Description
The Central Arizona-Phoenix Long-Term Ecological Research Program has been funded by the National Science Foundation’s Long-term Ecological Research Program (LTER) for more than 20 years to study the ecology of the metropolitan Phoenix urban ecosystem. We are seeking a highly motivated post-doctoral scholar to conduct interdisciplinary social-ecological research with CAP scholars to explore the drivers and outcomes of ecological patterns/processes across residential and open space landscapes (riparian areas, desert preserves, and/or urban parks) within the CAP ecosystem.
The ideal candidate will develop his or her own research ideas in collaboration with a primary faculty mentor(s) within two of the CAP LTER Interdisciplinary Research Teams (IRTs) that organize our work: Parks & Rivers and Residential Landscapes. Ideally, the post-doctoral scholar will utilize existing long-term datasets (biophysical, land cover, and social surveys) to answer interdisciplinary research questions about the structure and functioning of cities as ecosystems, including possible topics such as: (1) the social-ecological drivers of plant and wildlife community structure and dynamics in cities through time as linked to climate change, management decisions, demographic shifts and/or urban sustainability practices at multiple scales; and/or (2) the spatio-temporal patterns in actual and perceived ecosystem services and disservices associated with residential and open space landscapes in cities.
Essential Functions
Responsibilities of the post-doctoral scholar will include:
- Developing relevant original research and answering testable questions using long-term CAP datasets
- Data analysis and manuscript preparation/publication
- Dissemination of research at national conferences
- Advising students
- Working closely with CAP collaborators
- Other duties as discussed with the post-doctoral mentor(s)
Qualifications
Required Qualifications
The successful candidate will have:
- A Ph.D. in ecology or other natural resource disciplines, geography, or other interdisciplinary environmental or related areas of study by the start date of the appointment
- Excellent written and spoken communication skills
- A reasonable record of peer-reviewed publications, highlighting interdisciplinary social-ecological scholarship
Desired Qualifications
- Experience with the LTER Network and/or using long-term datasets
- Experience integrating different types of datasets (ecological, spatial, and/or social data)
- Strong background in spatial analysis/ArcGIS, and statistical or ecological modeling
- Ability to work both independently and as part of a team
- Commitment to meeting the needs of diverse communities and interacting cooperatively with a range of CAP faculty, students, and staff
Application Instructions
Application Procedure
The application deadline is January 31, 2019, if not filled; reviews will occur every two weeks thereafter until the search is closed.
To apply, candidates will be asked to submit the following through their Interfolio Dossier:
- Cover letter outlining qualifications and experience (1 page)
- Curriculum Vitae, including links to authored publications
- Research statement (1 to 2 pages) of past and future research experiences and interests. Please include possible research questions of interest to the candidate with reference to specific long-term CAP LTER datasets
- Name, phone number, address, and e-mail address of three (3) references
- Unofficial graduate transcripts
Please include all employment information in month/year format (e.g., 6/88 to 8/94), job title, job duties and name of employer for each position. Only electronic applications will be accepted. Any inquiries should be addressed to asuwrigleyhr@asu.edu.
