Postdoctoral Fellow

Overview

Peter Adler’s lab at Utah State University is seeking a postdoc to join a 2 year, NSF-funded project titled, “The functional consequences of community-climate disequilibria.” Existing research provides justification, but no direct evidence, for the hypothesis that mismatches between the current climate and community composition reduce ecosystem functioning. The postdoc will use existing data sets to directly test this hypothesis for net primary productivity, invasion resistance, and pollination services in a range of communities and ecological contexts. Applicants should have strong programming and data analysis skills and expertise in community and/or ecosystem ecology. The postdoc will also coordinate the collaborative activities of the Ecological Acclimation Network, which has more than three dozen members spread across academic, NGO, and government institutions.

Review of applications will begin September 14.

Responsibilities

• Search for, acquire format, and clean data using R, Python, or equivalent
• Conduct statistical analyses using frequentist and Bayesian approaches
• Prepare peer-review manuscripts
• Present research at academic conferences
• Coordinate activities of the Ecological Acclimation Network

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• PhD in Ecology, Biology, Statistics or related field
• Track record of publication in peer-reviewed academic journals
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Advanced coding anUtah data analysis skills

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working with large, collaborative groups
• Demonstrated knowledge of both community and ecosystem ecology
• Experience communicating science to non-academic audiences

Required Documents

Along with the online application, please attach:

• Resume to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under “Resume/CV”
• Cover Letter to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under “Documents 1-10”
• Statement of paste and future research interests (2 page maximum) to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under “Documents 1-10”
• Contact information for three professional references to be typed at the beginning of the application 

**Document size may not exceed 10 MB.**

Advertised Salary

ADA

Employees work indoors and are protected from weather and/or contaminants, but not, necessarily, occasional temperature changes. The employee is regularly required to sit and often uses repetitive hand motions.

University Highlights

As Utah’s student-centered, land-grant research university, Utah State University expands opportunity and strengthens communities across the state through learning, discovery, extension, and engagement. Founded in 1888, USU now holds two Carnegie distinctions: R1 status for very high research activity and the Carnegie Community Engagement Classification. Its innovative research and scholarship is grounded in reciprocal partnerships with local, regional, and global communities, advancing knowledge and serving the public good across Utah, the nation, and the world. With over 50 world-class research facilities and the nation’s second-oldest undergraduate research program, USU prepares students to become active, civically engaged leaders who can address critical societal challenges.

USU enrolls over 29,800 students, both online and in person at locations throughout the state. Utah State’s 30 locations include a main campus in Logan, Utah, residential campuses in Price and Blanding, and six additional statewide campuses, along with education centers serving every county. USU educates students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries. For over 100 years, USU Extension has served and engaged Utahns, serving every county in the state.

Competing at the NCAA Division I level in 16 sports, USU is a proud member of the Pac-12 Conference, which it joined July 1, 2026. The Aggies capped a historic final season in the Mountain West by capturing nine combined regular-season and tournament titles in 2025-26, with five teams advancing to postseason play. This tradition of excellence extends to the classroom, where 232 student-athletes earned academic honors, and to the community, where USU ranked second nationally in Division I service hours, with nine teams placing in the top 10 for community service.

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*updated 10/26

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U.S. Department of Education

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*updated 08/2026