Postdoc position: Tundra vegetation change and implications for wildlife habitats

  • Vancouver
  • The University Of British Columbia
AcademicJob CategoryFaculty Non BargainingJob TitlePostdoc position: Tundra vegetation change and implications for wildlife habitatsDepartmentResearch | Myers-Smith Lab | Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences | Faculty of Forestry (Isla Myers-Smith)Posting End DateApril 15, 2024Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the day prior to the Posting End Date above.Job End DateMar 31, 2026The expected pay for this position is $5,Postdoc position: Tundra vegetation change and implications for wildlife habitatsJob descriptionThere is an urgent need to understand the effects of climate change on tundra ecosystems including vegetation change such as shrubification. Increasing shrub cover is modifying the habitats of key wildlife species including caribou, muskox (Ovibos moschatus), moose (Alces alces) and Dall sheep (Ovis dalli dalli), facilitating increases in predator populations. Changes to plant habitat can have critical impacts on animal population dynamics and trophic interactions among plants, prey and predators. Thus, understanding vegetation change will be critical to understanding the fate of wildlife populations and shifts in Arctic food webs in a rapidly warming Arctic.The Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) project in global change ecology of northern ecosystems will investigate how warming temperatures and shifting seasonality affect Arctic tundra, alpine and boreal forest ecosystems, including changes in plant growth, habitat composition, wildlife movement and species ranges. It will also examine the collective impact of these changes on the livelihoods of Indigenous communities in the Yukon Territory, Canada. As a part of this CERC project, we are offering a postdoctoral position in the Faculty of Forestry at University of British Columbia for a self-motivated candidate with a strong scientific background in the fields of ecology, remote sensing or a related field with excellent English language skills.In this postdoc project, you will study vegetation change over time across spatial scales and will explore the implications for wildlife habitats. You will work with available ecological and remote sensing data to quantify changes in vegetation change across spatial and temporal scales and the implications for wildlife. Research questions will be co-developed with Indigenous communities in the Canadian North. This research will increase our understanding of tundra vegetation change and the implications for wildlife species. We collaborate with a team of early career researchers, Northern partners and international experts to conduct this research.Minimum QualificationsA PhD degree in ecology, remote sensing, environmental sciences or a related fieldStrong quantitative skills including ecological data analysis, statistical analysis and data managementExperience in R and/or Python programmingAn interest in interdisciplinary research spanning the fields of ecology, remote sensing, spatial analysis and mathematical ecologyExperience in writing and publishing peer-reviewed articlesFluency in verbal and written EnglishExcellent oral and written communication skillsAbility to work independently and lead multi-author collaborative research projectsInterest in working in an interdisciplinary and collaborative environment as a part of a diverse teamWillingness to provide mentorship to early career researchers on the teamPreferred QualificationsExperience using version control software and conducting collaborative scienceWillingness to lead fieldwork in Arctic locationsKnowledge of spatial analysis and Bayesian statisticsExperience conducting fieldworkExperience conducting ecological data synthesisExperience in northern ecosystemsExperience piloting drone and working with drone imagery OfferYou will be offered a full-time two-year position with the potential to extend to a third year. The annual salary will be $60,000 CAD per year. UBC offers postdocs a wide-ranging benefits plan that includes extended health and dental coverage. Postdocs are encouraged to apply for external funding to support their independent research building on this position within the research group. About the OrganizationThis position will be based at the Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, Faculty of Forestry, the University of British Columbia, Vancouver campus, which is located on the territory of the Musqueam (xʷməθkʷəy̓əm) People.The University of British Columbia is a global centre for teaching, learning and research, consistently ranked among the top 20 public universities in the world. The University of British Columbia’s (UBC) Faculty of Forestry is recognized globally as one of the leading forestry faculties in the world. As the largest Faculty of Forestry in Canada, we welcome almost 1500 undergraduate and graduate students from over 40 countries every year to study forestry at UBC.We strive to create a respectful, positive and safe working environment for people of all backgrounds. We believe that inclusiveness and diversity are essential to academic excellence. We encourage members of underrepresented groups to apply including First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples, Indigenous peoples of North America, Black-identified persons, other racialized persons, persons with disabilities, and those who identify as women and/or 2SLGBTQ+. Additional InformationApplyThe application deadline is 20th March 2024 or until the position is filled. For more information see: BenefitsPlan Group Number: 020605Member ID: your 7-digit UBC employee ID number, Need crisis counselling? , Call the TELUS Health at 1-866-424-0770 to chat with a counsellor., Disclaimer, The benefits information on this website is provided as a descriptive summary only. While the University has endeavored to accurately reflect its benefit programs, policies and plans, the information on this website does not create any contractual or other rights between the University and its faculty and staff members. To the extent that there are any conflicts or discrepancies between the benefits information on this website and the benefit plan documents (including group insurance contracts and benefit booklets) or any applicable collective agreement, employment agreement, or UBC policy, the benefit plan documents and collective agreement, employment agreement, or UBC policy will govern in all cases.