Postdoctoral Scientist in Watershed Hydrology
Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
The Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute was founded with the purpose of increasing and sharing knowledge about the past, present and future of tropical ecosystems and their relevance to human welfare. This work began in Panama in 1910, when the Smithsonian led one of the world’s first major environmental impact studies, which surveyed and catalogued the flora and fauna of the lowland tropical forests that would be flooded with the creation of the Panama Canal. A century later, the Smithsonian in Panama is a standard-setting global platform for groundbreaking research on tropical forests and marine ecosystems and their astounding biodiversity.
Today, STRI employs 40 staff scientists and hosts some 1,400 scientific visitors every year, from undergrads and interns to postdoctoral investigators and tenured research associates. Together, they collaborate on 350 running research projects and publish more than 400 peer reviewed articles in scientific journals every year. The research is not only shared widely around the global scientific community, but also reaches policymakers in Panama and beyond, receives media coverage around the globe, and is the foundation of an outreach and training program that reaches hundreds of teachers and tens of thousands of schoolchildren every year.
Homepage: https://stri.si.edu/
Geomorphology (GM)
Hydrological Sciences (HS)
The Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI www.stri.si.edu) and the Stroud Water
Research Center (https://stroudcenter.org/) seek a post-doctoral scientist in watershed
hydrology to join the Agua Salud Project research team in Panama. Agua Salud maintains eight
experimental watersheds established to better understand hydrology related ecosystem services
provided by tropical forests in a seasonal climate and how they change with land use and climate
change. Experimental watersheds include 13 instrumented weirs where stream flow measurements
have been collected every 5 minutes for up to 15 years. Watershed land use treatments include 1)
mature tropical forest (2 independent watersheds), 2) cattle pasture, 3) naturally regenerating
secondary forest, 4) native species plantation, 5) teak plantation, 6) silvopasture, 7) invasive grass
(Saccharum spontaneum), 8) land use mosaic. Additional weirs help track stream flow post
clearing without cattle. The site also includes a metrological station and rain gauge network.
The Agua Salud experimental watersheds serve as a critically important tropical research facility,
have contributed to past advances in fundamental hydrological theory, and are increasingly
relevant to understanding watershed hydrologic response to land use and climate change. We seek
a post-doctoral scholar eager to collaborate with us and expand the scientific impact of Aqua Salud.
The successful candidate will work with existing long-term data sets as well as help oversee
continuing stream flow data collection, curation, and management. Responsibilities will include
participation in the evaluation of existing hydrology infrastructure. Existing long-term stream flow
data is available for the post-doctoral scientist to work with in publications but will require modest
assessment and potentially significant processing prior to publication. The scientist will also be
expected to lead research on methods development and testing of methods for rapid and costefficient
assessment of stream flow recovery with reforestation.
Candidates should have strong field, analytical, and writing skills, a record of successful
publication, and experience with or willingness to work on multidisciplinary teams. Training will
be provided for planned analyses, with latitude for related independent research and professional
development. The project provides up to three years of funding, with the third year of funding
determined by performance in years 1 and 2. There are opportunities for multiple lead author
publications, and ownership of future research directions. There are funds to support travel to
international meetings. The location is at STRI in Panama but with potential visits to the Stroud
Water Research Center outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA to work with Dr. Melinda
Daniels, the co-supervisor. STRI fosters a lively, collaborative research community, with 32 Staff
Scientists, a similar number of post-doctoral fellows, and over 1,200 international scientists
visiting annually. Ability to communicate with a wide range of people in a multicultural
environment will be considered.
Applications will be evaluated as they are received. The successful applicant will begin by June
2024; however, the position will be held open for the right applicant.
To Apply: Interested candidates should submit a single PDF file including cover letter,
curriculum vitae, statement of research accomplishments and interests, significant publications,
and the names and contact information of three references to Jefferson Hall and Melinda Daniels
at hallje@si.edu. The position is open until filled; review of applications will begin on 15 March
2024.
At STRI, we value and embrace diversity in all its forms. We are committed to creating an
inclusive environment that welcomes and celebrates individuals from various backgrounds,
experiences, and perspectives. We believe that diversity fosters innovation, creativity, and
collaboration, which are essential to our success.
We encourage individuals of all races, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, ages, abilities,
and backgrounds to apply for Postdoctoral Research Fellow at STRI. We provide equal
opportunities and maintaining a fair and respectful recruitment process for all candidates. If you
require accommodations during any phase of the application or interview process, please let us
know, and we will be happy to assist.
STRI is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for
employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity,
national origin, disability, or protected veteran status. PSIONewHireDocs@si.edu
To Apply: Interested candidates should submit a single PDF file including cover letter,
curriculum vitae, statement of research accomplishments and interests, significant publications,
and the names and contact information of three references to Jefferson Hall and Melinda Daniels
at hallje@si.edu. The position is open until filled; review of applications will begin on 15 March
2024.