Postdoctoral Research in Coastal Forest Plant Science
The Biogeochemistry Lab at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) is searching for a post-doctoral research fellow with expertise in plant ecology, plant ecophysiology, or related vegetation sciences to join a highly-collaborative, interdisciplinary team of biogeochemists, plant ecologists, and modelers to advance COMPASS-FME, a project led by Pacific Northwest National Lab focused on coastal ecosystems transitioning between upland forest and wetland ecosystem states. COMPASS-FME in the Chesapeake Bay includes highly instrumented upland-wetland field transects and TEMPEST, a novel large-scale field manipulation in an upland coastal forest that mimics storm surge-driven intrusion of seawater and intensified precipitation. The fellow will participate in developing projects that address mechanisms of forest loss and their consequences for ecosystem functioning and collaborate on multi-disciplinary science connecting plant and soil functioning with empiricists and modelers.
Successful candidates will have:
- A PhD in physical or natural sciences awarded by the time the position starts
- Experience with methods used in plant ecophysiology as applied to ecosystem-scale research
- Demonstrated ability to communicate scientific knowledge through publications
An ideal candidate could have one or more of the following:
- Experience in forest or wetland ecosystems
- Experience in tree ecology or ecophysiology
- Good quantitative skills
- Demonstrated ability to work independently and in a highly collaborative team environment
Please send a 1-page cover letter describing your relative experience and, a current cv, and the contact information for three references to Pat Megonigal (megonigalp@si.edu) by August 25, 2025. Please write the subject line as SERC-COMPASS Post Doc Applicant: [Your Name]
Pat Megonigal
megonigalp@si.edu
SERC is a research center of the Smithsonian Institution, located in Edgewater, MD on the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay, approximately 10 miles south of Annapolis, 40 miles west of Washington DC, and 40 miles south of Baltimore. SERC's 2,650-acre campus is a living laboratory for long-term ecosystem research on forests, farmland, wetlands, shorelines, and estuaries. The SERC campus contains a laboratory and office complex, as well as education and waterfront facilities, dormitories for interns, and guest housing for visitors. The post-doctoral fellow will be a 'Trust Employee' through Smithsonian’s non-profit wing, entitling them to health, vision, dental, and other benefits.
The Smithsonian Institution provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation should contact WattC@si.edu or CoyleB@si.edu. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. To learn more, please review the Smithsonian’s Accommodation Procedures.
The Smithsonian Institution is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe that a workforce comprising a variety of educational, cultural, and experiential backgrounds support and enhance our daily work life and contribute to the richness of our exhibitions and programs. See Smithsonian EEO program information: https://www.si.edu/oeo.