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Sr. Scientist in Mathematical Ecology

Employer
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Location
Oak Ridge, Tennessee
Closing date
May 16, 2021

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Discipline
Social Sciences
Career Level
Experienced
Education Level
PhD
Relocation Cost
Negotiable
Sector Type
Government

Job Details

Purpose:

The Earth Systems Science section (ESS) within the Environmental Sciences Division (ESD), http://www.esd.ornl.gov, at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), http://www.ornl.gov, is seeking a scientist to advance the development and integration of biogeochemical models using observations and experiments across multiple scales from the “top-of-the-bedrock” to the “top-of-the-vegetative-canopy”. You will demonstrate strong multidisciplinary expertise and quantitative skills. Your research will enable the transformation of biogeochemical and hydrological processes into models to capture above- and below-ground interactions. Possible applications include developing mathematical representations to quantify linkages between carbon and nutrient dynamics and soil microbial communities; and/or the use of novel technologies such as solar-induced fluorescence and eddy covariance to understand linkages between above- and below-ground ecosystem components.

ESD is an interdisciplinary research and development organization with more than 60 years of achievement in local, regional, national, and international environmental research. Our vision is to expand scientific knowledge and develop innovative strategies and technologies that will strengthen the nation’s leadership in creating solutions to help sustain the Earth’s natural resources. Our scientists conduct research, develop technology, and perform analyses to understand and assess responses of environmental systems at the environment-human interface and the consequences of alternative energy and environmental strategies.

The ESS section is world-renowned for large-scale experimental manipulations and is currently leading the US DOE flagship ‘Spruce and Peatland Responses Under Changing Environments’ (SPRUCE) field experiment (https://mnspruce.ornl.gov/). ESD staff also lead the Next Generation Ecosystem Experiment (NGEE) Arctic project (https://ngee-arctic.ornl.gov), and we are an integral partner in the NGEE Tropics research project (https://ngee-tropics.lbl.gov/). We also lead the Critical Interfaces Science Focus Area (CI-SFA, https://www.esd.ornl.gov/programs/rsfa/), which investigates the role of hydrology on the transformation of redox-sensitive elements, such as mercury, in a flowing stream system. ESS staff also lead the development of multiple land system components in the US DOE Energy Exascale Earth System Model (E3SM, https://e3sm.org/).

 

Major Duties/Responsibilities:

You will work with a diverse team of researchers seeking to advance our scientific understanding of feedbacks among carbon, nutrients, water, and energy cycles in terrestrial ecosystems and their response to multiple interacting climate and anthropogenic forcing factors. Incorporation of new process-level findings from observations and experiments into biogeochemical cycling models is a primary goal of this team. You will utilize your strong mathematical skills to develop new functions and representations of ecological processes in models over a variety of spatial and temporal scales. It is expected you will publish your findings in top-quality journals, and you will have the opportunity to participate in the generation of novel research concepts. 

 

Qualifications Required

  • A minimum of 10 years of post-Ph.D. experience
  • Ph.D. in a discipline relevant to climate interactions with terrestrial ecosystems (e.g., microbiology, ecology, soils, engineering, atmospheric science)
  • Experience with modeling ecological processes, cycling of energy and nutrients in above- and below-ground ecosystems, and/ or trace-gas emissions  
  • Ability to design and implement simulation models and advanced statistical models, conduct multi-objective optimization, and assess uncertainty in model predictions, using common scientific programming tools (e.g. FORTRAN, C#, R, Matlab, GIS)
  • Exceptional interpersonal skills, an ability to work as a part of a team, and be comfortable in a multi-disciplinary environment
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills and a strong record of publication in high- quality, peer-reviewed, international journals

ORNL is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants, including individuals with disabilities and protected veterans, are encouraged to apply.  UT-Battelle is an E-Verify employer.

Company

Oak Ridge National Laboratory is the largest science and energy national laboratory in the Department of Energy system. ORNL’s scientific programs focus on materials, neutron science, energy, high-performance computing, systems biology and national security. ORNL partners with the state of Tennessee, universities and industries to solve challenges in energy, advanced materials,manufacturing, security and physics. The laboratory's science and technology innovations are translated into applications for economic development and global security. The laboratory is home to several of the world’s top supercomputers and is a leading neutron science and nuclear energy research facility that includes the Spallation Neutron Source and High Flux Isotope Reactor. ORNL hosts a DOE Leadership Computing Facility—home of the Titan supercomputer; one of DOE’s nanoscience centers—the Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences; the BioEnergy Science Center—one of DOE’s Energy Research Centers; and the Consortium for Advanced Simulation of Light-Water Reactors, a DOE Innovation Hub.

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