Postdoctoral Research Associate - Plant-Soil Interactions and Coastal Biogeochemistry

Requisition Id 17093 

Overview:

The Plant-Soil Interactions Group within the Environmental Sciences Division (ESD) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) seeks a postdoctoral researcher in Coastal Biogeochemistry. This researcher will use field observations and laboratory mesocosms to investigate how plant traits and soil properties confer resilience or vulnerability to disturbance in coastal wetlands. Research activities will evaluate how belowground plant traits and soil properties vary across inundation and salinity gradients in Gulf Coast wetlands. Potential areas of focus include belowground root traits, plant-microbe-soil interactions, physical and chemical soil properties, and organo-mineral associations.

This candidate will directly support the Exploring Gulf Region Ecosystem Transitions (EGRET) project, an interdisciplinary and multi-institutional collaboration focused on disturbance-driven ecosystem transitions and their impacts across the U.S. Gulf Coast. EGRET employs an integrated model–experiment (ModEx) approach accelerated by artificial intelligence (AI) to advance predictive understanding of how plant–microbial–soil interactions vary across inundation and salinity gradients to shape ecological, hydrological, and geomorphological responses to abrupt disturbance. A cohort of postdoctoral researchers will be hired across multiple institutions to collaboratively support scientific advances guided by AI/ML, remote sensing, process-based modeling, field observations and experiments, and advanced analytical techniques.

Major Duties/Responsibilities:

• Independently and collaboratively lead field campaigns to collect plant material, soil cores, and soil water from coastal wetlands.
• Lead a laboratory mesocosm experiment evaluating plant-soil response to simulated disturbance, linking repeated high-throughput phenotyping at ORNL's Advanced Plant Phenotyping Laboratory (APPL) with paired geochemical and microbial measurements.
• Utilize laboratory equipment and software that may include a Picarro gas concentration analyzer (G2508), Rhizovision Explorer, Shimadzu TOC-L, ICP-MS/OES, and Aqualog for EEMS/UV-VIS.
• Work closely with modelers and empiricists across multiple disciplines to address project objectives.
• Present results within the research group and at national and international conferences, and publish manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals.
• Deliver ORNL’s mission by aligning behaviors, priorities, and interactions with our core values of Impact, Integrity, Teamwork, Safety, and Service.

Basic Qualifications:

• A PhD in Earth and Environmental Sciences, Ecology, Biosciences, Botany, Geosciences, or a related field with a strong focus on plant-soil interactions and/or biogeochemical processes, completed within the last 5 years or expected to be completed soon.
• A strong record of independent and productive research, as indicated by conference presentations and/or publications in peer-reviewed journals.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a large multidisciplinary team.
• Proven ability to design and implement experiments, perform data analyses, and interpret experimental results.
• Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated capabilities in evaluating physical and chemical properties of environmental samples including plants and soil.
• Experience integrating phenotypic or imaging-based datasets (e.g., RGB, chlorophyll fluorescence, root imaging) with biogeochemical, microbial, or environmental sensor data.
• Experience analyzing large datasets in reproducible formats (R, etc.)
• Demonstrated interdisciplinary and systems-level approach to science.
• Experience conducting field work independently or as part of a team.

Special Requirements:

Applicants cannot have received their Ph.D. more than five years prior to the date of application and must complete all degree requirements before starting their appointment. The appointment length will be up to 24 months with the potential for extension. Initial appointments and extensions are subject to performance and availability of funding.

• Letters of Reference: Please submit three letters of reference when applying to this position. You may upload these directly to your application or have them sent to Postdocrecruitment@ornl.gov with the position title and number referenced in the subject line.

• Instructions to upload documents to your candidate profile:
  • Login to your account via jobs.ornl.gov
  • View Profile
  • Under the My Documents section, select Add a Document

• For employment at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), a Real ID compliant form of identification will be required. Additionally, ORNL is subject to Department of Energy (DOE) access restrictions. All employees must also be able to obtain and maintain a federal Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card as mandated by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12) and Department of Energy (DOE) Order 473.1A, which requires a favorable post-employment background investigation.

To obtain this credential, new employees must successfully complete and pass a Federal Tier 1 background check investigation. This investigation includes a declaration of illegal drug activities, including use, supply, possession, or manufacture within the last year. This includes marijuana and cannabis derivatives, which are still considered illegal under federal law, regardless of state laws.

For foreign national candidates:

If you have not resided in the U.S. for three consecutive years, you are not eligible for the PIV credential and instead will need to obtain a favorable Local Site Specific Only (LSSO) risk determination to maintain employment. Once you meet the three-year residency requirement, you will be required to obtain a PIV credential to maintain employment.

About ORNL:

As a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science national laboratory, ORNL has an impressive 80-year legacy of addressing the nation’s most pressing challenges. Our team is made up of over 7,000 dedicated and innovative individuals! Our goal is to create an environment where a variety of perspectives and backgrounds are valued, ensuring ORNL is known as a top choice for employment. These principles are essential for supporting our broader mission to drive scientific breakthroughs and translate them into solutions for energy, environmental, and security challenges facing the nation.

ORNL offers competitive pay and benefits programs to attract and retain individuals who demonstrate exceptional work behaviors. The laboratory provides a range of employee benefits, including medical and retirement plans and flexible work hours, to support the well-being of you and your family. Employee amenities such as on-site fitness, banking, and cafeteria facilities are also available for added convenience.

Other benefits include the following: Prescription Drug Plan, Dental Plan, Vision Plan, 401(k) Retirement Plan, Contributory Pension Plan, Life Insurance, Disability Benefits, Generous Vacation and Holidays, Parental Leave, Legal Insurance with Identity Theft Protection, Employee Assistance Plan, Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Savings Accounts, Wellness Programs, Educational Assistance, Relocation Assistance, and Employee Discounts.

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This position will remain open for a minimum of 5 days after which it will close when a qualified candidate is identified and/or hired.

We accept Word (.doc, .docx), Adobe (unsecured .pdf), Rich Text Format (.rtf), and HTML (.htm, .html) up to 5MB in size. Resumes from third party vendors will not be accepted; these resumes will be deleted and the candidates submitted will not be considered for employment.

If you have trouble applying for a position, please email ORNLRecruiting@ornl.gov.

ORNL is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants, including individuals with disabilities and protected veterans, are encouraged to apply.  UT-Battelle is an E-Verify employer.