Black Rock Forest Internship Program

Black Rock Forest; Town of Cornwall (NY); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 72,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

ACA-compliant health insurance

Housing assistance

Job summary

Black Rock Forest invites qualified candidates for a two-year Postdoctoral Fellowship. The Fellow will work closely with Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory and Columbia faculty to advance research in forest ecology and earth sciences.

The position includes an annual salary of $72,116, a $12,000 research allowance, ACA-compliant health insurance, and a postdoctoral appointment at LDEO. Housing assistance is available if needed at a Forest-owned residence in Cornwall, NY.

Qualifications

• PhD must be completed before the start of appointment or by Aug 31, 2027.
• Must be authorized to work in the U.S. and have a PhD within 5 years of hire.
• Identify an outside faculty mentor at a Consortium member or Columbia/LDEO.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with LDEO/Columbia faculty to conduct research within Black Rock Forest.
• Develop and propose ecology-focused projects leveraging existing programs.
• Supervise volunteers, interns, and undergraduate students as applicable.
• Conduct field research at Black Rock Forest and nearby areas.
• Coordinate with the Director of Research and academic mentors.

Skills

Collaboration

Scientific writing

Education

PhD in Ecology or Earth Science

Job description

Background:

The Black Rock Forest Postdoctoral Fellowships are two-year, endowed fellowships awarded on a competitive basis to advance the study of forest ecology or earth and environmental sciences.

Black Rock Forest is a non-profit, research, education, and conservation organization founded in 1989 that uses its 1586-hectare forest as a scientific field station to advance our understanding of the natural world.

We encourage our Fellows to take full advantage of our unique opportunities, including our lab facilities, accessible forest, and possibilities for manipulative experiments. The Fellow will be part of the Black Rock Forest staff, experiencing the purpose and function of a small non-profit.

Opportunities for 2027 Fellows:

Black Rock Forest and the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (LDEO) have worked together to create a unique opportunity for prospective Fellows interested in working closely with LDEO or Columbia University faculty to execute research within Black Rock Forest. This Fellowship carries an annual salary of $72,116, a $12,000 research allowance, and a postdoctoral appointment at LDEO.

Prospective Fellows seeking to work at Black Rock Forest and have a direct relationship with the LDEO, must apply via the fellowship portal at the LDEO. This is most appropriate for applicants who will be intellectually supervised by faculty/staff at LDEO. Applications via the LDEO portal will be forwarded to our Director of Research. Applicants are also required to identify an academic mentor at Columbia University and/or LDEO who will submit an attestation letter stating their willingness to assimilate and sponsor the Fellow within their respective Department. A direct email to Dr. LaPoint ([e-mail]) from the academic mentor’s email address stating the above is sufficient.

We are seeking Fellows that propose compelling and feasible projects in ecology. We are particularly interested in proposals that capitalize on our existing programs in forest monitoring, wildlife ecology, and/or restoration projects. We strongly encourage interested applicants to browse our research webpages and contact Dr. Scott LaPoint to learn more.

The Fellowship is supported by an endowed fund managed by Black Rock Forest. The Fellow will hold a contracted position at Black Rock Forest with office space, receive an annual salary of $70,000, a research allowance, plus ACA-compliant health insurance. If desired, subsidized housing is available for the Fellow and immediate family at a Forest-owned residence in Cornwall, NY. The Fellow is expected to conduct a significant portion of their field research within Black Rock Forest or closely nearby. Opportunities to supervise volunteers, interns, and/or undergraduate students are available.

Requirements — The successful candidate will have completed all requirements for their dissertation prior to the start of their appointment or by 31 August 2027, whichever comes first. Appointment start date is flexible, but typically between June 1 – August 31. This position does not offer employment visa sponsorship; international applicants are encouraged to apply via the LDEO opportunity described above. Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. and have been awarded their PhD not more than 5 years prior to the time of hire.

All applicants are required to identify an outside faculty mentor. We encourage applicants to find a mentor at one of the Black Rock Forest Consortium institutions: American Museum of Natural History, Barnard College, City University of New York, or Columbia University. Faculty sponsors from non-Consortium institutions are acceptable.

At Black Rock Forest we value diversity, in our ecosystems and in our organization. We are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in our workplace and in our science, education, and conservation. We strongly encourage applications from underrepresented group members as we seek to diversify and strengthen our organization, science, and society.

Current and Previous Black Rock Forest Fellows:

Dr. Jennifer Wall – Jennifer’s research interests include population and community ecology and wildlife behavior. Jen’s work at Black Rock Forest focused on helping us better understand our White-tailed Deer population, improving our wildlife camera surveys, and quantifying landscape connectivity for carnivores. Visit Jen’s website ( https://wall-jennifer.github.io/jlwall/index.html ) to learn more about Jen and her research efforts.

Dr. Hanna Makowski – Hanna’s research interests largely focus on the evolution and drivers of plant adaptation, including mating systems and responses to abiotic factors. Hanna is currently quantifying the influence of genetic and climate drivers of tree leaf phenology and works closely with faculty at the City University of New York. Visit Hanna’s website ( https://www.hannamakowski.com ) to learn more about Hanna and her research efforts.

Dr. Grayson Badgley – Grayson’s research interests are broad, but often focused on plant ecophysiology combining field-, lab-, and satellite-derived data to refine models and better understand global-scale biogeochemical cycles. Grayson is now a Research Scientist for CarbonPlan, a non-profit objectively and quantitatively investigating climate solutions. See this excellent LA Times article featuring Grayson’s work during his time at Black Rock Forest.