Background:
The Black Rock Forest Postdoctoral Fellowship is a two-year, endowed fellowship awarded on a competitive basis to advance the study of forest ecology.
Black Rock Forest is a non-profit, research, education, and conservation organization founded in 1989 that uses its 1586-hectare forest as a scientific field station to advance our understanding of the natural world. Together with our postdoctoral fellows, we seek to expand our ecological research activities related to forest ecology and environmental change, while propelling early-career researchers forward.
Our goal is to provide the setting and academic freedom for our Fellows to think big. This Fellowship will provide postdoctoral scholars the opportunity to deepen their expertise in a key area of terrestrial forest ecology while enhancing their research through cross-disciplinary interaction with scientists in other life science and earth science fields. We encourage applicants to take full advantage of our unique opportunities, including our in-house lab facilities, forest road and wireless network, and possibilities for manipulative experiments. The Fellow will be part of the Black Rock Forest staff and provided with opportunities to learn or interact with all aspects of the organization including non-profit administration, fundraising, education programming, public outreach, and land conservation and stewardship.
Opportunities for 2025 Fellows:
Black Rock Forest: Currently, we are seeking applications from prospective Fellows that propose compelling and feasible projects in wildlife ecology. We are particularly interested in proposals that capitalize on our existing efforts in camera trap surveys, white-tailed deer population monitoring, landscape connectivity, and/or road ecology. Other opportunities in carnivore movement ecology and to work with the New York State Department of Transportation may arise, funding dependent. We strongly encourage interested applicants to browse our research webpages and contact Dr. Scott LaPoint to learn more.
Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory: Black Rock Forest and the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory have worked together to create a unique opportunity for prospective Fellows interested in working closely with Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory or Columbia University faculty whose research endeavors are focused within Black Rock Forest. This Fellowship has many of the same features as working with Black Rock Forest staff or faculty at other research institutions, but would come with an added benefit of a $12,000 research allowance from the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory and a postdoctoral appointment at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory. To learn more about this opportunity, applicants should visit the fellowship portal at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory.
American Museum of Natural History: As a Black Rock Forest Consortium member, the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) offers prospective Black Rock Forest Fellows the opportunity to collaborate closely with AMNH faculty on terrestrial forest ecology-related efforts. If an applicant has contacted a potential collaborator from the AMNH-Richard Gilder graduate School faculty, they should indicate that in their Cover Letter to Black Rock Forest (see “Instructions for applying” below).
Details:
The research field(s) of our Fellow should fall under the umbrella of “forest ecology”, broadly defined.
The successful candidate will have completed all requirements for their dissertation prior to the start of their appointment or 31 August 2025, whichever comes first.
The Fellow will hold a contracted position at Black Rock Forest and will report to the Director of Research.
The Fellow will be provided with an office and shared lab space within our Science Center (235 Reservoir Rd, Cornwall, NY) and is expected to conduct a significant portion of their field research within Black Rock Forest or closely nearby. Opportunities to supervise volunteers, interns, and/or undergraduate students often arise.
The Fellowships are supported by an endowed fund managed by Black Rock Forest and the Fellow will receive an annual salary of $68,000, a research allowance, plus individual ACA-compliant health insurance. If desired, housing is available for the Fellow and immediate family at a Forest-owned residence (129 Continental Rd, Cornwall, NY).
Instructions for applying:
Prospective Fellows seeking to work directly at Black Rock Forest without a direct relationship to the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, must apply by completing the fields at the bottom of this page. This is most appropriate for applicants who will be intellectually supervised by Black Rock Forest staff.
The following materials are required and must be uploaded via the form below:
- Cover letter with a brief personal introduction and summary of discussion with a potential mentor (limited to 1 page, 12-point font),
- Resume including a list of publications and skills,
- Research background and proposal (limited to 3-pages, excluding references, 12-point font). Describe your general research interests and the research you propose to conduct during the two-year fellowship. The research proposal should address how the proposed work will contribute to Black Rock Forest and provide sufficient detail to allow Forest staff to assess feasibility, and the
- Names and contact information of three professional references.
Prospective Fellows seeking to work at Black Rock Forest and have an direct relationship to the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, must apply via the fellowship portal at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory. This is most appropriate for applicants who will be intellectually supervised by faculty/staff at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory. These applications will be forwarded to our Director of Research. Applicants are also required to identify an academic mentor at Columbia University and/or Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory who will submit an attestation letter stating their willingness to assimilate and sponsor the Fellow within their respective Department. A direct email to Dr. LaPoint (slapoint@blackrockforest.org) from the academic mentor’s email address stating the above is sufficient.
At Black Rock Forest we value diversity, in our ecosystems and in our organization. We are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in our workplace and in our science, education, and conservation. We strongly encourage applications from underrepresented group members as we seek to diversify and strengthen our organization, science, and society.
Application deadline: 8 November 2024.
Email questions to Dr. Scott LaPoint, Director of Research, at slapoint@blackrockforest.org
Current and Previous Black Rock Forest Fellows:
Dr. Hanna Makowski – Hanna’s research interests largely focus on the evolution and drivers of plant adaptation, including mating systems and responses to abiotic factors. Hanna is currently quantifying the influence of genetic and climate drivers of tree leaf phenology and works closely with faculty at the City University of New York. Visit Hanna’s website (https://www.hannamakowski.com) to learn more about Hanna and her research efforts.
Dr. Grayson Badgley – Grayson’s research interests are broad, but often focused on plant ecophysiology combining field-, lab-, and satellite-derived data to refine models and better understand global-scale biogeochemical cycles. Grayson is now a Research Scientist for CarbonPlan, a non-profit objectively and quantitatively investigating climate solutions. See this excellent LA Times article featuring Grayson’s work during his time at Black Rock Forest.