Postdoc - Demography of U.S. forests, University of Florida

[Kai Zhu]

Dear colleagues,

Please help spread the word about this postdoc position at the University of Florida. Thank you.

Best,

Kai

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Kai Zhu, PhD
Associate Professor
School for Environment and Sustainability
University of Michigan
https://zhulab.seas.umich.edu

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Lichstein,Jeremy <jlich...@ufl.edu>
Date: Fri, Sep 5, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Subject: Postdoc - Demography of U.S. forests, University of Florida
To: Lichstein,Jeremy <jlich...@ufl.edu>

Dear Colleagues -

I would be grateful if you would share this potentially interested people.

Thanks!

Jeremy

We are seeking applications for a postdoctoral research position to study changes over recent decades in the demography of U.S. forests. Analysis will focus on the Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) database and may also leverage other datasets. Field work is encouraged but is not required.

 

Background: Forests across the U.S. are affected by multiple factors that pose potential threats to forest health. Since 2000, rates of wood production have increased in eastern U.S. forests but decreased in western U.S. forests. There are growing concerns over widespread forest dieback in the western U.S. due to the combined effects of fire, insect and disease outbreaks, and drought. Even in the eastern U.S., where forest productivity has increased over recent decades, shifting disturbance regimes, deer overbrowsing, and other factors have led to declines in regeneration of economically and ecologically valuable tree species. However, we lack a quantitative understanding of the geographic extent and severity of these risks across U.S. forests.

 

Details: The postdoc will be employed by the University of Florida and will work under the supervision of Jeremy Lichstein (UF Dept. of Biology) to improve our understanding of demographic trends in U.S. forests, with an emphasis on using FIA data to study trends in mortality and recruitment in different U.S. forest types. The project also provides opportunities for field work.

 

Starting annual salary is $63,0000 plus benefits (https://benefits.hr.ufl.edu/my-benefits/explore/eligibility/postdocs/).

 

Start date is flexible.

 

Required qualifications: PhD in a relevant field; strong quantitative and writing skills.

 

Preferred qualifications:

- Experience using statistical models to estimate demographic parameters.

- Experience in forest ecology, terrestrial ecosystem ecology, and/or plant ecophysiology.

 

To apply, send the following to Jeremy Lichstein (jlich...@ufl.edu):

- Cover letter explaining your interest in the position and relevant experience.

- Curriculum Vitae.

- Contact information for three references.

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Jeremy Lichstein, Professor

University of Florida

Department of Biology

(352) 392-1540

jlich...@ufl.edu

https://people.clas.ufl.edu/jlichstein/