NatCap TEEMs Postdoctoral Associate

About the Job

Hours:

Full-time, temporary (2-3 months)

Salary: $63,500- $66,500 annualized (prorated for appointment duration)

Department:
Applied Economics

Reports to:

Dr. Nfamara K. Dampha

Appointment

Terms:

• Duration: 2-3 months (non-tenure track, temporary)
• Renewal:
  No automatic renewal; any extension subject to funding and approvals
• Work Location:
  
  Minneapolis/St. Paul area or remote (with regular coordination)

This appointment is strictly time-bound and designed to address clearly defined, near-term analytical and synthesis needs. The postdoctoral associate will contribute to focused components of ongoing work using interdisciplinary methods spanning social science synthesis, spatial analysis, and systems modeling. The position does not carry expectations of long-term project ownership or independent research agenda development.

This position supports two related Nat Cap TEEMs projects, with clearly scoped deliverables appropriate to a 2-3 month workload.

"Nature's Value in Reducing Flood Risk Impacts in the Upper Mississippi River Basin"

The postdoc will contribute targeted analytical support to an existing project team working on flood risk, nature-based solutions, and environmental justice. Responsibilities will focus on discrete modeling and synthesis tasks, such as:

• Supporting flood exposure and vulnerability analyses using existing datasets and model frameworks
• Assisting with selected InVEST model runs (e.g., SDR, NDR, Seasonal Water Yield) under PI guidance
• Contributing to technical memos, figures, or draft manuscript sections. This role is supportive and bounded, not responsible for end-to-end model development.
• Supporting stakeholder-facing materials (e.g., background analyses for workshops or briefs)

The postdoc will provide short-term analytical input to the first-phase scoping and prototyping of Minnesota natural capital accounts using the SEEA framework and GEP approach. Tasks may include:

• Assisting with data compilation and preliminary spatial inventories for water or land assets
• Supporting initial ecosystem service mapping or tabulation
• Contributing to draft physical or monetary account tables (prototype level)
• Assisting with documentation of methods and data gaps

The postdoc is not expected to complete a full SEEA account within this appointment.

The appointment will be supervised by Dr. Nfamara K. Dampha, Lead Scientist and Director of Nat Cap TEEMs. Given the short duration, mentorship will focus on task-level guidance, rapid onboarding, and professional continuity, rather than long-term career development programming.

• ~45% Project 1 - Flood risk & NbS analytical support
• ~45% Project 2 - Natural capital accounting scoping and analysis
• ~10% Professional Development & Coordination

Required

• PhD in natural resources, environmental science, economics, policy, data science, or related interdisciplinary field
• PhD completed within the past 5 years or expected imminently
• Experience with GIS (ArcGIS Pro or QGIS) and spatial analysis
• Proficiency in Python, R, or similar programming languages
• Familiarity with ecosystem service modeling or valuation approaches
• U.S. work eligibility or valid visa status (H-1B transfer eligible)

Preferred

• Experience with InVEST models or similar ecosystem service tools
• Exposure to hydrology, flood risk analysis, or vulnerability assessment
• Familiarity with SEEA Central Framework or Ecosystem Accounting
• Interest in applied, policy-relevant…