Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Ecological Data Science at California State University, Northridge, USA (2026)
The project combines plant ecology, evolutionary biology, ecological data science, R programming, geospatial analysis, and simulation-based research to understand how plant populations respond to environmental variation across space and time.
Position Details
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Position | Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Ecological Data Science |
| Department | Biology |
| Laboratory | Yoder Lab |
| Institution | California State University, Northridge |
| Location | Northridge, California, USA |
| Research Area | Ecological Data Science, Plant Ecology, Evolutionary Biology |
| Salary | $71,400 per year + benefits |
| Duration | Up to 3 years |
| Start Date | Negotiable; ideally by Q1 2027 |
| Work Arrangement | Hybrid possible, but must live within commuting distance |
| Full Consideration Deadline | 23 August 2026 |
| Application | Email application materials to Jeremy Yoder |
About the Research Project
The successful candidate will collaborate with PI Jeremy Yoder at CSUN and researchers at Yale University on an NSF-funded project focused on ecological data science.
A central component of the project is TARDIS, an analytical pipeline designed to study how plant populations respond to environmental variation across geographical and temporal scales.
The postdoctoral researcher will contribute to:
Refining and applying the TARDIS analytical pipeline.
Completing development of the TARDIS R package.
Conducting simulation studies to understand the capabilities and limitations of the analytical pipeline.
Applying ecological data science approaches to plant population research.
Working with ecological and geospatial datasets.
Supporting a course-based undergraduate research experience.
Helping undergraduate students develop TARDIS models for individual plant species.
Collaborating with researchers at CSUN and Yale University.
This position is therefore particularly relevant to researchers interested in the intersection of ecology, evolution, programming, statistics, and computational biology.
Key Responsibilities
The postdoctoral fellow will take a collaborative role in the research project and is expected to contribute to both research and educational activities.
1. Ecological Data Analysis
The researcher will work with ecological and potentially geospatial datasets to investigate plant population responses to environmental variation.
2. R Programming and Package Development
A major component of the position involves further development of the TARDIS package for R. Strong R programming experience is therefore an important qualification.
3. Simulation Studies
The fellow will conduct simulation studies designed to evaluate the capabilities of the TARDIS analytical pipeline and better understand how it performs under different conditions.
4. Undergraduate Research
The researcher will assist with a course-based undergraduate research experience, where students will build TARDIS models for individual plant species.
5. Collaboration and Publication
The successful candidate will work with researchers at CSUN and Yale and contribute to scientific outputs arising from the NSF-funded project.
Eligibility and Qualifications
Applicants should have:
A doctoral degree in plant ecology, evolutionary biology, or a closely related field.
Candidates who are near completion of their PhD may also apply, provided the dissertation defense and graduation will occur before starting the position.
Demonstrated experience in data science and programming in R.
Experience working with ecological and/or geospatial data.
Research interests aligned with the project and/or Yoder Lab's research focus.
Excellent written communication skills.
Strong familiarity with both classic and contemporary research in geographical ecology.
Additional Experience Preferred
The strongest candidates may also have experience in one or more of the following:
Species distribution modelling.
Machine learning applications in ecology.
Population demography.
Empirical or simulation-based ecological research.
Theoretical studies of population processes.
Phylogenetic comparative methods.
Developing R packages.
Publishing R packages or computational research tools.
Salary and Benefits
The position provides a starting salary of $71,400 per year, along with benefits.
The project budget supports up to three years of salary, subject to satisfactory progress during the first year.
The position also includes:
Employee benefits.
Planned cost-of-living adjustments according to University policy.
Conference travel support.
Travel support for meetings with collaborators at Yale University.
A structured postdoctoral mentoring plan.
Professional development opportunities.
Guidance toward long-term career goals.
Work Location and Hybrid Arrangement
Although hybrid work will be possible for many project activities, this is not a fully remote postdoctoral position.
The successful applicant must:
Live within a commutable distance of the CSUN campus when the position begins.
Be able to attend meetings on campus multiple days per week.
Participate in planned in-person activities.
Therefore, applicants currently living far from Northridge should factor relocation into their planning.
Application Process
Applicants should submit their application directly by email.
Required Documents
Applicants should send:
Curriculum vitae (CV) with a complete publication list.
Cover letter, maximum two pages.
The cover letter should clearly explain how your qualifications and research experience match the requirements of the project.
Application Email
Applications should be sent to:
Questions about the project, position, or application process can also be directed to the same email address.
Deadline
Applications will be reviewed until a finalist is hired.
However, for full consideration, applicants should submit their materials by: 23 August 2026
Who Should Apply?
This position is particularly suitable for researchers with a combination of ecological research and computational/data science skills.
Strong candidates could come from backgrounds such as:
Plant Ecology
Evolutionary Biology
Ecological Data Science
Computational Ecology
Biogeography
Geographical Ecology
Population Biology
Environmental Data Science
Quantitative Ecology
However, having an ecology-related PhD alone may not be enough. Demonstrated R programming and ecological data-analysis experience are important parts of the selection criteria.
Why This Position Is Interesting
The position offers a useful combination of fundamental ecology, computational methods, software development, and undergraduate research mentoring.
The opportunity to contribute to an R package and gain experience with simulation studies can also be valuable for researchers aiming for careers in quantitative ecology, ecological modelling, computational biology, or data science.
The collaboration with Yale University adds an additional research-networking component.
How to Apply
Application deadline for full consideration: 23 August 2026
Send: CV + maximum two-page cover letter
Email: jeremy.yoder@csun.edu
Position: Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Ecological Data Science
Salary: $71,400/year + benefits
Duration: Up to 3 years
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the position?
It is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow position in Ecological Data Science in the Department of Biology at California State University, Northridge.
2. What is the main research topic?
The research focuses on understanding plant population responses to environmental variation over space and time using ecological data science and the TARDIS analytical pipeline.
3. What is TARDIS?
TARDIS is the analytical pipeline being developed and applied in the project. The postdoctoral fellow will help refine the pipeline and contribute to development of its R package.
4. What PhD background is required?
Applicants should have a doctorate in plant ecology, evolutionary biology, or a closely related field, or be scheduled to complete their doctorate before starting the position.
5. Is R programming required?
Yes. The position specifically asks for demonstrated experience with data science and programming in R, particularly with ecological and/or geospatial data.
6. Is previous experience with species distribution modelling required?
No. It is listed as an additional area of experience that would make an applicant more competitive, but it is not stated as a mandatory qualification.
7. Is machine learning experience required?
No. Experience applying machine learning to ecological problems is listed among the desirable additional qualifications.
8. How long is the postdoctoral position?
The project provides funding for up to three years, subject to satisfactory progress during the first year.
9. What is the salary?
The starting salary is $71,400 per year, with benefits and a planned cost-of-living adjustment according to University policy.
10. Can international researchers apply?
The advertisement does not state a citizenship restriction. International applicants should nevertheless ensure that they can obtain the appropriate authorization to work in the United States.
11. Is the position fully remote?
No. Hybrid work is possible for some activities, but the postdoctoral researcher must live within commuting distance of CSUN and attend campus meetings multiple days per week.
12. What documents are required?
Applicants need to submit:
CV with complete publication list
Cover letter of no more than two pages
13. Where should applications be sent?
Applications should be emailed to jeremy.yoder@csun.edu.
14. What is the application deadline?
For full consideration, applications should be submitted by 23 August 2026. The search will remain open until a finalist is hired.
15. Is teaching involved?
The postdoctoral fellow will assist with a course-based undergraduate research experience, in which students will build TARDIS models for individual plant species.
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