Postdoctoral Assoc of Ecology & Remote Sensing of Invasive Species
Requisition Number:
67724
Location:
Boulder, Colorado
City
Boulder
State
Colorado
Employment Type:
Research Faculty
Schedule:
Full-Time
Posting Close Date:
11-Oct-2025
Date Posted:
07-Oct-2025
Job Summary
The Dee lab at CU Boulder seek a postdoctoral researcher that will use remote sensing to investigate the impacts of invasive species on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. This project aims to map invasive alien tree species in the fynbos biome in South Africa at high precision and determine their impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning using NASA’s airborne sensors as part of the BioSCape Project (https://www.bioscape.io/).
CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.
Who We Are
The Dee Lab: Sustaining both biodiversity and the benefits nature provides to people (i.e., ecosystem services) is a major challenge for scientists and managers. Achieving both goals is complicated by accelerating global environmental change. In response, my lab’s research combines global change ecology, community ecology, and conservation science and uses quantitative tools from multiple disciplines to understand how ecosystems provide benefits to people, how global change will alter these relationships, and how to best adapt management in response.
What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be
- Map the presence and distribution of invasive alien trees combining different types of airborne imagery (hyperspectral, LiDAR).
- Map diversity patterns (alpha- and beta-diversity) and ecosystem functions (e.g., biomass, water use efficiency) at large spatial scales using airborne and satellite imagery.
- Advance large-scale understanding of ecosystem dynamics, by applying causal inference statistical techniques to remotely sensed datasets.
- Generate open, reproducible workflows from the efforts above.
- Contribute to other efforts within BioSCape as relevant, e.g., engage in outreach activities, participate in application workshops.
What We Can Offer
The hiring rate for this position is $67,000 annually.
Benefits
At the University of Colorado Boulder, we are committed to supporting the holistic health and well-being of our employees. Our comprehensive benefits package includes medical, dental, and retirement plans; generous paid time off; tuition assistance for you and your dependents; and an ECO Pass for local transit. As one of Boulder County’s largest employers, CU Boulder offers an inspiring academic community and access to world-class outdoor recreation. Explore additional perks and programs through the CU Advantage program.
Be Statements
Be ambitious. Be pioneering. Be Boulder.
What We Require
- A Ph.D. from an accredited university
- Remote sensing skills, or other, with background expertise in community ecology, invasion ecology and/or causal inference statistics
- Strong quantitative background, with experience in analyzing large spatial datasets
- Experience, or strong interest, in engaging with local stakeholders and partners in South Africa
- Willingness to travel abroad, e.g., to attend the field campaign in Oct/Nov 2023
- Publication writing skills
- Communication skills and interest in interdisciplinary settings
- Experience in, or ability to learn, appropriate programming and data analytic tools. Ideally, the candidate will have experience in programming languages (e.g., R, Python, Google Earth Engine Java script, or others), can work in different environments (e.g., Linux), and is proficient in geospatial analysis software (e.g., QGIS).
Special Instructions
To apply, please submit the following materials:
- Cover Letter
- Resume/CV
If you are selected as the finalist, your degree will be verified by the CU Boulder Campus Human Resources department using an approved online vendor. If your degree was obtained outside of the United States, please submit a translated version (if applicable) as an optional attachment.
During the application process you will need to enter contact information for a reference who can write a letter of recommendation on your behalf. We will request letters and additional materials, if needed, as the search progresses.
Please apply by October 11th, 2025 for consideration.
Note: Application materials will not be accepted via email. For consideration, applications must be submitted through CU Boulder Jobs.
In compliance with the Colorado Job Application Fairness Act, in any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.
Posting Contact Information
Posting Contact Name: Boulder Campus Human Resources
Posting Contact Email: Recruiting@colorado.edu