Postdoctoral Fellowship in Harmful Algal Blooms Nutrient Ecology, Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research

Summary
A postdoctoral fellowship is available for a highly qualified individual to join the Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research (CIGLR, https://ciglr.seas.umich.edu/). The successful candidate will work with a team at CIGLR and the NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL) to improve models of how nutrient availability and nutrient imbalance affect harmful algal blooms. Numerous studies have found direct or correlative evidence that available phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) concentrations, or alternatively the N:P ratio, drive bloom biomass, community composition, and toxin concentration. However, parsing the effect of each of these drivers from environmental sampling data is problematic because;
1. Available N, P, and N:P (measure of imbalance) are covariate through time, particularly during bloom periods.
2. These effects are strongly scale-dependent.
3. The outcomes from such investigations are often counter-intuitive or do not match the causal mechanisms as understood from mechanistic laboratory experiments.
The candidate will apply complementary statistical methodologies to separate the effects of N and P concentrations, and imbalance in N:P, on bloom biomass, community composition, and toxin concentration using our long-term dataset from western Lake Erie and potentially other datasets. In addition to statistical modeling, the candidate will assist with planning and overseeing laboratory chemostat experiments using Microcystis isolates from Lake Erie.

How to Apply
Applications are welcomed and encouraged from all qualified individuals regardless of background and identity. To apply, please complete the application on the U-M Careers site. Applicants should provide the following materials as part of their complete application:

Cover letter describing your qualifications related to the position and research accomplishments
Curriculum vitae
Contact information for three professional references
Two representative publications
Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. Incorporating these materials as a single PDF file is preferred, but additional files may be emailed to Casey Godwin, cgodwin@umich.edu.

Available N, P, and N:P (measure of imbalance) are covariate through time, particularly during bloom periods.
These effects are strongly scale-dependent.
The outcomes from such investigations are often counter-intuitive or do not match the causal mechanisms as understood from mechanistic laboratory experiments.
The candidate will apply complementary statistical methodologies to separate the effects of N and P concentrations, and imbalance in N:P, on bloom biomass, community composition, and toxin concentration using our long-term dataset from western Lake Erie and potentially other datasets. In addition to statistical modeling, the candidate will assist with planning and overseeing laboratory chemostat experiments using Microcystis isolates from Lake Erie.

Mission Statement
The School for Environment and Sustainability (https://seas.umich.edu/) is a collaborative and interdisciplinary school. Our mission includes contributing to the protection of environmental resources and the achievement of a sustainable society. We accomplish this by generating and sharing knowledge, contributing to policy and engaging managers and stakeholders.

SEAS is committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive and equitable environment that respects diverse experiences, promotes generous listening and communications, and discourages and restoratively responds to acts of discrimination, harassment, or injustice. Our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion is deeply rooted in our values for a sustainable and just society.

Who We Are
CIGLR is a collaboration between the University of Michigan’s School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Together they bring experts from academia and government research labs to work on pressing problems facing the Great Lakes region.

The University of Michigan is a top-ranked public university with excellence in research and teaching. Ann Arbor, home to the University of Michigan, is a town known for arts, culture, parks and restaurants.

Work Locations
The fellow will spend the majority of their time at the NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Postdocs will be expected to maintain strong records of scholarly publication, as well as records of presentation at scientific conferences and public meetings.

Additional Information
Salary will be determined based on experience.

Remote and flexible work agreements may be made to support partial off-site work at a remote location.

Term Appointment: The initial appointment is for one year, with an opportunity for extension based on performance.

This position is open only to US Citizens or permanent residents due to federal security clearance required for access to NOAA GLERL facilities and resources.

U-M EEO/AA Statement
The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.

Job Type: Post-doc
Application deadline: 07/01/2023
Organization: Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research School for Environment and Sustainability University of Michigan
Qualifications: Required Qualifications • A Ph.D. in natural sciences with research experience in limnology, plankton or aquatic microbial ecology, or a similar field. • Research or graduate experience in contemporary statistical modeling techniques (e.g. Bayesian multilevel models, path analysis, causal analysis). • Familiarity with data analysis and visualization in a scripting environment using R, Python, or similar software. • Demonstrated ability to analyze data and lead the writing of manuscripts for refereed journal publication. Desired Qualifications • Experience with harmful algal blooms and nutrients • Experience with confronting environmental data with predictions from laboratory experiments or physiological mechanisms • Experience working with chemostat cultures (not necessarily phytoplankton)
How to apply: Visit https://careers.umich.edu/job_detail/235106/postdoctoral-fellowship-harmful-algal-blooms-nutrient-ecology
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Web address: https://careers.umich.edu/job_detail/235106/postdoctoral-fellowship-harmful-algal-blooms-nutrient-ecology

Contact Information:
Margaret Throckmorton

+17346473299
throckmj@umich.edu