The University of Oklahoma is seeking a postdoctoral research scholar to join the 2025-2027 Future of Species Range Shifts cohort as part of the Climate Adaptation Postdoctoral (CAP) Fellows Program, hosted by the U.S. Geological Survey Climate Adaptation Science Centers. The successful applicant will conduct research related to modeling potential disruptions to animal migration under projected climate extremes, as well as join eight other postdocs from around the country to conduct a national synthesis project related to species range shifts.

Primary Research Duties and Required Skills

Animal migration over the North American continent is contingent in many ways on the predictability of weather conditions along the route. Yet, climate projections suggest that seasonal patterns in temperature, pressure, and precipitation are likely to change. For iconic migratory species such as the Monarch Butterfly these climatic changes could undercut their ability to maintain flight routes through the south-central United States. Such a loss would not only deprive the public of their connection to these species and the migratory phenomenon but would also disrupt important ecological relationships.

The South-Central Climate Adaptation Postdoc (SCCAP) will be tasked with building agent-based simulation models (ABM) from current knowledge of bird and insect migration. They will then use these ABM to evaluate how such species’ movement abilities might be affected under various climate projections. Their approach will seek “breaking points” across different emissions and land-use shift scenarios to better understand: (1) what conditions could foreshadow a collapse of ecological function, (2) what mitigative actions could help build resilience in the landscape, and (3) what responses might be effective at stemming impacts. The ABM framework will be portable to other regions of the US and applicable to a wider suite of species impacts, such as shifts in breeding habitat suitability under climate change. The SCCAP will work with wildlife management agencies across the US to better understand this modeling tool and how it can bolster conservation plans for species of concern.

About the Climate Adaptation Postdoctoral (CAP) Fellows Program

The U.S. Geological Survey Climate Adaptation Science Centers (CASCs) are building the next generation of science leaders through the Climate Adaptation Postdoctoral (CAP) Fellows Program. The CAP Fellows Program sponsors cohorts of post-doctoral researchers for two-years to conduct regional-to-national scale analyses of emerging climate research needs centered around one theme. The unifying theme for this cohort is the Future of Species Range Shifts. The program will include nine postdoctoral fellows distributed across the country, with one fellow based in each of the nine Regional CASCs. Each postdoctoral candidate will work with their PI(s) and associated leaders in the field to lead a regionally relevant project pertaining to the mechanisms and implications of climate-mediated range shifts.

Concurrently with the regional project, the Fellows will participate in an independent national-scale synthesis effort on the cohort’s unifying theme, the Future of Species Range Shifts, and gain valuable experience in collaborative research. While the national synthesis topic may relate to the regional research projects, it will typically address nationally pressing research questions related to the cohort topic; synthesize the state of the science on the cohort topic across all CASC regions; and advance our understanding of management-relevant applications of this information. Fellows will conduct much of the national synthesis effort at four in-person workshops, attended by Fellows, facilitators, and other subject matter experts. Two of these workshops are hosted in Santa Barbara, CA by the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS), a partner of the CAP Fellows Program who provides varied support for the Fellows throughout their program tenure.

As part of the CAP Fellow Program, postdocs will receive extensive training and mentorship on three core areas crucial for their success during the Fellowship and in their future careers: 1) Team Science, 2) Synthesis Science, and 3) Actionable Science. Many of these skills are not taught during standard graduate school curriculums or conventional postdoc positions.

Fellows should expect to devote approximately 80% of their time to their regional projects, and the remaining 20% of their time to the national synthesis effort and professional training.

Must have completed PhD program by May 31, 2025.