications will begin January 6, 2021.
About the University of Alabama:
The University of Alabama is the flagship campus of the University System of Alabama, with an enrollment of over 35,000 students. The University is committed to achieving excellence as one of the country's primary centers of research and education. It is located in the vibrant college town of Tuscaloosa, AL, which boasts many cultural and athletic activities. The campus also benefits from the close proximity to the Birmingham metropolitan community. The University of Alabama is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.