University of California Davis

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Homepage: https://xdong05.github.io

We are seeking a postdoctoral researcher to join our NSF-funded project, Effects of environmental change on microbial self-organized patterns in Antarctic Lakes. The postdoc researcher will lead the effort to construct numerical models to investigate mechanisms forming the morphology and spatial patterns of benthic microbial communities (modern “stromatolites”) in Antarctic lakes. The quantitative framework will enhance our interpretation of ancient stromatolites in the geological record and improve our understanding of Earth’s evolutionary and environmental history.

Qualifications: An ideal candidate will have expertise in at least one of following areas: reactive transport modeling, computational fluid dynamics, or theory of spatial pattern formation.

The successful candidate will be part of the research groups led by Dr. Xiaoli Dong (Department of Environmental Science and Policy, UC Davis) and Dr. Dawn Sumner (Department of Earth and Planetary Science, UC Davis).

Start Date: Negotiable, preferably by Spring or Summer of 2025.

Duration and Salary: The initial appointment is for one year, with the possibility of extension for an additional year based on satisfactory performance. The annual salary ranges from $64,480 to $77,327, depending on the candidate’s experience. For more details on salary scales, please refer to the UCOP salary guidelines

Responsibilities: Under the guidance of the PIs, the postdoctoral researcher will develop and analyze reactive transport models to explore the mechanism driving the morphology and spatial patterns of benthic microbial communities in Antarctic lakes.

Please email a cover letter describing your background and interests in the position, a CV, and contact information for three references to Dr. Xiaoli Dong at xldong@ucdavis.edu. Review of applications will begin on Feb 14, 2025, and the position will remain open until filled.