Postdoctoral Scholar in Forest Resilience to Climate Extremes

UC Santa Barbara; Santa Barbara (CA); On-site; USD 71,000 - 83,000; Full time

Job summary

UC Santa Barbara invites applications for a Postdoctoral Scholar to study disturbance impacts on terrestrial carbon cycling across the US and Canada. The role leads development and validation of vegetation models for disturbance processes, within a cross-institution collaboration including University of Utah and UC Irvine, and will be based in the Trugman Lab at UCSB.

The successful candidate will work with ecologists, modelers, and remote sensing experts to integrate datasets into a mechanistic

Qualifications

• PhD in ecology, environmental science, forestry, Earth system science, or a closely related field (completed by start date).
• Experience running land surface models or process-based vegetation models and developing new model processes.
• Familiarity with western U.S. forest ecosystems.
• Track record of scholarship with talks/publications.
• Strong quantitative skills and experience with ecological or Earth system models.
• Proficiency in programming and data analysis (R, Python, C/C++, or similar).
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Skills

Land surface models

Process-based vegetation models

Quantitative skills

Programming (R, Python, C/C++)

Written communication

Verbal communication

Education

PhD in ecology/environmental science/forestry

Tools

R

Python

C/C++

Job description

Position overview

Position title: Postdoctoral Scholar in Forest Resilience to Climate Extremes

Salary range: $71,491 - $82,677

Percent time: 100%

Anticipated start: January 4, 2027 or later

Position duration: 2 years

Application Window

Open date: October 22, 2026

Next review date: Monday, Nov 23, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)

Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.

Final date: Wednesday, Dec 16, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)

Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

Position description

Applications are invited for a postdoctoral scholar to engage in research as part of a collaborative team across University of Utah, University of California Irvine, and University of California Santa Barbara focused on understanding disturbance impacts on terrestrial carbon cycling in the continental US and Canada. The postdoctoral scholar will lead work on developing and validating vegetation models for key disturbance processes representative of forest dynamics across the US and Canada as part of a cohort of four postdoctoral team members across institutions. The postdoc will be based in the Trugman Lab at UC Santa Barbara.

We seek a highly motivated Postdoctoral Scholar to work at the interface disturbance ecology, forest dynamics, and ecosystem modeling based in the Trugman Lab at UC Santa Barbara. The successful candidate will work closely with an interdisciplinary team of ecologists, modelers, and remote sensing scientists to integrate remote sensing products and existing datasets into a mechanistic modeling framework. The position offers substantial intellectual independence and opportunities to publish high-impact research addressing forest resilience, disturbance regimes, and climate change.

Qualifications

Basic qualifications (required at time of application)

Applicants must hold a PhD or must have completed all requirements for a PhD program (or equivalent) in ecology, environmental science, forestry, Earth system science, or a closely related field, except the dissertation, at the time of application.

Additional qualifications (required at time of start)

• PhD in ecology, environmental science, forestry, Earth system science, or a closely related field (completed by start date)

Preferred qualifications

• Experience running land surface models or other formulations of process-based vegetation models and experience developing new model processes
• Familiarity with western U.S. forest ecosystems
• A track record of scholarship including talks and peer-reviewed publications appropriate to career stage involving physics-based vegetation models as a primary tool for scientific inquiry
• Strong quantitative skills and experience with ecological or Earth system models
• Proficiency in programming and data analysis (e.g., R, Python, C/C++, or similar)
• Strong written and verbal communication skills

Application Requirements

Document requirements

• Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
• Cover Letter
• Statement of Research - A short (1-2 page) statement of research experience and interests related to the project
• Publications - PDFs of up to 3 representative publications (preprints acceptable/encouraged) (Optional)

3-5 required (contact information only)

Please provide the full names, emails and phone numbers (for a possible follow up with the reference provider) of 3-5 references who are prepared to provide letters of recommendation upon request.

Help contact: [e-mail]

About UC Santa Barbara

As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct.

• "Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment or discrimination as defined by the employer.
• UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
• UC Anti-Discrimination Policy for Employees, students and third parties
• APM - 035: Aff 449

Additionally, you will be required to comply with the University of California Policy on Vaccination Programs, as may be amended or revised from time to time. Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.

Job location

Santa Barbara, CA