Postdoctoral Researcher – Invasive Shrub Ecology

Position Title:

POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER – INVASIVE SHRUB ECOLOGY

Position Type:
Post-Doctoral Position

Application Review Begins:
Monday, November 09, 2026

Final date to receive applications:
Monday, December 07, 2026

Institution:
Schoodic Institute at Acadia National Park

Department/Division:
Climate Adaptation Science Lab

Field (e.g., systematics): invasive species

City:
Winter Harbor, ME, United States

General Information:
Schoodic Institute at Acadia National Park is recruiting a motivated, collaborative, and curious Postdoctoral Researcher to start by early March 2027, as part of a three-year project funded by the USGS Northeast Climate Adaptation Science Center. The postdoc will join the Wild Acadia team, a partnership of Schoodic Institute, Acadia National Park, and Friends of Acadia that is learning how to manage parks under uncertain future conditions.

This position will address a long-standing question in invasion biology while testing a new management strategy. Many invasive shrubs leaf out earlier in spring and hold their leaves later in fall than native shrubs, a pattern often proposed to explain their success. Yet whether this extended leaf-on period actually gives invasives a fitness advantage remains largely untested.

The postdoc will lead multiple experiments to test this mechanism directly and evaluate whether native shrubs from southern sources, which also have longer leaf-on periods, can compete with invasive shrubs. Together, the results will advance our understanding of plant invasions and give managers across the Northeast a new, evidence-based management tool.

Qualifications / Requirements:

Required

• PhD in ecology, plant biology, conservation biology, or a related field, completed by the start date.
• Experience designing and carrying out plant ecology field experiments.
• Strong quantitative skills, including data analysis in R.
• Valid driver’s license.
• Ability to work independently and manage a multi-year project.
• Strong written and oral communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively with scientists and land managers.

• Experience with plant phenology, invasive species, restoration, or assisted migration.
• Experience coproducing science with managers or other partners.
• A record of peer-reviewed publications.
• Experience supervising or mentoring field staff, interns, or students.

Responsibilities:
The postdoc will be supervised by Dr. Chris Nadeau, Senior Climate Change Adaptation Scientist at Schoodic Institute. They will have primary responsibility for the project, from designing and launching experiments to convening a regional advisory group of invasive species managers and publishing results. There will be opportunities to contribute to other Wild Acadia work, including summit and wetland restoration. Dedicated time is also provided for developing independent research.