Postdoctoral Scholar-Fixed Term

Position Summary

A 1.5-year Postdoctoral Researcher position is available working with Drs. Latimore and Cheruvelil in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife at Michigan State University. The successful candidate will join the Bridge Lab to conduct data-intensive and collaborative lake and stream ecology research and translate results into action in partnership with communities. The postdoc will work on two funded projects: Turning MiCorps community science data into community water solutions (funded by the Mott Foundation) and Quantifying the interactive effects of human disturbances on lake biota and harmful algal blooms at the continental scale (funded by the National Science Foundation).

This postdoc will be at the center of a new initiative turning 51 years of Michigan lake and stream data into tools and actions that communities can actually use. The position combines data science with community-engaged research, drawing on the LAGOS-US research platform (www.lagoslakes.org) and MiCorps, Michigan's statewide volunteer lake and stream monitoring program (www.micorps.net), to identify the stressors (e.g., nutrient pollution, invasive species, habitat loss, land-use change) shaping water quality across the state's agricultural, forested, and urban watersheds. In year one, the postdoc will also contribute to an update of one of the LAGOS-US data modules to support macroscale prediction of harmful algal blooms.

Building on statewide analyses, the postdoc will help select six priority watersheds and partner directly with freshwater volunteers, watershed groups, municipal leaders, and resource managers to co-develop resources based on community needs (e.g., state-of-the-watershed reports, policy briefs, decision-making tools). These resources will help translate data into accessible, actionable information supporting locally driven conservation and stewardship.

The role spans the full arc of data-intensive research and its application, and takes a community-engaged approach throughout. As a full collaborator with the research team, the postdoc will: co-create research questions; acquire and harmonize existing data and author metadata; visualize, analyze, and interpret data; review and synthesize literature; write and revise manuscripts, reports, and grant proposals as lead and co-author; publish code and data; and present results to scientific and community audiences alike. The successful candidate may also have the opportunity to supervise undergraduate students or on-call staff.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.

Required Degree

Doctorate -ecology, aquatic ecology, limnology, or related discipline with strong quantitative emphasis (statistics and/or computer science).

Minimum Requirements

Doctorate (Ph.D.) in ecology, aquatic ecology, limnology, or related discipline with strong quantitative emphasis (statistics and/or computer science).

Desired Qualifications

• Analytical skills and experience for conducting big-data lake ecology research using techniques from statistics and computer science (e.g., statistical modeling, machine learning, data mining).
• Knowledge of open science tools (e.g., Github, Zenodo).
• Demonstrated interest in conducting participatory or community-engaged research, including partnering with communities to develop research questions, interpret results, and apply learnings to management and conservation efforts by communities.
• Demonstrated capacity to conduct independent and collaborative research.
• A strong record of effective oral and written communication, including publishing in peer-reviewed journals and presenting scientific results to a variety of audiences.
• Excellent interpersonal skills including problem-solving, collaboration, and inclusion.

Required Application Materials

Please provide a 1-2 page cover letter that describes your research experiences and interests, a current CV, and names and contact information for three references.

Special Instructions

Expectations for in-person and remote work: MSU strives to provide a flexible work environment and this position has been designated as remote-friendly for Michigan residents. For this position, remote-friendly means the employee can regularly work 1-3 days per week away from MSU property. However, the postdoc will be expected to work in the Natural resources Building at least 2 days per week and will be expected to periodically attend in-person stakeholder meetings across Michigan to share data and gather input on co-developed resources.

For additional information: Contact Dr. Jo Latimore (latimor1@msu.edu) or Dr. Kendra Spence Cheruvelil (ksc@msu.edu).

Review of Applications Begins On

08/31/2026

Remote Work Statement

MSU strives to provide a flexible work environment and this position has been designated as remote-friendly. Remote-friendly means some or all of the duties can be performed remotely as mutually agreed upon.

Website

https://www.canr.msu.edu/fw/

Department Statement

The Department of Fisheries and Wildlife is a vibrant community of scholars including approximately 50 core faculty, 20 postdoctoral research associates, 100 graduate students, 240 undergraduate students, 7 core staff, and 25 research/center/program staff. Our Mission is to build local, national, and international capacities to conserve ecosystems that support fish, wildlife, and society through integrated programs in research, education and engagement. We are committed to the integrative nature of natural resources conservation and management, with our expertise ranging from disciplinary areas with a long-standing history in the domain of fisheries and wildlife to those emerging more recently.

The Bridge lab at Michigan State University works to to advance inclusive and equity-focused solutions for broad-scale environmental challenges. We answer ecological questions at the intersections of many disciplines, which means that our research questions require knowledge and expertise from a diverse team. Because the theory, methods, and approaches to address these types of questions are sometimes lacking, we create new subdisciplines, build research infrastructure, and develop new approaches to conduct our work.

MSU Statement

Michigan State University has been advancing the common good with uncommon will for more than 160 years. One of the top research universities in the world, MSU pushes the boundaries of discovery and forges enduring partnerships to solve the most pressing global challenges while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community through more than 200 programs of study in 17 degree-granting colleges.