Postdoc position available

NSF/FAPESP BoCP-Design: US-São Paulo: The roles of stochasticity and spatial context in dynamics of functional diversity under global change.

The Saito Lab at the Federal University of São Carlos (Brazil) is looking for a FAPESP full-time postdoctoral researcher to work on the project NSF/FAPESP BoCP-Design: US-São Paulo: The roles of stochasticity and spatial context in dynamics of functional diversity under global change. The project will test novel hypotheses about the importance of stochasticity during community assembly using a coordinated study in Brazil and the USA. The candidate will lead fieldwork in Brazil and will be responsible for sampling and processing macroinvertebrates from streams. We are looking for researchers with extensive experience with aquatic insects. This is an international collaboration involving Dr. Victor Saito and Dr. Tadeu Siqueira from Brazil and Dr. Bryan Brown, Dr. Kurt Anderson, and Dr. Chris Swan from the US.

Title: The role of stochastic community assembly on the size structure of aquatic metacommunities under global change

Abstract: Body size is a master trait influencing species niche and trophic position, with larger rarer organisms commonly feeding upon abundant smaller ones. Therefore, the size structure of ecological communities (mass-abundance relationships, i.e. size spectra) depicts how energy flows through food webs. Tropical and temperate communities should have distinct size structures due to marked differences in temperature controlling metabolism and community assembly. This distinction in metabolism should entail differences in the relative influence of neutral community assembly between regions. The postdoctoral researcher would test these and related ideas using data sampled in watersheds in tropical and temperate regions.

Workplan: The researcher will be involved in all steps and decisions regarding the main project. Due to the level of experience (PhD with good publication record), the hired researcher should have abilities and capabilities to discuss the best approaches for field, laboratory and analytical activities. The main activities should be: 1) define and organize field campaigns with help of PIs and technicians. 2) Execute field works. 3) In the meantime between campaigns, organize and start sorting, identifying and measuring macroinvertebrates and organizing environmental data (including defining best formats to enhance reproducibility). 4) After the year-long field campaign, the researcher should finish macroinvertebrates processing with the technicians and start analyzing data. 5) With all data cleared and organized, the researcher should conduct appropriate data analyzes, conduct discussions with the PIs and involved students and elaborate scientific manuscripts. 6) Along with the proposed workplan, the researcher should help supervising undergraduate and graduate students in the Saito lab. The researcher should also visit the US partners in order to gain international experience and improve networking abilities.

Interested candidates will need: i) Letter of interest summarizing previous experiences and professional expectations (1 page); ii) updated CV (maximum of 5 pages); iii) 2 names for reference. Combine all documents into a single PDF file. The selection will be based on these documents and shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview. All documents should be in English.

This is a two years long position, open to Brazilians and foreigners. The selected candidate will receive a fellowship from FAPESP in the monthly amount of R$ 8,479.20 and a Technical Reserve equivalent to 10% of the annual value of the fellowship to cover expenses directly related to the research activity.

The deadline is 05/Dec/2022.

Please, apply here.

Contact: victor.saito@gmail.com and vssaito@ufscar.br