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Postdoctoral Position in Plant Ecophysiology and Global Change
Position overview
Position title: Postodoctoral Position in Plant Ecophysiology and Global ChangeApplication Window
Open date: January 21, 2026
Next review date: Wednesday, Feb 11, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.
Final date: Sunday, Mar 15, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.
Position description
Applications are invited for a postdoctoral scholar to engage in research on tree local adaptation and ecophysiological response to global change (fire, drought, elevated temperature, CO2). The postdoctoral scholar will lead work on Moore Foundation-funded research on conifer ecology and physiology in the Anderegg and Trugman Labs at UC Santa Barbara, using common garden experiments and growth chamber/greenhouse experiments.
The appointee will be responsible for the design, field sample collection, laboratory phenotyping and analysis of multiple conifer species growing across an array of common gardens in the California Sierra Nevada that are part of the Adaptive Management Experiment (https://www.adaptive-forest-management-experiment.com/). Relevant phenotypes could include plant architecture, morphology, hydraulics, thermotolerance, mycorrhizal association and fire resistance/flammability. Common garden sampling will be complemented by growth chamber experiments to further explore the mechanisms of tree resilience to climate stress and interactions or feedbacks between environmental stressors/forcings (thermal and hydraulic stress, elevated CO2). The broad goals of this work are to understand the extent of among-population genetic differentiation in resistance to multiple stressors, the potential plasticity of multi-stress resistance (and among-population differences in plasticity), the synergistic or antagonistic interactions of multiple types of stress and stress resistance strategies (e.g. drought and heat resistance), and the impacts of novel environments (hot, dry high severity burn scars, elevated CO2, altered snow hydrology) on conifer seedling/sapling resilience. The results of this research will be used to develop management tools for climate-resilient forest management, in collaboration with partners such as Dr. Sarah Bisbing (U Nevada Reno), California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CALFIRE), and Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.
The appointee may work on one or multiple additional ongoing lab projects, depending upon interests and past experience; opportunities also exist to collaborate with mathematical modelers, remote sensing projects, and restoration studies across California ecosystems. This position will require field travel for up to 6 weeks per year.
The postdoctoral scholar(s) will also be encouraged to develop independent but related lines of inquiry and to take advantage of professional development opportunities available at UC Santa Barbara and through collaborations, meeting attendance, management workshop participation, etc.
Qualifications
Applicants must hold a PhD or must have completed all requirements for a PhD program (or equivalent) except the dissertation.
-Applicant must hold a PhD in Biology, Ecology, Environmental Science, Geography or related discipline by time of appointment.
-Hold a valid US drivers license
-Prior research experience in one or more of the following areas: plant ecophysiology, quantitative genetics, greenhouse/growth chamber or field manipulative experiments, mechanistic plant/ecosystem modeling, functional ecology, ecosystem ecology
-Extensive field research experience, particularly leading or managing field crews
-Teaching/mentoring experience, particularly of undergraduate scholars
-Strong writing and oral communication skills/experience
-Experience in experimental design and data analysis, and evidence of leadership on collaborative projects appropriate to career stage.
-A track record of scholarship including talks and peer-reviewed publications appropriate to career stage.
Application Requirements
Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
Cover Letter
Statement of Research - A short (1-2 page) statement of research experience and interests related to the project.
Publications - PDFs of up to 3 representative publications (preprints acceptable/encouraged).
(Optional)
- 3-5 required (contact information only)
Please provide the full names, emails and phone numbers (for a possible follow up with the reference provider) of 3-5 references who are prepared to provide letters of recommendation upon request.
Help contact: janhunter@ucsb.edu
About UC Santa Barbara
As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct.
- “Misconduct” means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant’s previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment or discrimination as defined by the employer.
- UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
- UC Anti-Discrimination Policy for Employees, students and third parties
- APM - 035: Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment
Additionally, you will be required to comply with the University of California Policy on Vaccination Programs, as may be amended or revised from time to time. Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.
The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.