Postdoctoral Scholar – Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Full-time

Postdoctoral Scholar – Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Dr. Victoria Sork in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at UCLA invites applications for a full-time Postdoctoral Scholar position focused on demographic modeling and landscape genomics to understand climate maladaptation in oak populations under future climate scenarios and develop demographic models to evaluate the ecological consequences of that maladaptation. This position is a two-year appointment, contingent upon satisfactory performance after the first year, with a flexible start date as early as August 2026. Supported by funding from the National Science Foundation, this collaborative project between University of California Los Angeles and University of California Santa Barbara integrates functional phenotypes, demographic modeling, and landscape genomics to study climate maladaptation in two California oak species: coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia) and valley oak (Quercus lobata). Working closely with Victoria Sork and a multidisciplinary team that includes ecophysiologist Lee Anderegg and plant ecologist Frank Davis, the postdoctoral scholar will contribute to two complementary research aims. First, they will use growth and mortality data from common garden experiments to build demographic models that quantify the population-level impacts of maladaptation. Second, they will use common garden data to link fitness consequences with predictions from landscape genomic models of climate adaptation. The post-doc will also collaborate on other aspects of the project including an analysis of the genetic basis of climate-associated phenotypes. The ideal candidate will engage across all phases of the research program, from field sampling and laboratory work to genomic and statistical analyses, as well as manuscript preparation. The position offers opportunities for first-authored publications and co-authorship on collaborative papers. The postdoc will join a dynamic research community, interacting with postdocs and collaborators working on functional genomics, epigenetics, ecophysiology, plant ecology, and climate modeling to advance our understanding of how long-lived tree species respond to climate change.

Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in biology, ecology, environmental science, evolutionary biology, geography, or conservation science with expertise in statistics, genomics, demographic modeling, and/or quantitative genetics.

• Demonstrated computational and statistical experience relevant to the project.

• Good writing skills with demonstrated record of peer-reviewed publications

• Ability to work independently and collaboratively