Postdoctoral Scholar/Lynch Lab

Position Overview

The Lynch Lab at UC Davis is seeking a motivated and qualified postdoctoral researcher to lead the ecohydrological components of an interdisciplinary forest health project. In collaboration with the US Forest Service Pacific Southwest Research Station-working closely with collaborators David Dralle (Research Hydrologist) and Natalie van Doorn (Research Urban Ecologist)-and funded by the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC), this project investigates tree resilience to "weather whiplash" and extreme climate events in the San Francisco Bay Area's wildland-urban interface. The researcher will focus on understanding the underlying subsurface hydrological drivers of tree water stress and mortality in oak woodlands across the Alameda Creek Watershed.

Research Areas We are seeking qualified applicants to work on the following areas of research:

* The influence of drought and reduced water availability in soils and weathered bedrock on tree health and water balance.

* Establishment of water relations for trees to understand water limitation tolerance and develop vulnerability curves.

* Linkages between tree water sourcing, subsurface water storage, and forest health outcomes.

* Integration of hydrological data with broader ecological predisposing factors and biological agents.

Responsibilities

* Review literature on water relationships in oak woodland ecosystems.

* Install and monitor multi-depth soil moisture sensors (time domain transmissometers) up to 1m deep, and lead (under guidance of Dr. David Dralle) installation of deep monitoring boreholes targeting the bedrock root zone.

* Collect monthly field measurements of tree water stress, including pre-dawn and mid-day water potentials at two oak woodland sites.

* Conduct lab work to establish tree water relations, identifying critical stress thresholds like the turgor loss point and mapping leaf hydraulic vulnerability curves.

* Collaborate across disciplines, regularly engaging with Forest Service hydrologists and ecologists, SFPUC land managers, and other project stakeholders.

* Analyze data, prepare manuscripts for peer-reviewed journals, and present findings at scientific conferences and partner meetings.

PhD in ecohydrology, hydrology, plant physiology, ecology, forestry, or a related field.

* Experience conducting fieldwork, ideally involving complex environmental instrumentation.

* Experience with plant water potential field measurements (e.g., pressure chambers) and/or subsurface moisture monitoring.

* Ability to work independently and collaboratively across disciplines.

* Strong writing, communication, and organizational skills.

* Publication record in relevant ecohydrological or physiological areas.

* Familiarity with Mediterranean-type climate ecosystems, oak woodlands, or tree canopy dynamics.

• 3-5 required (contact information only)

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, are currently being investigated for misconduct, left a position during an investigation for alleged misconduct, or have filed an appeal with a previous employer.

• "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, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer.
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