The University of Washington’s School of Environmental and Forest Sciences (SEFS) is seeking a full-time (100% FTE) postdoctoral researcher to work with an interdisciplinary research team to conduct an environmental assessment of wood products and forest management systems using a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) based modeling approach. The position will be an initial 24 month appointment with the possibility of extension. The Postdoctoral Scholar will be associated with the Center for International Trade in Forest Products (CINTRAFOR) and contribute to a broad base of research projects, including Life Cycle Assessment of wood products (including mass timber building materials), sustainable building materials and buildings, waste recovery, bioenergy, feedstock logistics, and sustainable forest management. The emphasis of the overall project will be on mass timber construction and related climate-smart forestry practices. The project will develop comparative environmental footprints of innovative engineered wood products (including cross-laminated panels, glued-laminated beams, and other mass timber building materials) and construction systems. The project will also investigate scenarios associated with forest growth rate, timber harvest practices, the timber and wood product mix generated from different harvest systems and forest types, the emissions associated with timber harvesting and the manufacturing of wood products, and the substitution effects.

The application review process for this position will start a month from the posting date, with priority consideration for applications received by then. However, applications will still be considered on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

The expected start date will be July 15, 2024 (open to negotiations)

Job duties/responsibilities

The successful candidate will support or lead the application of Life Cycle Assessment models. SimaPro and OpenLCA are the primary commercial LCA software used. Oral and written reporting of research results is expected with a focus on publications in peer-reviewed journals and presenting research results at scholarly and industry conferences. Additional responsibilities include the following:

1. Develop LCA models of mass timber products, including supply logistics and global transportation to construction sites.
2. Estimate substitution effects of using mass timber building materials instead of traditional building materials such as steel and concrete.
3. Support the research activities of the project's environmental economics of mass timber supply chains component.
4. Mentor CINTRAFOR graduate students.
5. Write research reports and project activity reports and contribute to developing new research proposals.
6. Write scholarly reports for publication in peer-reviewed journals and present research results at relevant academic conferences.

Compensation

The salary range for this position will be $66,000 to $70,000 per year, commensurate with experience and qualifications or as mandated by a U.S. Department of Labor prevailing wage determination.

University of Washington postdoctoral scholar appointments are for a temporary, defined period not to exceed five years/60 months, including any previous postdoctoral experience.  

The University of Washington (Seattle campus), a leader in undergraduate and graduate education and one of the world's premiere research universities, offers rigorous academic programs, outstanding faculty, and diverse cultural and social opportunities in a stimulating intellectual environment. The College of the Environment, including its six Schools and Departments and multiple programs, institutes, and centers, connects educators, researchers, students and citizens, cultivating communities who work with and learn from each other while tackling critical environmental challenges. The School of Environmental and Forest Sciences is dedicated to generating and disseminating knowledge for the stewardship of natural and managed environments and the sustainable use of their products and services through teaching, research and outreach. Our Seattle location is ideal, with access to a multitude of collaboration opportunities in a vibrant urban location with the allure of the mountains, forests and islands within 45 minutes of campus.

The University of Washington (UW) is located in the greater Seattle metropolitan area, with a dynamic, multicultural community of 3.7 million people and a range of ecosystems from mountains to ocean. The UW serves a diverse population of 80,000 students, faculty and staff, including 25% first-generation college students, over 25% Pell Grant students, and faculty from over 70 countries. The UW is a recipient of a National Science Foundation ADVANCE Institutional Transformation Award to increase the advancement of women faculty in science, engineering, and math (see http://advance.washington.edu/).

The UW and School of Environmental and Forest Sciences promote diversity and inclusivity among our students, faculty, staff, and public. Thus, we are strongly seeking candidates whose experiences have prepared them to fulfill our commitment to inclusion and have given them the confidence to fully engage audiences from a wide spectrum of backgrounds.

Postdoctoral scholars at UW are represented by UAW 4121 and are subject to the collective bargaining agreement, unless agreed exclusion criteria apply. For more information, please visit the University of Washington Labor Relations website

Candidates must hold a PhD and have no more than three years of total postdoctoral experience at the time of appointment. The successful candidate for this position will have expertise in Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of bio-based materials. Additional areas of expertise could include (i) natural resource management, (ii) environmental economics, (iii) forest and natural resource management, or (iv) land-use and land-use-change modeling. The person in this position will be expected to collaborate with project investigators, other researchers, and stakeholders and play a leading role in the environmental assessment aspect of the project.

University of Washington postdoctoral scholar appointments are for a temporary, defined period not to exceed five years/60 months, including any previous postdoctoral experience.

To apply for this position, please submit an application via Interfolio. Applicants must submit:

1. A statement of research interests and relevant skill set (not more than 1,000 words)
2. A detailed CV
3. A representative example of your scholarly work (e.g., relevant peer-reviewed article)
4. Names, addresses, emails, and telephone numbers of three references (actual references not needed at this stage)

Optional: One additional relevant material

Questions regarding potential disability accommodations during the application process can be directed to sefsjobs@uw.edu.