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.
Summary:
Woodwell Climate seeks a Postdoctoral Researcher to lead impact-related research on using fire management as a climate mitigation tool in Alaska and Canada. Intensifying boreal wildfires are releasing increasing levels of greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere, threatening climate goals, harming Arctic and non-Arctic communities with smoke, and impacting ecosystems, ecosystem services, and Indigenous ways of living. This research follows a landmark decision by the US Fish and Wildlife Service to increase the fire protection status of 1.8 million acres of land on Yedoma permafrost in order to protect carbon, permafrost, mid-to old-growth habitat, and limit impacts on surrounding communities on the Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge. Work closely with Woodwell scientists, including those involved in the Permafrost Pathways project, external collaborators, rights-holders and stakeholders in Alaska and Canada, the Postdoctoral Researcher will analyze the benefits and costs of altered fire management on the Yukon Flats, provide technical support, and assist with related outreach and engagement.
Responsibilities:
- Work with Alaska agencies to compile and analyze data on fire management operations on the Yukon Flats.
- Lead technical analyses on fire suppression cost-benefits in terms of carbon, and identify potential wildfire carbon emissions and permafrost vulnerability.
- Provide technical assistance for refuge managers on the Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge, focused on historical and current fire, vegetation, and permafrost dynamics.
- Collaborate with Woodwell scientists and project collaborators, rights-holders, and stakeholders, including through individual meetings and larger convenings, to address evolving fire management needs and strategies in Alaska and Canada.
- Collect field data related to fire impacts on Yedoma permafrost, if necessary.
- Independently execute a variety of complex research procedures.
- Schedule own work and lead project implementation.
- Lead manuscript preparation and publication.
- Present results at relevant meetings, convenings, and conferences.
Desired Qualifications and Experience:
- Ph.D. (granted or expected soon) in Environmental Sciences, Earth System Science, Ecology, Geography, or a related discipline.
- Demonstrated ability to develop and apply research techniques to complex problems.
- Ability to work independently as well as a member of a highly collaborative team.
- Ability to work across disciplines and engage with rights-holders and stakeholders outside the academic community.
- Demonstrated record of publication in scientific journals.
- Experience with technical computer coding.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills.
- Willingness and ability to travel up to 20% annually.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Knowledge of wildfires, arctic-boreal ecosystems, carbon cycling, and fire management operations is preferred.
- Familiarity with environmental economics is preferred.
Physical Requirements
In the office:
- Ability to tolerate sustained periods of walking, standing, sitting
- Ability to lift 25 pounds
- Ability to communicate
- Ability to kneel, bend, and carry items
- Ability to use phone and computers
- Repetitive movements
- Air, train, vehicle travel to attend meetings/event
In the field, the physical requirements of this role include:
- Air, train, vehicle travel to access field locations
- Driving a vehicle or ATV to access field locations
- Walking, hiking, climbing to access field locations
- Paddling, canoeing to access field locations
- Standing and sitting for sustained periods
- Frequent bending, squatting, and kneeling
- Reaching overhead
- Climbing ladders
- Use of manual and power tools including shovels, saws, drills, and hammers
- Ability to lift up to 25lbs up to 10 times/day
- Ability to carry up to 25lbs up to 10 times/day
- Ability to push/pull up to 25lbs up to 10 times/day
Application review will be ongoing. Deadline February 19, 2024
Work Dates: April 1, 2024 (start date is flexible)
Location: Based in Falmouth, Massachusetts or Remote
Worker Eligibility: Must be authorized to work in the U.S.
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.
Location: Falmouth, Massachusetts or remote.
Application Instructions: To apply, please send your cover letter addressing your experience and qualifications in relation to the responsibilities of this position, curriculum vitae, and contact information for three references as a single PDF to our career’s portal. Please visit Woodwell’s website to learn more about Woodwell’s work.
Located on a 10-acre campus near the village of Woods Hole, the Woodwell Climate Research Center (Woodwell) 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 100+ staff members and is excited to welcome new employees to this work.
Woodwell Climate 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.