Postdoctoral Associate, Geography

University at Buffalo; Buffalo (NY); On-site; USD 65,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

University at Buffalo's Geography Department invites applications for a 16-month BioSCape Postdoctoral Position focused on remote sensing of biodiversity. The successful candidate will work in Buffalo, NY with NASA-led BioSCape teams, synthesizing large remote sensing and field datasets to address biodiversity patterns across scales.

Responsibilities include cross-project integration, leading two synthesis manuscripts, and translating scientific outputs into decision-ready products for

Qualifications

• PhD in geography, ecology, remote sensing, or a related field.
• Strong experience with cross-project synthesis and data integration.
• Ability to lead manuscript development and collaborate with diverse teams.

Responsibilities

• Identify opportunities for cross-project integration and respond flexibly to emerging science questions as new products and findings become available.
• Conduct cross-cutting synthesis research across BioSCape projects, integrating derived products, manuscripts, and team outputs into cohesive analyses.
• Lead the development of two synthesis manuscripts focused on biodiversity patterns and processes across scales.
• Work with conservation managers, policy professionals, and technical staff to translate outputs into decision-ready products.

Skills

Synthesis research

Data integration

Remote sensing

Biodiversity metrics

Manuscript development

Project coordination

Education

PhD in Geography/Earth sciences/Remote sensing

Job description

BioSCape Postdoctoral Position in remote sensing of biodiversity

BioSCape is an ambitious NASA-led field campaign integrating airborne remote sensing, field ecology, and emerging biodiversity measurements to transform how we observe and understand ecosystems from mountains to oceans. This position offers a unique opportunity to work at the center of a large, collaborative, and high-impact project: synthesizing cutting-edge datasets and helping translate science into real-world environmental solutions. Read more at bioscape.io.

Under the direction of Prof. Adam Wilson, this 16-month postdoctoral position will be based in the Department of Geography at the University at Buffalo (UB), and will be conducted primarily in person in Buffalo, NY, with some travel to conferences and project meetings. The postdoc will conduct cross-cutting integrative research to aggregate and harmonize the campaign’s extensive suite of remote sensing and field datasets and use these to answer questions about what determines biodiversity patterns and processes across scales. Following an upcoming team meeting, the postdoc will have flexibility to respond to emerging science questions and identify synergies across the campaign’s 19 PI-led research teams. Candidate projects may include synthesizing plant canopy functional traits, structural diversity metrics, intrinsic dimensionality, invasive alien tree mapping, kelp forest condition, acoustic soundscape indices, or biodiversity metrics derived from environmental DNA (eDNA), spanning upland to marine ecosystems. This work will advance scaling relationships between field observations and NASA satellite missions. In support of NASA’s Earth Science to Action strategy, the postdoc will also collaborate with conservation and policy partners to translate scientific outputs into decision-ready products for environmental management.

Responsibilities Include

• Identify opportunities for cross-project integration and respond flexibly to emerging science questions as new products and findings become available.
• Conduct cross-cutting synthesis research across BioSCape’s projects, integrating derived products, manuscripts, and team outputs into cohesive scientific analyses.
• Lead the development of two synthesis manuscripts focused on mountain-to-ocean biodiversity patterns and processes.
• Work with conservation managers, policy professionals, and technical staff at partner organizations to help translate scientific outputs into decision-ready products relevant to environmental monitoring, conservation planning, and ecosystem management.
• Contribute to project coordination activities, including team meetings, reporting, communications, and organization of workshops or training events.
  
  

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The Research Foundation of SUNY is an EOE and welcomes all to apply including veterans and individuals with a disability.