The Carnegie Institution for Science invites applications for the Queen Family Postdoctoral Fellowship in Climate Change, based in Carnegie’s Division of Biosphere Science and Engineering, located on the Caltech Campus. The selected fellow will join a collaborative team of scientists working to understand how ecosystems on land respond to environmental conditions (and changes), to better represent those responses in models, and to build understanding of pathways to a more sustainable society. The fellow will work under the guidance of Senior Staff Scientist Dr. Jeff Dukes
There is some flexibility in the specific work of the Postdoctoral Fellow, but in general the successful applicant will be expected to examine the influence of microclimates on vegetation, the influence of vegetation on microclimates, and the ways in which microclimates’ effects on ecosystem processes scale up to the landscape level and beyond. The fellow can take advantage of ongoing data collection at field sites in northern California, and could become involved in local fieldwork, and/or use land models, remotely sensed datasets, and global databases to examine the importance of microclimatic influences from the local to the global level, in natural and/or urban settings. The fellow may also participate in international collaborative projects related to the MC3 4 Earth Center We will be looking for candidates who have interest in being involved in some level of fieldwork and some level of modeling. The exact mix of these is flexible, and to be determined.
Responsibilities:
This project will be based on the Caltech campus; the Fellow will be expected to work on site. The initial appointment will be for one year, but can be extended based on performance and funding availability. The position is available starting September 14, 2026, but the starting date is flexible. Informal inquiries and questions about the position should be directed to Jeff Dukes (e-mail: jdukes@carnegiescience.edu ).
Postdoctoral Fellows at Carnegie have access to valuable research resources to launch successful scientific careers in and beyond academia, including technical support staff, research equipment, and computing/IT resources. Opportunities to partner with other Carnegie scientists may also be available depending on the Fellow’s interests. Carnegie seeks to provide a culture of mentoring and professional development for all postdoctoral scientists; funding is available for travel to scientific conferences, and additional professional development/training programs are offered internally.
Applications will only be considered when submitted through our application portal (see blue bar below). Applicants are required to submit a cover letter, CV, and the names and contact information of at least three professional references.
Carnegie Institution for Science has a long-standing commitment to equal employment opportunity for all employees and applicants for employment. All applicants will receive consideration of employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.
Carnegie scientists are leaders in the fields of plant biology, developmental biology, Earth & planetary science, astronomy, and global ecology. They seek answers to questions about the structure of the universe; the formation of our Solar System and other planetary systems; the behavior and transformation of matter when subjected to extreme conditions; the origin of life; the effects of climate change on forests, oceans, and other habitats; the function of plant, animal, and microbial genomes; and the development of organisms from single-celled eggs to adults.
Andrew Carnegie founded our organization in 1902 as a place for scientific discovery. His intention was for the institution to be home to exceptional individuals—men and women with imagination and extraordinary dedication capable of working at the cutting edge of their fields.
We are headquartered in Washington, D.C. and have three scientific divisions split between the coasts, as well as observatories in Chile. We are an endowed, independent, nonprofit institution. Significant additional support comes from federal grants and private donations. A board of trustees, consisting of leaders in business, the sciences, education, and public service, oversees Carnegie’s operations. Each of division has its own scientific director who manages under the leadership of President Eric Isaacs.
