Mycorrhizal Carbon Science Lead

About SPUN

SPUN is a startup NGO with a mission to map and protect the mycorrhizal fungal networks that regulate Earth's climate and ecosystems. These fungi draw down approximately 13 billion tons of CO2 annually through extensive underground networks. Since our founding in 2021, we've built a global data platform to make these invisible networks measurable. Through our Underground Explorers program and network of over 400 Science Associates across more than 80 countries — with the majority in the Global South — we generate high-resolution biodiversity maps and ML-powered tools that integrate mycorrhizal data into climate, conservation, restoration, and land management decisions.

Our work spans from laboratory research, data science, and robotics to locally-led field applications, informing everything from carbon accounting methodologies to protected area design and restoration protocols. With strong backing from leading foundations and growing momentum in international policy circles, we're at an inflection point where strategic partnerships will be critical to driving the adoption of mycorrhizal data into climate strategies, conservation agendas, and restoration efforts worldwide.

SPUN is looking for an experienced and ambitious Mycorrhizal Scientist to lead our Climate and Carbon work. This core team position is central to achieving a primary mission for SPUN: to quantify fungal‑mediated carbon flows for integration with climate and carbon accounting frameworks.

You will provide the strategic direction for all mycorrhizal carbon measurements and ecosystem function mapping. You will provide mission‑aligned direction for the team as you develop foundational fungal carbon datasets and geospatial products, balancing high‑level guidance with your own direct, hands‑on contributions to the research. A key long‑term objective is to scale mycorrhizal carbon measurements, aiming to build rigorous and trusted verification methods necessary to incorporate mycorrhizal data into global climate strategies.

• Lead, manage, and mentor SPUN’s Climate and Carbon research group.
• Set the strategic scientific direction for the group, aligning with SPUN's overall mission and identifying future areas of impact.
• Oversee the development of mycorrhizal carbon datasets, analytics, and spatial products.
• Design and execute a strategy for scaling fungal carbon measurements and databases, working with our Climate Breakthrough strategy team.
• Drive the scientific work needed to integrate SPUN’s data into Natural Capital models and other quantitative NCS frameworks.
• Collaborate with the leads of the Biodiversity Analytics and Conservation & Applications groups to execute cross‑team projects, such as analyzing fungal diversity x carbon protection synergies.
• Establish and manage partnerships for pilot user‑testing of SPUN data products.

• You have a PhD in Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, Biogeochemistry, Microbiology, and/or Earth System Science.
• You have significant experience designing and leading research programs to answer cutting‑edge questions in ecosystem ecology, particularly above/below ground carbon dynamics.
• You possess a robust understanding of soil biogeochemistry, particularly the interplay of fungal activities and carbon and nutrient cycles at a variety of scales.
• You have demonstrated success in building and interpreting advanced statistical models.
• You have excellent data management and coding skills in R and/or python.
• You have a proven ability to deliver high‑quality scientific writing and possess strong science communication skills.
• You are fluent in English.

• Experience with stable isotope methods, fungal trait and sequencing data, geospatial analysis and remote sensing, meta‑analysis techniques, or biogeochemical/earth system modeling.
• Experience advising on or integrating scientific data into Natural Climate Solutions (NCS) or carbon accounting frameworks.
• Experience with collaborative coding platforms (e.g., Github).

Mycorrhizal fungi are among the planet’s most important—but least understood—players in the global carbon cycle. They shape how…