Smithsonian Postdoctoral Fellowship in Temperate Forest Biomass Dynamics – ForestGEO and GEO-TREES

Smithsonian Postdoctoral Fellowship in Temperate Forest Biomass Dynamics – ForestGEO and GEO-TREES

ForestGEO and GEO-TREES seek an ambitious postdoctoral researcher to develop an independent research program on temperate forest biomass dynamics using one of the world’s largest networks of long-term forest research plots, new terrestrial and airborne laser-scanning observations, and satellite biomass products. The position is hosted by Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI), the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC), and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI).

The Forest Global Earth Observatory (ForestGEO) is a global network of long-term forest research plots and scientists dedicated to the study of forest function and diversity. ForestGEO conducts long-term, large-scale research on forests around the world to increase scientific understanding of forest ecosystems, guide sustainable forest management and natural-resource policies, monitor the impacts of environmental change, and build capacity in forest science. ForestGEO is one of several institutions involved in GEO-TREES, a global partnership of forest researchers working to provide critical ground observations for calibration of satellite-derived biomass mapping. Initially focused on the tropics, GEO-TREES is now seeking to expand to provide coverage of temperate forests.

Temperate forests account for almost half of the net global forest carbon sink and are facing unprecedented pressures from climate and other environmental changes. At the same time, carbon markets require accurate quantification of forest biomass and its stability in the face of ongoing environmental changes. Long-term ForestGEO data, coupled with more recent and future acquisitions of terrestrial and airborne laser scanning data following GEO-TREES protocols, will be used to explore the drivers and dynamics of temperate forest biomass dynamics and to scale between ground-based observations and satellite biomass estimates. The overall goal is to significantly improve the quantification of temperate forest biomass and its future vulnerability.

The postdoctoral fellow will have the opportunity to build an independent research program aligned with the goals of ForestGEO and GEO-TREES. The position offers the rare opportunity to connect global forest census data with state-of-the-art lidar data and emerging satellite biomass products. The fellow will work across spatial and temporal scales—from individual trees and permanent plots to landscapes and satellite products—and will have substantial freedom to develop questions and approaches that establish an independent scientific niche. Research topics may include, but are not limited to, scaling plot-level observations to landscape or global scales, global change impacts on biomass trajectories, or linking forest structure to biomass dynamics. Candidates are encouraged to propose questions that leverage the unique strengths of the ForestGEO and GEO-TREES data and research infrastructure. Under the mentorship of Smithsonian ForestGEO and GEO-TREES researchers, they will define and lead their own analyses, initiate collaborations, lead publications, contribute to and potentially lead grant proposals, and (co-)supervise interns.

We seek a creative and analytically strong scientist with a PhD in forest ecology, environmental science, remote sensing, Earth system science, or a related field. They should be enthusiastic about collaborating across cultures and disciplines and have a strong research and publication record. Candidates with background in any combination of ground-based forest census, terrestrial and airborne laser scanning, and satellite biomass estimation are encouraged to apply. We particularly welcome applicants who bring depth in one area and enthusiasm for developing expertise across the others.

The position will be based in the ForestGEO Ecosystems & Climate Lab at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, VA, within easy reach of Washington, DC and the broader Mid-Atlantic scientific community. The Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute and the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (Edgewater, MD) are home to the first two temperate GEO-TREES sites and will be foundational sites for the postdoc’s research. The postdoc will interact closely with ForestGEO and GEO-TREES collaborators at other Smithsonian units and in international partner institutions. They will have opportunities to travel for scientific conferences and research collaborations across temperate and tropical forest countries involved in the ForestGEO and GEO-TREES programs.

The fellow will be awarded a stipend of $70,000/yr plus a $7,000/yr health coverage allowance and $5,000/yr research and travel allowance, with additional funds available to support the position at PI discretion. The position is funded for a minimum of two years, with potential for extension based on availability of funds. The starting date is flexible; earlier start dates are preferred.

Closing date for applications is 26 October 2026. To apply, send a single PDF file containing a cover letter including a statement of research interest, CV, contact information for three references, and three relevant publications or manuscripts to Isabella Valli, ForestGEO Program Assistant, ValliIE@si.edu. Please include the full position title in the subject line of the email. For further information, contact ForestGEO Ecosystems & Climate Program Lead, Kristina Anderson-Teixeira, teixeirak@si.edu. Answers to all questions (anonymized and generalized) will be posted below.

Responses to questions

Is there an option for remote or hybrid work? The postdoc needs to spend the majority of their time in the VA/DC/MD region, as interactions with the team here will be important. Shorter periods of remote work and ad-hoc telework would be acceptable. There is more flexibility in splitting of time across the Smithsonian units involved (NZCBI, SERC, and ForestGEO (STRI) presence at the National Museum of Natural History in DC). We may consider requests to spend the majority of time at a different unit (e.g., living in DC/working at NMNH with frequent visits to Front Royal), but note that the SERC position that will interact most closely with this postdoc is currently vacant.

What is the latest possible start date? The funds supporting this are intended to be spent by December 31, 2028, making January 4, 2027 the ideal start date. However, we recognize that this is a tight timeline, and there is some flexibility built into the way the appointment is paid. There isn’t a single defined “latest possible” date, but candidates wishing to start much after early January 2027 will be at some disadvantage, and very late start dates might start cutting into the total appointment length.

Would a project integrating tree ring records, census data, and terrestrial lidar (for biomsas allometries) be a good fit? The focus on the climate-sensitivity of tree growth and implications for forest biomass accumulation is a big theme of interest in my lab. However, for this position we’re looking for someone whose main focus is linking census, lidar, and sattelite data (not necessarily all 3) to understand biomass dynamics. A project focused on understanding tree growth would have to have strong integration with lidar and important implications for understanding stand-level biomass dynamics. A hypothetical example might be using a combination of terrestrial lidar and biometric measurements (tape measurements or cores) to change our understanding of biomass production in large trees / the linkage of stem diameter increments to crown growth (as seen by lidar). A project in which the role of lidar is more of a methodological detail (e.g., improved biomass allometries) but not central to the main scientific questions (e.g., climate sensitivity of tree growth or forest productivity) wouldn’t be a good fit for this particular position. People with such a vision are still welcome to apply, but such a project would be on the margins of the allowable scope and unlikely to rise to the top of a competitive applicant pool.

Further comments

Also consider applying to the Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program (SIFP) - due Oct. 15.