Recruit

Postdoctoral Scholar Opportunity at University of California, Davis
PI: Rebecca Hernandez
Dept of LAWR, Global Ecology & Sustainability Lab
https://www.geslab.org/

The Global Ecology and Sustainability Lab, in the Dept. of LAWR at UC Davis is seeking an ambitious and creative postdoctoral scholar to study the interface between ground-mounted solar energy development and soils. This project seeks to understand how soils respond to ground-mounted solar energy infrastructure and how restoration activities may serve as a driver of changes in soil carbon across solar energy-related microsites. Additionally, the scholar will have the opportunity to examine the impact of ecological restoration and co-production (e.g., with community stakeholders and tribes) on aligning climate change mitigation and conservation goals.

It is expected that the postdoc will lead a minimum of two high-impact peer reviewed scientific articles per year with the supervision of Dr. Hernandez and collaborators. In addition, it is expected that the postdoc will supervise an appropriate number of undergraduate student assistants who will be working on this same project.

The successful candidate will work under the direction of Prof. Rebecca R. Hernandez, who will provide mentoring to prepare the postdoctoral scholar for a research career. This position will be partly supported by a grant from the Electric Power Research Institute. Additional mentors include Co-PIs and Professors: Majdi Abou Najm and Rebecca Lybrand.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop experiments and testable hypotheses to better understand interactions among solar energy site characteristics, soil carbon and physiochemical properties, including soil crevices that serve as important habitat features for California tiger salamander
• Develop complementary experiment and/or study on knowledge co-production, indigenous science, and/or traditional ecological knowledge
• Collect and analyze observations to test hypotheses
• Lab maintenance, including equipment maintenance, and ordering of supplies as needed
• Present results at meetings, conferences, and seminars
• Publish results in reports and high-quality, peer-reviewed journals (participate in grant writing opportunities, if desired)

QUALIFICATIONS

Basic/Minimum qualifications:
• Completed a doctoral degree in soil ecology, soil science, soil biogeochemistry, or a related field
• It is expected that the degree requirement will be completed by the time of the appointment
• Demonstrated ability to tackle important questions with the scientific method
• Demonstrated excellence in written and verbal communication

Preferred qualifications:
• A strong background in at least one of the following areas: soil carbon and/or soil ecology;
• A strong background in field-based soil methods and data analysis;
• Experience with research emphasizing indigenous science, traditional ecological knowledge, and/or co-production is also preferred.

We will also consider seriously any outstanding candidate from other fields with rigorous training in ecology, if strongly motivated to study soil carbon and/or soil ecology.

UC Davis is nestled in a top-rated college town, with good access to SF Bay Area, Napa Valley, Lake Tahoe, and Yosemite. The University of California offers competitive retirement and benefit plans and has a strong institutional commitment to inclusive excellence and diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age or protected veteran status.

CONTACT
For further information about the position, email any questions to Dr. Rebecca Hernandez (rrhernandez@ucdavis.edu) with "Postdoctoral research position at UC Davis" in the subject line.

The positions will remain open until filled with a preferred start date of 09/01/2022 .

Department: https://lawr.ucdavis.edu/
Lab: https://www.geslab.org

UC Davis is a smoke and tobacco-free campus (http://breathefree.ucdavis.edu/).

We are an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer, and particularly encourage applications from members of historically underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, women, individuals’ with disabilities, veterans, LGBTQ community members, and others who demonstrate the ability to help us achieve our vision of a diverse and inclusive community. For the complete University of California nondiscrimination and affirmative action policy see: http://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4000376/NondiscrimAffirmAct

Under Federal law, the University of California may employ only individuals who are legally able to work in the United States as established by providing documents as specified in the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. Certain UC Davis positions funded by federal contracts or sub-contracts require the selected candidate to pass an E-Verify check. More information is available at: http://www.uscis.gov/e-verify

The University of California, Davis (UC Davis) is committed to inclusive excellence by advancing equity, diversity and inclusion in all that we do. UC Davis celebrates the multi-cultural diversity of its community by creating a welcoming and inclusive environment demonstrated through a variety of resources and programs available to academics, staff, and students. Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging are core values of UC Davis that are embedded within our Principles of Community and are tied with how to best serve our student population. Our excellence in research, teaching, and service can best be fully realized by members of our academic community who share our commitment to these values, which are included in our Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Vision, our strategic plan: “To Boldly Go,” our Principles of Community, the Office of Academic Affairs’ Mission Statement, and the UC Board of Regents Policy 4400: Policy on University of California Diversity Statement. UC Davis is making important progress towards our goal of achieving federal designation as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and an Asian American, Native American, and Pacific Islander-Serving Institution. The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion offers a plethora of resources on their website, and the Office of Health Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (HEDI) has outlined similar goals in their Anti-Racism and DEI Action Plan.” There are a plethora of links available on the About Us webpage where you can learn more about our Administration, Diversity and Inclusion, Rankings, Locations, Native American Land Acknowledgement, Sustainability, Visiting UC Davis, UC Davis Health, and Campus Safety.

The university is consistently ranked among the top institutions in the world for campus sustainability practices by the UI Green Metric World University Rankings. UC Davis is focused on achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions and repeatedly shown its commitment to preserving a healthy and sustainable environment for generations to come.

As a condition of employment, you will be required to comply with the University of California Policy on Vaccination Programs - With Updated Interim Amendments. All Covered Individuals under the policy must provide proof of receiving the COVID-19 Vaccine Primary Series or, if applicable, submit a request for Exception (based on Medical Exemption, Disability, Religious Objection, and/or Deferral based on pregnancy or recent COVID-19 diagnosis and/or treatment) no later than the applicable deadline. All Covered Individuals must also provide proof of receiving the most recent CDC-recommended COVID-19 booster or properly decline such booster no later than the applicable deadline. New University of California employees should refer to Exhibit 2, Section II.C. of the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) Vaccination Program Attachment for applicable deadlines. All Covered Individuals must also provide proof of being Up-To-Date on seasonal influenza vaccination or properly decline such vaccination no later than the applicable deadline. Please refer to the Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Program Attachment.(Capitalized terms in this paragraph are defined in the policy.) Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.