The University of Montana and the Flathead Lake Biological Station seek to fill a postdoctoral research associate position in aquatic nitrogen cycling and plankton metabolism.  This postdoctoral position will work in Matthew Church’s laboratory and perform independent research focused on the role of plankton in catalyzing ocean nitrogen cycling and organic matter mineralization. The successful applicant will be expected to do fieldwork and laboratory analyses. The goal of the research is to assess variability and controls on organic matter fluxes between the upper ocean and the deep sea in the subtropical North Pacific Ocean. The successful applicant will be expected to leverage genomic and biogeochemical data for better understanding of plankton metabolism and nutrient cycling in the mid-waters of the open ocean.  The postdoctoral is expected to publish these findings in journals and work collaboratively with collaborators at other institutions and among the FLBS scientific staff.

Located on the eastern shore of one of North America's largest lakes, FLBS is a modern ecological research and education facility adjacent to Glacier National Park in the heart of the Crown of Continent ecoregion. Research foci at FLBS include limnology of Flathead and other large river-lake systems; water quality and supply in changing landscapes; ecological stoichiometry; systems ecology and modeling of large river ecosystems; microbial ecology; nutrient limitation and biogeochemistry; biodiversity conservation; evolutionary biology of animal, plant, and microbial taxa; ecology of invasive species; remote sensing of climate-mediated landscape change; and integration of social and ecological processes in a systems framework. Major FLBS facilities are recently remodeled and fully equipped for on-site research and education.

UM is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and has a strong institutional commitment to the principle of diversity in all areas. In that spirit, we are particularly interested in receiving applications from a broad spectrum of qualified people who would assist the University in demonstrating its five priorities for action: Place student success at the center of all we do; drive excellence and innovation in teaching, learning, and research; embody the principle of “mission first, people always"; partner with place; and proudly tell the UM story.

For more information, view the full position posting.