Postdoctoral positions: carbon storage capacity of the terrestrial biosphere

At Stanford University, Chris Field and Katharine Mach have two postdoctoral openings, available immediately, for work on the carbon storage capacity of the terrestrial biosphere. Areas of inquiry include the spatial distribution of this capacity across forests, croplands, and grasslands, as well as permanence risks (e.g., related to fire and drought), feasible rates of storage, and the potential of different management actions.

Position description: Capitalizing on the potential of land-based carbon storage is an active area of climate-solutions research and emerging climate policies around the world. Many lines of evidence point to opportunities for building substantial carbon sinks through reforestation and improved management of forests and agricultural soils. Relatively little is known, however, about the ultimate capacity of the terrestrial biosphere to sequester carbon. This research, funded by the Climate and Land Use Alliance, will involve (1) spatial mapping, (2) evaluating permanence risks and feasible rates of storage, and (3) analyzing the potential of different management actions. The research will involve policy engagement. The person who fills this position can be an expert in any topic related to the work, including ecosystem, agricultural, or fire modeling (PhD required). Candidates need to have strong capabilities in spatial science (e.g., remote sensing, GIS), modeling, statistical computing, or data science techniques.

Required application materials: Cover letter, curriculum vitae, and contact information for three references. Please submit the application materials via email to Katharine Mach (mach@stanford.edu) and Chris Field (cfield@stanford.edu).

See also https://postdocs.stanford.edu/prospective/opportunities/open-postdoctoral-position-faculty-mentor-chris-field.