Berkeley Lab’s (LBNL) Climate and Ecosystem Sciences (CESD) Division is seeking an innovative Postdoctoral researcher to investigate the controls of ecosystem carbon and nitrogen cycling, and how these cycles are affected by climate warming and soil depth. You will contribute to a cutting-edge grassland soil-warming experiment in Point Reyes, California, and will advance the mechanistic understanding of below ground biogeochemistry and its role in global change. They will use field and laboratory measurements (including isotopic techniques) to study the effects of warming, soil depth, and plant inputs on the microbial transformation and de/stabilization of soil carbon and plant-soil nitrogen cycling.
Join our dynamic research team of experts in soil biogeochemistry, plant and microbial ecology, geochemistry, and Earth system modeling. The primary advisor is Margaret Torn. If you are passionate about terrestrial biogeochemistry, excited about fieldwork and connecting your work to ecosystem models, we encourage you to apply.
We will begin reviewing applications on December 2, 2024.
What You Will Do
- Help lead a whole-soil warming experiment, collaborating with a multidisciplinary team.
- Develop and pursue new research questions and innovative techniques related to soils and plant-soil interactions.
- Quantify carbon and nitrogen cycling in the warming experiment, including trace gas fluxes.
- Measure and utilize elemental and isotopic (e.g., 13C, 14C, or 15N) composition of soil, plant, and/or gas samples.
- Communicate research outcomes in scientific publications and presentations.
- Set up, operate, and maintain field and laboratory instruments.
- Contribute to the development of grant proposals and progress reports.
What Is Required
- Recent Ph.D. in ecology, soil science, biogeochemistry, earth sciences, or a related field.
- Expertise in biogeochemistry.
- Demonstrated experience in fieldwork.
- Proficiency in handling moderate-to-large datasets and applying statistical analyses.
- Relevant laboratory experience.
- Ability to spend multiple days per month at a field site, including overnight stays.