Postdoctoral Associates (2) – Invasion Science

Agency

University of Florida

Location

Gainesville, FL

Job Category

Post Doctoral Appointments

Salary

Commensurate with Education and Experience

Start Date

05/01/2023

Last Date to Apply

04/28/2023

Website

https://explore.jobs.ufl.edu/en-us/job/526211

Description

These hires will help build and sustain an internationally-recognized research program in invasion science at the University of Florida, and conduct research directly related to the socioecological impacts of invasive species and effective policy interventions. Socioecological systems face significant and increasing threats from non-native invaders, and coordination of research, extension, and teaching efforts is essential to improving our ability to respond to this invasion threat effectively and proactively. The hires will collaborate with UF faculty and staff on a wide variety of topics and research efforts related to biological invasions across taxa and scientific disciplines. The research program objectives will be to significantly increase our scientific capacity to proactively and effectively address invasive species problems; to expand our basic and applied understanding of socioecological systems through this work; to synthesize what is known in the invasion science space; and to translate these lessons into workable solutions, both in the US and abroad. The fellows will be expected to collaborate with faculty within the various research and extension programs at the University of Florida focused on invasive species and invasion science, including ProForest, the Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants, the UF Emerging Pathogens Institute, the Florida Invasive Species Partnership, the UF/IFAS Assessment of Non-Native Plants, other units on campus, and government agencies. These are 12-month non-tenure-accruing positions, available in the new, interdisciplinary Invasion Science Research Institute (ISRI), at the University of Florida. The assigned responsibilities will be approximately 90% research and 10% administration. This assignment may change in accordance with the needs of the unit. Because of the IFAS land-grant mission, all staff are expected to be supportive of and engaged in all three mission areas—Research, Teaching and Extension—regardless of the assignment split specified in the position description. Background Information Invasive species problems are complex and multidimensional, yet our approach to their management is often piecemeal and reliant on single disciplinary perspectives. A few notable successes notwithstanding, it is difficult to argue that we are winning the battle. We aim to transform invasive species management through the development of an Invasion Science Research Institute (ISRI) that synergizes the significant research capacity currently distributed across multiple disciplinary-based Departments and Colleges at the University of Florida. The mission is to support the development and implementation of a portfolio of interdisciplinary research to address key challenges in the prevention and control of invasive species that impact natural, agricultural, and urban environments. This will allow ISRI to support UF as a world leader in invasion science, generating new understanding and delivering sustainable solutions for Florida, the US, and beyond.

Qualifications

An earned doctorate (foreign equivalent acceptable) is required. We are looking for fellows to develop a diverse portfolio of ‘synthetic’ research to add value to ongoing invasion science research at UF through the development of critical reviews, metanalyses, whitepapers etc. The candidates should have demonstrated skills in project management, publication of peer-reviewed research, verbal and writing communication to diverse audiences, and the ability and desire to lead as well as work effectively within interdisciplinary teams. Candidates must be supportive of the mission of the Land-Grant system. Candidates must also have a commitment to the IFAS core values of excellence, diversity, global involvement, and accountability. The candidates’ experience should ideally relate to invasion science in the broadest sense. Specific disciplinary skills could include ecology, evolutionary biology, modeling, environmental economics, or social science.

Contact Person

Matthew Thomas

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