Postdoctoral Research Associate - Plant-Soil Interactions and Coastal Biogeochemistry

Overview

The Plant-Soil Interactions Group within the Environmental Sciences Division (ESD) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) seeks a postdoctoral researcher in Coastal Biogeochemistry. This researcher will use field observations and laboratory mesocosms to investigate how plant traits and soil properties confer resilience or vulnerability to disturbance in coastal wetlands. Research activities will evaluate how below ground plant traits and soil properties vary across inundation and salinity gradients in Gulf Coast wetlands.

Potential areas of focus include below ground root traits, plant-microbe-soil interactions, physical and chemical soil properties, and organo‑mineral associations. This candidate will directly support the Exploring Gulf Region Ecosystem Transitions (EGRET) project, an interdisciplinary and multi‑institutional collaboration focused on disturbance‑driven ecosystem transitions and their impacts across the U.S. Gulf Coast. EGRET employs an integrated model–experiment (Mod Ex) approach accelerated by artificial intelligence (AI) to advance predictive understanding of how plant–microbial–soil interactions vary across inundation and salinity gradients to shape ecological, hydrological, and geomorphological responses to abrupt disturbance.

A cohort of postdoctoral researchers will be hired across multiple institutions to collaboratively support scientific advances guided by AI/ML, remote sensing, process‑based modeling, field observations and experiments, and advanced analytical techniques.

• Independently and collaboratively lead field campaigns to collect plant material, soil cores, and soil water from coastal wetlands.
• Lead a laboratory mesocosm experiment evaluating plant-soil response to simulated disturbance, linking repeated high‑throughput phenotyping at ORNL's Advanced Plant Phenotyping Laboratory (APPL) with paired geochemical and microbial measurements.
• Utilize laboratory equipment and software that may include a Picarro gas concentration analyzer (G2508), Rhizovision Explorer, Shimadzu TOC‑L, ICP‑MS/OES, and Aqualog for EEMS/UV‑VIS.
• Work closely with modelers and empiricists across multiple disciplines to address project objectives.
• Present results within the research group and at national and international conferences, and publish manuscripts in peer‑reviewed journals.
• Deliver ORNL’s mission by aligning behaviors, priorities, and interactions with our core values of Impact, Integrity, Teamwork, Safety, and Service.

• A PhD in Earth and Environmental Sciences, Ecology, Biosciences, Botany, Geosciences, or a related field with a strong focus on plant‑soil interactions and/or biogeochemical processes, completed within the last 5 years or expected to be completed soon.
• A strong record of independent and productive research, as indicated by conference presentations and/or publications in peer‑reviewed journals.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a large multidisciplinary team.
• Proven ability to design and implement experiments, perform data analyses, and interpret experimental results.
• Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.

• Demonstrated capabilities in evaluating physical and chemical properties of environmental samples including plants and soil.
• Experience integrating phenotypic or imaging‑based datasets (e.g., RGB, chlorophyll fluorescence, root imaging) with biogeochemical, microbial, or environmental sensor data.
• Experience analyzing large datasets in reproducible formats (R, etc.)
• Demonstrated interdisciplinary and systems‑level approach to science.
• Experience conducting field work independently or as part of a team.

Elizabeth…