PostDoc Positions at The University of Wisconsin-Madison

1. Research Associate (Postdoc) Carbon Modeling - Climate Impacts - Land Use Change Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies Dr. Tyler J. Lark

  Deadline  12/31/2022 Posting date 11/02/2022

Position Requirements: Ideal qualifications include some of the following:

• Expertise in terrestrial carbon cycle science, modeling, and assessment

• Experience with process-based agroecosystem models, data synthesis, and/or statistical analyses

• Interest in using cloud-based computing resources (e.g. Google Earth Engine, AWS) for large-scale data processing to help solve global environmental challenges

• Familiarity with agricultural conservation practices and/or other impacts of agroecosystem management and land use change (e.g. nutrient use, biodiversity)

• Possess a Ph.D. or M.S. plus extensive research experience

Position Duties: Summary: The University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Center for Sustainability and the Global Environment (SAGE) seeks an exceptional post-doctoral scientist with expertise in carbon cycling, ecosystem modeling, and agricultural land use to study global and U.S. carbon fluxes and climate mitigation opportunities. This position will conduct research, analyses and dataset/model development that is focused on improving the climate outcomes of agricultural production, conservation practices, and environmental policy across diverse scales and geographies.

Job Responsibilities: The candidate will lead the creation of a new, globally integrated dataset of soil carbon, biomass, and region- and landcover-specific emissions factors to improve estimates of emissions from land use change. Together with collaborators at the USDA Economic Research Service, Kansas State University, and Purdue University, the candidate will use their data with global economic model outputs to identify opportunities to reduce the environmental impacts of land use change (e.g. tropical deforestation or temperate grassland conversion) via supply chain interventions, trade policies, or other initiatives. The candidate will also contribute to an assessment of the realizable extent and carbon sequestration potential of agricultural conservation practices (e.g. cover crops, reduced tillage) across the United States. Additional opportunities to collaborate on analyses of sustainable bioenergy production and/or Natural Climate Solutions across the U.S., North America, and/or globe are also available depending on the candidate’s time availability and interest.

The researcher will be joining a highly collaborative, vibrant, and energetic team working with Prof. Holly Gibbs, Dr. Tyler Lark, and other members of the Gibbs Land Use & Environment lab who have significant experience in carbon modeling and land system science. The city of Madison, WI, is widely recognized for its warm community, high quality of life, culture and arts scene, and easy access to natural areas. Costs of living are moderate, and public transportation and bicycle paths are easy transportation options. There is a vibrant international community.

Application Instructions: Applications will be reviewed upon submission. The position is available beginning October 1, 2022 and will be based in Madison, WI, with potential for hybrid work. Initial appointment is available for 2 years with strong potential for continuation depending upon funding and performance. The minimum salary for this full-time position is $51,957 and commensurate with degree and years of experience, plus health insurance benefits.

To apply, please submit an electronic cover letter detailing qualifications, CV, and phone and email addresses of three references to Dr. Tyler Lark, lark@wisc.edu.

Website:

Salary: commensurate with experience (minimum $51,957)

Percent Time: 100

Start Date: 01/01/2023

Contact Name: Tyler Lark

Contact Email: lark@wisc.edu

2. Research Associate (Postdoc) Remote Sensing - Agriculture - Irrigation and land use Nelson Institute Center for Sustainability and the Global Environment Dr. Tyler J. Lark 

Deadline  12/31/2022 Posting Date 11/02/2022

Position Requirements: Ideal qualifications include the following:

• Strong skills in satellite remote sensing, GIS, and statistical analysis

• Experience using cloud-based computing resources (e.g. Google Earth Engine) for image classification and large-scale data processing.

• Familiarity with concepts, modeling, or datasets related to water use and efficiency, U.S. agricultural management practices, and/or environmental impacts of agroecosystems.

• Possess a Ph.D. or M.S. plus extensive research experience

Position Duties: Summary: The University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Center for Sustainability and the Global Environment (SAGE) seeks an exceptional postdoctoral scientist with expertise in satellite remote sensing and spatial analysis to study agriculture and irrigation systems in the United States. The postdoctoral researcher will contribute as a core team member to NASA- and USGS-funded interdisciplinary projects that are investigating national water use and efficiency improvements and as well as have ample opportunity to collaborate on complementary projects focused on agricultural conservation, bioenergy solutions, and climate change mitigation.

Job Responsibilities: The applicant will lead and support the mapping and assessment of current and historic irrigation system type and associated impacts on crop water use and efficiency. The applicant will work closely with colleagues at other institutions including the U.S. Geological Survey, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and several universities to improve upon existing remotely sensed data, develop new methods for detection of irrigation practices, and apply the produced products to conservation and policy-relevant research questions. The study area focus is the conterminous United States with additional emphasis on the Mississippi Alluvial Valley, and work can include field data collection to support the analysis, if interested.

UW-Madison is a world leader in remote sensing for the conservation, agricultural, and ecological sciences. The researcher will be joining a highly collaborative and energetic team working with Dr. Tyler Lark, project technical lead Dr. Yanhua Xie, and other members of the Global Land Use & Environment lab who have significant experience in remote sensing, agricultural sustainability, and land systems. The city of Madison, WI, is widely recognized for its warm community, high quality of life, culture and arts scene, and easy access to natural areas. Costs of living are moderate, public transportation and bicycle paths are easy transportation options, and there is a vibrant international community.

Application Instructions: Applications will be reviewed upon submission. The position is available immediately for an initial appointment of up to 2 years, with strong potential for continuation pending funding and performance. Salary is commensurate with experience and a minimum of $51,957 per year, plus health insurance benefits. The position is based in Madison, WI, with potential for hybrid work.

To apply, please submit an electronic cover letter detailing qualifications, CV, and phone and email addresses of three references to Dr. Tyler Lark, lark@wisc.edu.

Website: https://gibbs-lab.wisc.edu/opportunities.html

Salary: commensurate with experience and a minimum of $51,957 per year

Percent Time: 100

Start Date: 01/01/2023

Contact Name: Tyler Lark

Contact Email: lark@wisc.edu

3. Research Associate (Postdoc) Soil Science Plant Pathology and Soil Science Erin Silva and Francisco Arriaga

Deadline 11/23/2022 Posting Date 10/30/2022

Position Requirements: Minimum Job Requirements:

Ph.D. in a STEM field

Record of publishing in peer-reviewed journals

Communication skills as evidenced by publications and oral presentations at conferences

Ability to obtain UW Driver Authorization

Education/Experience: Candidates must have received a Ph.D. within the last five years in a STEM field or will have completed all Ph.D. requirements by commencement of appointment.

Desired Qualifications:

Research experience in crop science, soil science, biology, or earth and environmental sciences, and proficient in SAS or R. Preference will be given to applicants with strong research and publication history, experience with organic cropping systems, soil health and a soil science background, and strong modeling and statistical skills. Ability to work well in a multi-disciplinary team and with multiple stakeholder groups is required.

Position Duties: A postdoctoral position is available starting in January 2023 in Drs. Erin Silva (OGRAIN) and Francisco Arriaga’s programs in the Departments of Plant Pathology and Soil Science, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS), University of Wisconsin–Madison. The project on which the position will focus involves working with public, private, and industry partners to develop tools and models to understand the impact of organic grain production practices, particularly tillage and cultivation, on soil quality and erosion. This work will include: 1) literature reviews related to tillage and soil health; 2) evaluation of current models and tools related to predicting the impacts of tillage practices; 3) recommendations as to how existing tools can be improved; and 4) preliminary in-field data collection to benefit tool refinement.

The goal of the Silva and Arriaga research and Extension programs is to generate science-based solutions to address real world problems for Wisconsin agriculture and beyond. This knowledge is then integrated and delivered through our Extension program. Please visit www.ograin.cals.wisc.edu for more information about UW-Madison’s organic grain outreach program.

Application Instructions: The following application materials should be emailed to Erin Silva (emsilva@wisc.edu) with the email subject of “Postdoc Position Application”. Please include the following materials in one pdf file: cv, sample peer-reviewed publication, names and contact information of three references

Website: https://ograin.cals.wisc.edu

Salary: 60,000

Percent Time: 100

Start Date: 12/01/2022

Contact Name: Erin Silva

Contact Email: emsilva@wisc.edu

4. Research Intern developmental biology, toxicology, urology Comparative Biosciences Kimberly Keil Stietz

Deadline 12/31/2022 Posting 10/25/2022

Position Requirements: This is a full time position for a research intern with a minimum 1 year commitment in the laboratory of Dr. Kimberly Keil Stietz of the UW-Madison Department of Comparative Biosciences. The Keil Stietz lab’s research is dedicated to understanding effects of developmental exposure to environmental contaminants, such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), on the function of the lower urinary tract. Following training the successful candidate will be responsible for conducting animal experiments, tissue dissection and imaging, and molecular analyses, including PCR, flow cytometry, IHC and electrophoresis. The successful candidate will also engage with Dr. Keil Stietz and her research team in planning experiments, analyzing and interpreting data, and preparation of research manuscripts. The job will require about 40 hours per week including occasional night or weekend work. Preference will be given to motivated applicants who are eager to intellectually engage and take ownership of their work.

Position Duties: 1. Mouse colony husbandry and maintenance.

2. Conducting mouse exposure trials.

3. Mouse tissue dissection and imaging.

4. Cellular and molecular assays like in situ hybridization, real time PCR, flow cytometry and DNA electrophoresis.

5. Conducting literature searches and coordinating with research collaborators.

Application Instructions: Interested applicants should provide a current resume/C.V. that includes date available to begin work, relevant course work and grades earned, cumulative grade point average, laboratory research experience, and the contact information for three references. In addition, applicants should include a cover letter describing past research experience and detail specific scientific methods performed and mastered. A bachelor’s degree in biology or a related area is required, and it is preferred that applicants have at least 1 year of bench-based research experience whether it be via part-time student employment or internships. Applicants with previous mouse handling experience are especially sought. The applicant must be well organized and intellectually curious. Please send completed materials to kkeil@wisc.edu.

Website: https://www.vetmed.wisc.edu/lab/keilstietz/research/

Salary: tbd based on experience

Percent Time: 100

Start Date: 01/01/2023

Contact Name: Kimberly Keil Stietz

Contact Email: kkeil@wisc.edu

Contact Phone: (608) 265-2879

5. Research Intern Science Writer, Researcher, and Communications Nelson Institute Center for Sustainability and the Global Environment (SAGE) Professor Holly Gibbs

Deadline 12/01/2022 Posting Date 10/23/2022

Position Requirements: The ideal candidate would have some of the following qualifications/experience: Writing for broad audiences; Fluent in Spanish and/or Portuguese; Conducting scientific literature reviews and summarizing findings; Summarizing simple research findings in policy briefs/short reports; Graphics design experience ; Ability to engage and talk with stakeholders including companies, environmental groups, and media; Willingness to edit scientific publication; Comfortable user of social media; Grant writing experience. Anticipated start date: between November to Jan 15, depending on employee preferences.

Position Duties: The Gibbs Land Use and Environment Lab (GLUE) located in the Nelson Institute’s Center for Sustainability and the Global Environment invites application fora Science Writer Research Intern. In GLUE, we study human-environment interactions and work to reconcile nature conservation, climate change, and food security by informing policy and market-based strategies. 

We work in Latin America, where we combined data science, econometrics, field surveys and remote sensing data to track soy and cattle supply chains and support company and government actions to achieve deforestation-free production of soy, beef, leather, and palm oil. In the US, we track and predict cropland expansion and work to understand the outcomes of federal agriculture, energy and conservation policies. We are a close knit team comprised of undergrad and graduate students, scientists, and staff researchers. We strive to produce science for solutions and work closely with policymakers, companies, NGOs and media, and are excited to hire a new team member to help ensure our science reaches the public. The Communications and Research Specialist would help write up research summaries of ongoing scientific studies for difference audiences, lead literature reviews for journal articles, help engage with our stakeholders and generally help to elevate and amplify our collective work. We are open and flexible and welcome ideas on how to best design the position around potential candidates.

Application Instructions: To apply, please email Prof Holly Gibbs (hkgibbs@wisc.edu) a cover letter describing your experience and interest in the position, your CV, and ideally a writing sample. Anticipated start date between November and January 15.

Website: https://gibbs-lab.wisc.edu

Salary:

Percent Time: 100

Start Date: 11/01/2022

Contact Name: Holly Gibbs

Contact Email: hkgibbs@wisc.edu

6. Research Associate (Postdoc) Data Science, Machine Learning, AI, Computer Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Deep Learning Data Science Institute Dr. Kyle Cranmer

 Deadline 12/01/2022 Posting Date 10/20/2022

Position Requirements: Competitive candidates will have a PhD in Physics, Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, or a closely related field. The successful candidate will have significant experience with deep learning (ideally with the transformer architecture or other language models), be proficient in creating, training, and evaluating deep learning models, have experience manipulating and preparing unique datasets, and be comfortable working on a problem that involves abstract mathematics and theoretical physics. Applicants should have strong technical writing and presentation skills and must be willing to work closely with team members in person and remotely.

Position Duties: The successful candidate will work under the supervision of Kyle Cranmer, the Director for UW-Madison’s Data Science Institute and Professor of Physics with courtesy appointments in Computer Science and Statistics. The candidate will be expected to collaborate remotely with a team of collaborators which include Lance Dixon at Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (SLAC), and other collaborators at Meta AI (based in France) and the Niels Bohr Institute (Copenhagen). The starting point of this research will be exploring the use of transformers (a type of AI model used for natural language and other symbolic types of data) to predict coefficients found in quantum mechanical scattering amplitudes. The ultimate goal is to decipher the analytic structure of scattering amplitudes in quantum chromodynamics and a related theory, planar N=4 super-Yang-Mills theory. Closely related exploratory research is also expected. Travel to collaborator locations and to present findings will also take place. The successful candidate will also have the opportunity to participate in a thriving data science and machine learning environment at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. This is a full-time position and is available immediately. The appointment is for up to three years.

Application Instructions: Please visit the link below to apply for the position.

Website: https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/23384

Salary: $65,000 Annual

Percent Time: 100

Start Date:

Contact Name: Ben Ball

Contact Email: reasearch@datascience.wisc.edu

Contact Phone: (608) 262-1006