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Postdoctoral Research Associate

University of Arizona
life insurance, sick time
United States, Arizona, Tucson
Oct 29, 2025
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Posting Number req24306
Department Sch of Nat Resource&Enviro-Res
Department Website Link https://snre.arizona.edu/
Location Main Campus
Address Tucson, AZ USA
Position Highlights The School of Natural Resources and the Environment (SNRE) and the USDA-ARS Southwest Watershed Research Center (SWRC) are jointly hiring a Postdoctoral Research Associate. The successful candidate will be co-advised by Associate Professor William K. Smith (SNRE) and Senior Researcher Russell L. Scott (SWRC). The ideal candidate will be a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher trained in plant physiological approaches and with research experience in water-limited ecosystems.

Work will focus on the physiological functioning of water-limited plants and ecosystems under intensifying hydroclimate extremes. The successful candidate will lead research at the SECA flux tower network (Semiarid ECohydrological Array), which includes eddy covariance flux tower sites - one shrubland, two grasslands, one savanna, and a mixed conifer site - along a water limitation gradient of sites within 100 km of Tucson, Arizona. All sites are collecting weather and AmeriFlux measurements of water, energy and carbon exchange continuously over the last 12-20 years. Due to their location within the Santa Rita Experimental Range (NEON Core Site for the Desert Southwest) and the USDA Walnut Gulch Experimental Watershed, these USDA-ARS sites have LiDAR, NEON airborne remote sensing, comprehensive water balance measurements, soil respiration data, and tower-based remote sensing including multiple thermal imagers and solar-induced fluorescence (SIF) spectrometers, and they have been subjects of numerous dryland empirical, remote sensing, and modeling studies.

The postdoc will be joining a collaborative team but will also have plenty of freedom to develop their own research questions and hypotheses.

Outstanding U of A benefits include health, dental, vision, and life insurance; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; U of A/ASU/NAU tuition reduction for the employee and qualified family members; access to U of A recreation and cultural activities; and more!The University of Arizona has been recognized for our innovative work-life programs. For more information about working at the University of Arizona and relocations services, please

Duties & Responsibilities
  • Lead analysis of remote sensing data at the field, drone, and satellite scale.
  • Demonstrated experience with field-based physiological approaches, e.g., photosynthesis, transpiration, plant water potential, leaf or stem psychrometers, chlorophyll fluorescence, spectral reflectance, etc.
  • Demonstrated experience with spatiotemporal analysis using R, Python, and/or comparable computer programming languages.
  • Presenting results at national conferences.
  • Leading the development of manuscripts with the aim of publishing at least one paper a year in a high impact journal.
Minimum Qualifications
  • PhD in ecosystem ecology or a related field.
  • A proven publication record in peer-reviewed scientific journals and a demonstrated high level of productivity.
Preferred Qualifications
  • Experience in dryland ecosystem ecology, with a previous research focus on linking ecosystem fluxes and remote sensing, and on satellite and or proximal remote sensing.
FLSA Exempt
Full Time/Part Time Full Time
Number of Hours Worked per Week 40
Job FTE 1.0
Work Calendar Fiscal
Job Category Research
Benefits Eligible Yes - Full Benefits
Rate of Pay NIH Salary Guidelines, Depends on Experience
Compensation Type salary at 1.0 full-time equivalency (FTE)
Type of criminal background check required: Name-based criminal background check (non-security sensitive)
Number of Vacancies 1
Target Hire Date
Expected End Date
Contact Information for Candidates William Smith

wksmith@arizona.edu
Open Date 10/28/2025
Open Until Filled Yes
Documents Needed to Apply Resume and Cover Letter
Special Instructions to Applicant
Notice of Availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report In compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act), each year the University of Arizona releases an Annual Security Report (ASR) for each of the University's campuses.Thesereports disclose information including Clery crime statistics for the previous three calendar years and policies, procedures, and programs the University uses to keep students and employees safe, including how to report crimes or other emergencies and resources for crime victims. As a campus with residential housing facilities, the Main Campus ASR also includes a combined Annual Fire Safety report with information on fire statistics and fire safety systems, policies, and procedures.
Paper copies of the Reports can be obtained by contacting the University Compliance Office at cleryact@arizona.edu.

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