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Post-doctoral Associate in Socioecological Outcomes and Monitoring of Restoration in Dryland Ecosystems

The Pennsylvania State University
remote work
United States, Pennsylvania, University Park
201 Old Main (Show on map)
May 13, 2026
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS: CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday. CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday. If you are NOT a current employee or student, please click "Apply" and complete the application process for external applicants. Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location.For additional information on remote work at Penn State, seeNotice to Out of State Applicants. This is a term position; length of the term will be discussed during the interview process. Continuation past the termlengthdiscussed willbebasedonuniversityneed,performance,and/oravailabilityoffunding. POSITION SPECIFICS Duties Place The primary work location will be the University Park Campus of Penn State University, PA. Approximately 10% of the work will require travel for research collaboration (e.g. potentially to other universities in the US involved in this project including University of Minnesota and Duke University, as well as to meetings in Southern Africa as needed). The majority (80%) of the work can be performed virtually with a flexible work location; however, Penn State University policy requires employees to live primarily in Pennsylvania. Job Duties We are recruiting a postdoctoral associate who will work on an NSF DISES-funded project titled "Socioecological Outcomes of Restoration: Discovering the interplay among biophysical, socioeconomic, and institutional dimensions of dryland forest-grassland landscapes". This is a collaborative research project between Penn State (Ida Djenontin and Erica Smithwick), Duke University (Tong Qiu), University of Minnesota (Forrest Fleischman), University of Witswatersrand (Wayne Twine) and LUANAR (Judith Kamoto). The postdoctoral associate will report to Ida Djenontin (main mentor) while benefiting from a co-mentorship arrangement across disciplines to strengthen applications and further learning of integrative methods. The postdoctoral associate will focus on analyzing the socio-ecological impacts of ecosystem restoration in mosaic forest-grassland ecosystems and design appropriate monitoring frameworks, in collaboration with scientists located at several institutions in the US, Africa, and beyond whose goals include understanding tradeoffs in social and ecological outcomes. The work will involve analyzing empirical primary social and ecological data on ecosystem restoration processes and outcomes collected in Malawi and South Africa from (i) household and community surveys, (ii) semi-structured qualitative interviews, (iii) ecological surveys from forests and farms, (iv) remote sensing of land cover change, and (v) other secondary data. The specific expertise, skills, and interest of the candidate will further determine this process. Deliverables expected from this position include the generation of both integrative scientific research publications and practical policy insights. The incumbent will also coordinate with other members of the research team and engage in outreach. The postdoctoral associate will receive training in scientific publication, grant-writing and outreach, relevant research techniques and skills, and have opportunities to build connections with broader networks of scholars studying restoration social science in general, and particularly the network of ecosystem restoration scientists collaborating on this project. Analyzing data on ecosystem restoration and synthesizing secondary data and information to produce research products including scientific publications and policy briefs. Support overall planning and logistics of the team to develop and gain leadership skills. This includes assisting with meeting coordination, meeting minutes, and supporting the development of the annual technical report. Support engagement efforts with a broader research community funded by this grant, organizing and assisting with science-policy outreach efforts (including peer training), presenting research and & presentations across Africa and the US related to this research. As scholars in advanced training status, Post-Doctoral Associates devote five percent of their effort to pursue professional and career development opportunities (e.g., seminars, workshops) outside the scope of their assigned research responsibilities. The nature and content of professional and career development opportunities is at the discretion of the Post-Doctoral Associate who can seek advice from the direct mentor and other project team members. Required Qualifications Ph.D. degree with expertise in at least two of the following areas: human-environment geography, landscape ecology, land system science, remote sensing/GIS science, data science, or related field. Demonstrated interdisciplinary background, with experience in the integration of social and ecological theories, methods, and data, with interest in advancing these skills for data integration. Demonstrated ability to engage with both quantitative and qualitative analysis of data (e.g., household surveys, spatial data, interviews, and ecological data), including statistical methods to account for trade-offs and co-benefits. Publication record that demonstrates the ability to publish integrative social-ecological research. Preferred/Desired Qualifications Demonstrated understanding of ecosystem restoration and its policy dynamics linking biodiversity, climate, and human well-being goals. Substantive experience studying landscapes with mixed land uses and ecosystems. Substantive experience with policy related to rural smallholder livelihoods. Demonstrated ability to coordinate complex team-based projects, including working successfully with a varied mix of internal and external partners from diverse communities and cultures using tact, diplomacy, initiative, and sound judgement. Application Instructions Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions to submit an online application for the position. Applications must include the following materials compiled into a single PDF document: Academic CV Cover letter that describes the applicant's interest in the position and specifies how the applicant meets the required and preferred qualifications (1-2 pages) Two representative publications Names and contact information for three professional references. *Please combine all parts of the application into a single document before uploading. Incomplete applications will not be considered.* Application review will begin on May 30, 2026 and this position will remain open until it is filled. Questions about the position can be directed to Ida Djenontin (ind5050@psu.edu). BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies. BENEFITS Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional well-being. For more detailed information, please visit ourBenefits Page. (Note: For Postdoctoral benefits, please see our Postdoctoral Benefits page.) CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here. EEO IS THE LAW Penn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473. Penn State is committed to and accountable for advancing equity, respect, and belonging. 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