Recruit

The Invasive Weed and Restoration Ecology Lab at the University of California Davis lead by Dr. Justin Valliere is seeking a postdoctoral researcher to join their team in investigating patterns and predictors of heat tolerance in the California flora. The goal of the project is to assess heat tolerance across a diversity of species and ecosystems and identify plant traits that can be used as reliable predictors of leaf thermotolerance. This information will be used to advance our understanding of species’ vulnerabilities to projected climate change and guide conservation and restoration in a warming world.

Despite the well-recognized threat of climate warming, impacts on native plant species are understudied. Furthermore, while a number of models exist for projecting future climate scenarios, we lack the tools for robust analysis of how these changes will impact the persistence of native species. With over 6,000 plant taxa, predicting the consequences of climate change on the California flora is a significant challenge. Thus, there is a strong need for empirical data on plant heat tolerance across the state’s diverse ecosystems to develop and implement strategies for preserving biodiversity and ecosystem services in a warmer world. The postdoc will lead efforts to fill this research gap. This work will involve extensive fieldwork to many of the UC Natural Reserves throughout California for vegetation sampling and experimental evaluation of plant heat tolerance.

The postdoc will lead these efforts as part of a project funded by California’s Fifth Climate Change Assessment Core Climate Research Program. The successful candidate will be based at UC Davis and will coordinate and lead field research throughout the state. Data on plant functional traits and thermotolerance thresholds will be used to identify species that are the most at-risk under rising temperatures, determine predictors of heat tolerance across species, and to model potential impacts on species’ ranges. The postdoc will lead a team of Junior Specialists and student researchers in these efforts and will engage in lab management activities and mentoring of junior personnel and students.

The position is for two years and will be at 100% time, paid according to the University of California postdoc pay scale.

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 University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.