Mendenhall Postdoctoral Research Fellow (Coastal Science)

Research Areas

• Geophysical imaging of mudflow processes along the Mississippi River Delta front
• Identifying coastal wetland tipping points with geospatial metrics and models
• Fluxes and fate of carbon within coastal wetlands: Impact of restoration on spatial and temporal ecosystem responses
• Multi-model assessments of marsh vulnerability to sea level rise
• Socioeconomic valuation and accounting for flood risk reduction by coastal ecosystems
• Mangrove sedimentation and response to relative sea-level rise
• Assessing coastal storm predictions through a social lens

Responsibilities

The successful Mendenhall postdoctoral investigator will work with a team of geologists, geophysicists, modelers, and engineers to help develop a comprehensive understanding of seabed mudflow processes in a region where there is significant hazard to offshore oil and gas infrastructure.

We are seeking a Mendenhall Fellow to explore how geospatial data and process-based models can be used in tandem to detect how, when, and where coastal wetlands may cross ecogeomorphic thresholds, thereby posing a hazard to communities and ecosystems. Approaches may include, but are not limited to, synthesis of satellite remote-sensing data products and application of coupled ecogeomorphic models.

The postdoctoral scholar will advance carbon cycle science (e.g., stocks, fluxes and transformations) in coastal wetlands as part of a large multi-disciplinary and -institution project that will assess the impacts of various restoration strategies on wetland persistence and resilience. Development of data and products will follow engagement with stakeholders, including land and resource managers.

This opportunity will focus on developing approaches for quantitative model comparisons, multi-model ensemble predictions and uncertainty assessments of marsh evolution to sea level rise.

A Fellow will advance coastal natural capital accounting by integrating results of coastal flooding models and its reduction by ecosystems; the value of infrastructure and human populations at risk; and damage functions to quantify socioeconomic impacts of flooding and its mitigation. Such natural capital accounting-compatible analyses address environmental equity and climate vulnerability issues.

The Fellow will investigate the natural infrastructure of mangroves in response to relative sea-level rise by developing a record of deposition and accumulation rates using radiometric techniques across a range of locations that vary in terms of geomorphology, mangrove species, and recent sea level trends.

This research opportunity will focus on developing an approach to assessing social aspects of model predictions using modelled results along with the impact of an actual storm event.

Requirements

Ph.D. in relevant field required.

Qualifications

Experience with geophysical datasets, geospatial metrics, and process-based models is preferred.

Skills

Strong analytical skills, ability to work collaboratively, and proficiency in relevant software tools.

Benefits

Opportunity to work with leading experts in the field, access to state-of-the-art facilities, and competitive salary.

Pay

$60,000 per year

Schedule

Full-time, 40 hours per week