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Postdoctoral Research Position – Soil Health and Prairie Restoration

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Open 7/7/24 - 8/8/24: There is one open position for a postdoctoral research assistant at Western Michigan University (Kalamazoo, MI) and Michigan State University’s Kellogg Biological Station (Hickory Corners, MI). Funding for this position is available for two years from the start date. This position is part of an initiative through WMU to mentor and train postdoctoral researchers from diverse backgrounds to successfully pursue careers in academia. The salary is $57,000-$60,000, commensurate with experience + benefits. The successful candidate will be involved with NSF- and USDA-funded projects examining how the inclusion of prairie strips into agricultural landscapes can improve soil health and increase the potential for soil carbon sequestration. Fieldwork will be conducted at Kellogg Biological Station, at the Edward Lowe Foundation, and on privately owned farms in southwest Michigan. The postdoctoral researcher will be involved in coordinating and implementing outreach activities in collaboration with the MiSTRIPS program at KBS. The postdoctoral researcher will receive mentorship from a project leadership team with diverse expertise: Dr. Kathryn Docherty (WMU), Dr. Christine Sprunger (KBS/MSU), and Dr. Elizabeth Schultheis (KBS/MSU). Interactions with university and extension faculty, numerous professional development and publication possibilities, and opportunities to mentor students will help prepare the candidate for success in their future career.

Requirements for this position are:

-Background in the field of microbial ecology, soil science, biogeochemistry, restoration ecology, or related field

-Publication record in relevant peer-reviewed scientific journals

-Use of R statistical software to conduct multivariate statistical analyses

-Data and project management skills

-Experience training students and working both independently and with teams of researchers

 

Experience in the following will strengthen the application for this position, but is not necessary:

-Experience using bioinformatics pipelines and conducting metagenomics analyses with microbial communities

-Participation in projects focused on soil restoration following agricultural land use

-Communication with public audiences about scientific concepts

 

The ideal start date for the position is October 1, 2024, but this can be flexible. Applicants have a doctoral degree in Biology, Ecology, Environmental Science, Soil Science, Restoration Ecology, or a related field.  Please contact kathryn.docherty@wmich.edu with any questions.

Applications submitted to this website, posting #S779P: https://www.wmujobs.org/postings/2541

 

Applications require four documents:

  1. Cover letter, describing a statement of interest and qualifications of the candidate specifically for this position

  2. Curriculum vitae

  3. List of 3-5 professional references

  4. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion statement describing how the candidate’s background and experiences contribute to the goal of diversifying the STEM workforce

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