Postdoctoral Associate, Geography

State University of New York at Buffalo; New York (NY); On-site; USD 55,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

The State University of New York at Buffalo is offering a postdoctoral position focusing on the remote sensing of biodiversity within the BioSCape project led by NASA. This role entails conducting integrative research and collaborating with a large team to synthesize datasets related to biodiversity patterns.

The successful candidate will have at least a PhD in a relevant field and will work primarily in Buffalo with opportunities for travel. The expected salary ranges from $55,000 to $70,000.

Qualifications

• PhD in a relevant field by the start of appointment.
• Experience with ecological or biodiversity synthesis.
• Strong programming skills in R and/or Python.

Responsibilities

• Identify opportunities for cross-project integration.
• Conduct cross-cutting synthesis research.
• Lead development of synthesis manuscripts.
• Work with conservation managers to translate scientific outputs.
• Contribute to project coordination activities.

Skills

Quantitative research with environmental datasets

Programming in R or Python

Strong written and verbal communication skills

Ability to work independently

Education

PhD in Ecology, Environmental Science, Biology, Remote Sensing, Geography

Tools

Open-source geospatial tools

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

• 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.

Benefits

• Our benefits prioritize your well‑being and success to enhance every aspect of your life.

EEO Statement

As an Equal Opportunity / affirmative action employer, the Research Foundation will not discriminate in its employment practices due to an applicant’s race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, and veteran or disability status.

Minimum Qualifications

• PhD in Ecology, Environmental Science, Biology, Remote Sensing, Geography, or a related field by the start of appointment.
• Demonstrated experience conducting quantitative research with environmental, ecological, or geospatial datasets.
• Knowledge of a programming language such as R and/or Python.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to lead scientific manuscripts and contribute to collaborative research products.
• Ability to work independently while contributing effectively to a large interdisciplinary team.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with ecological or biodiversity synthesis across multiple datasets, projects, or scales.
• Experience with remote sensing products related to vegetation, aquatic systems, or biodiversity.
• Familiarity with reproducible research practices, including version control, documented workflows, and preparation of archive‑ready data and code.
• Experience working with open‑source geospatial or scientific computing tools.
• Experience engaging with applied partners, agencies, or conservation practitioners.
• Demonstrated interest in translating scientific results into products useful for decision‑making or environmental management.
• Experience organizing workshops, collaborative meetings, or multi‑institution research activities.
• Experience using AI or computational tools to support project workflows, data analysis, or synthesis.

Salary

$55,000 - $70,000