Postdoctoral Researcher (Carbon Monitoring on US Rangelands)
Falmouth, Massachusetts or Remote (within USA)
 

Mission:
Woodwell Climate Research Center (Woodwell Climate) conducts science for solutions at the nexus of climate, people, and nature. We partner with leaders and communities for just meaningful impact to address the climate crisis. 

Woodwell Climate is a rapidly growing, top-ranked, independent non-profit climate research institute whose mission is to advance science-based climate policies through scientific research and outreach. Our world-leading research and impact helps individuals, organizations, corporations, communities, and nations understand the realities of climate change, recognize the impact on our planet, and embrace the urgent action needed to safeguard the future of life on Earth.

Summary/Objective:
Join Woodwell Climate’s soil carbon team as a Postdoctoral Researcher working on a multi-year project developing and deploying a carbon monitoring system for conservation practices across the Northern Great Plains Ecoregion. This position is part of a large team that includes researchers, conservation practitioners, and rangeland managers at National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the National Audubon Society, World Wildlife Fund and Columbia University. The successful candidate will improve, parameterize, and implement a high-performance computing (HPC) platform-based modeling system which leverages remote sensing imagery, field measurements, and survey datasets with both machine learning and process-based models.

Responsibilities include but not limited:

• Collaborate on improvements to the Rangeland Carbon Tracking and Monitoring tool
• Liaise with project partners across institutions
• Efficiently process and downscale spatial and remote sensing data products from multiple platforms
• Adapt and refine code for carbon cycle model
• Develop an efficient pipeline for implementing the model at scale (millions of acres)
• Develop a web application for the public to access the model 
• Lead the development of manuscripts describing model development and application

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Demonstrated knowledge of carbon cycling in terrestrial ecosystems
• Experience improving and implementing carbon cycle models
• Strong data science skills including proficiency in spatial data analysis
• Strong coding skills using R and Python (C/C++ or other languages a plus)
• Experience with cloud-computing and Google Earth Engine
• Superior oral and written communication and networking skills
• Ability to work as a member of a highly collaborative team in a fast-paced environment
• Familiarity with management of working lands a preferred
• Experience with machine learning / artificial intelligence a preferred
• Willingness to travel about 10% of time
   

Application review will begin ongoing 

Desired Start Date: August 1, 2024

Fixed-term: This position is for one-year with the potential to extend for two additional years dependent upon performance and availability of funds.

Classification and Compensation: This is a full-time, salaried, exempt position, the annual salary range starting at $69,000+ dependent on qualifications/experience. Woodwell offers a generous benefits package and work life balance.

Application Instructions: To apply, please send your cover letter addressing your experience and qualifications in relation to the responsibilities of this position and curriculum vitae as a single PDF to our career’s portal.

Located on a 10-acre campus on the traditional and sacred land of the Wampanoag people, near the village of Woods Hole, Woodwell Climate Research Center is a private, non-profit research center. Woodwell is a leading source of climate science that drives the urgent action needed to solve climate change. Woodwell has 80+ staff members, and is excited to welcome new employees to this work.

Woodwell is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, mental, or physical disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, familial status, veteran status, or genetic information. Woodwell is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for all individuals in employment practices, services, programs, and activities.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Woodwell

WE NEED ALL VOICES IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE

Climate change is the greatest challenge of our lifetimes. Woodwell Climate Research Center (Woodwell) understands that the climate crisis—from causes to consequences—is inextricably linked with persistent social injustice. Effectively addressing either requires addressing both. The climate crisis demands that we bring to bear all of the knowledge, expertise, innovation, and creativity that we can collectively muster, and those who have been marginalized and disproportionately impacted must be heard.

The work Woodwell does—the questions we ask, the ways we seek answers, and the strategies we put forward—is stronger when shaped by a diversity of knowledge, perspectives, and experiences. We strive to welcome, respect, and amplify differing voices. We value individuals as they are, with all their differences in race, age, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, language, and mental and physical abilities.

Woodwell acknowledges that our organization, and the scientific community more broadly, have a long way to go in living up to these ideals. We approach the work of improving our organization with the same ambition and commitment to systemic change that we bring to addressing climate change.

We will inevitably make mistakes, but we will continue to listen, learn, and do this critical work. We understand that this work requires an ongoing commitment from each and every one of us. We are actively engaged in building and sustaining an equitable and inclusive culture within our organization, and in fostering greater diversity in climate science.