Plant-for-the-Planet is looking for a full-time Postdoctoral Researcher in Forest Restoration Ecology who will analyze data from large-scale forest restoration planting sites in the Yucatán Peninsula.
You will lead projects to:
- Evaluate the effect of environmental variables such as precipitation, timing and planting dates on plant growth and survival rates. Survival data are already available (database cleaning and organization is needed). Growth data are being collected and are expected to be available in the next 2 months.
- Test whether forest soil microbiome inoculation can improve restoration outcomes. You will lead an experiment consisting of inoculating pots with forest soil from different locations to evaluate how different soil microbiome communities affect seedling performance. Data will be collected during seedling development in a nursery as well as in the field after outplanting. ETH Zürich will support soil community DNA sequencing.
You will lead experimental design and implementation, data collection and analyses, and write up the results for publication in peer-reviewed academic journals. Your work will be supervised by Dr Colin Averill and Dr Leland Werden.
You will also be encouraged to design and implement your own research based on your own interests, within the context of the Plant-for-the-Planet restoration and conservation.
This position is based at our newly established Research Park in Constitución, Campeche where experimental plots and planting sites are located. Our teams usually work 10.5 days straight and rest 3.5 days. This work scheme is negotiable, and the post-doc may choose a different schedule if preferred. Modest on-site housing and three meals are provided. However, the post-doc may choose another housing facility and adapt it if he/she prefers to do so. A small budget and a research assistant may be assigned as part of the contract.
Required Skills and Experience
- PhD in ecology, environmental sciences, or related fields (applicants that will graduate soon are encouraged to apply)
- Peer-reviewed publication record in ecology
- Intimate knowledge of tropical forest ecology and restoration science
- Experience leading, designing and implanting field and/or nursery experiments
- Strong skills in quantitative analysis and data visualization
- Experience in the design and implementation of forest restoration experiments
- A passion for understanding and improving the practice of ecological restoration.
- Experience speaking, reading, and writing in English
Conditions & Compensation
We offer a 24 month position (with an option for extension) and a monthly post-tax compensation of MXN 32,000.
How to Apply
Please email your application documents (CV, cover letter, 2-3 example publications), stating your earliest possible starting date to Felix Finkbeiner (felix.finkbeiner@plant-for-the-planet.org).
About Plant-for-the-Planet
Plant-for-the-Planet is a global movement to restore forest ecosystems to tackle the climate crisis and biodiversity loss. To do so, we empower young people, restore ecosystems, conduct restoration research, provide free software tools and restoration advice for organizations around the world. We value and promote the diversity of our employees and applicants.
We are a collective of young climate justice ambassadors, environmental scientists, designers, and software developers – in the Americas, Asia & Europe – and we believe that we need to protect the world’s three trillion trees and bring back a further one trillion trees.
