Postdoctoral Position in Forest Ecology and Fire Resilience (Boreal Forests) Wilfrid Laurier University in United States

The Forest Ecology Research Group at Wilfrid Laurier University, in collaboration with the Government of the Northwest Territories and funded by Natural Resources Canada’s Wildfire Resilient Futures Initiative, is seeking a postdoctoral researcher to evaluate the impacts of short interval reburning on boreal forest resilience in the Northwest Territories (NWT), Canada. This research is critical in the context of recent record-breaking fire seasons and the urgent need to understand and adapt to climate change impacts on forest ecosystems.

The successful candidate will lead efforts to assess the effects of severe, short interval reburning on ecosystem function, focusing on attributes such as post-fire forest and ground vegetation composition, carbon stocks, forest structure, and combustion severity. Data will be collected to harmonize with an existing network of sites across NWT, enabling evaluation of threshold responses to short interval reburning. The position is based in Waterloo, Ontario or Yellowknife, NWT, with fieldwork in remote locations.

Applicants must hold a PhD in ecology, natural resource sciences, environmental science, or a related field, and demonstrate a record of publishing in peer-reviewed literature. Required skills include boreal plant identification, basic forestry methods, statistical modelling in R, and experience working with community and government partners. Strong organizational and writing skills, as well as the ability to lead field-sampling logistics, are essential. A class 5 driver’s license is mandatory.

Funding is fully provided, covering a competitive stipend with annual increments, benefits, field supplies, conference and travel expenses. The position offers the opportunity to work with Dr. Jennifer Baltzer and a collaborative team of investigators and research partners. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. For more information, visit the Forest Ecology Research Group website.