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Job Openings: USGS Postdoctoral Fellowships in Salt Marsh Conservation & Restoration

Tuesday, June 7, 2022

Job Description: The Northeast Climate Adaptation Science Center (NECASC) in collaboration with the USGS Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center (WHCMSC) and the FWS Atlantic Coast Joint Venture (ACJV) are seeking two postdoctoral research scholars to make meaningful contributions towards the development of a decision framework for salt marsh restoration and conservation. Both post docs will use existing data products to quantitatively evaluate coastal conservation and restoration opportunities, with a focus on strengthening and streamlining the connection between USGS, NECASC, and FWS/ACJV regional science efforts in coastal systems.  

Postdoctoral Fellow 1 should have expertise in coastal dynamics, saltmarsh morphology and state of the art geospatial techniques. This fellow will work with PIs at the USGS Northeast Climate Adaptation Science Center, affiliated academic institutions and partners at the USGS Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center to geospatially integrate and assess new proxies for salt marsh integrity. These proxies may include but are not limited to: 1. wetland above ground biomass, 2. normalized marsh elevation, and 3. sediment-based lifespan.  

Postdoctoral Fellow 2 should have expertise in ecology/biostatistics. This fellow will work and connect PIs affiliated with the USGS NECASC and the FWS Atlantic Coast Joint Venture to synthesize and statistically evaluate the currently available data on occupancy, abundance and patterns for key saltmarsh species. Specific activities for the participating ecologist/biostatistician include, but are not limited to: 1. A synthesis of pre-existing data sets on saltmarsh species habitat use, distribution and density within NECASC coastal region (Virginia-to-Maine) in combination with updated and refined metrics on key habitat types including low saltmarsh, high saltmarsh and fresh-water vegetation; 2. Development of geospatially referenced products of habitat type and species occupancy, abundance, and associated usage trends; and 3. A biostatistical assessment of habitat use/value relative to updated salt marsh integrity indexes developed by the corresponding geomorphologist fellow. 

Locations: Each fellow may reside either at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) located in Amherst, Massachusetts or Woods Hole, Massachusetts. Opportunities also exist to be co-located at the Northeast Fish & Wildlife Service Headquarters in Hadley, MA and the Woodwell Climate Research Center in Woods Hole, MA. 

Stipend: The current stipend amount for each fellowship is $68,299 per year. Full family insurance benefits are provided as well as funding for supplies, travel, and publications fees. 

Application Deadline: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis beginning on July 20th, 2022. 

Start Date and Duration: The anticipated start date for the appointment will be in the late summer or early fall of 2022 (earliest start date of 8/1/22). The initial appointment is for one year but may be supported for a second year depending, in part, on funding availability and the performance of the incumbent during year 1. 

Citizenship Requirements: This opportunity is available to U.S. citizens, Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR), and foreign nationals.  

Mentoring Team:  

  • Jon Woodruff & Michelle Staudinger- NECASC/Univ. of Massachusetts 

  • Neil Ganju - USGS/WHCMSC, Joel Carr – USGS/EESC 

  • Mo Correll, Mitch Hartley & Aimee Weldon - FWS/ACJV 

  • Linda Deegan - NECASC/Woodwell Climate Research Center 

Inquiries/questions can be sent to either @email or @email 

Application Link: https://www.zintellect.com/Opportunity/Details/USGS-2022-10