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The Potts group at UC Berkeley seeks a postdoctoral researcher in the area of natural capital and biodiversity with a specific focus on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and big data to innovate and scale action.

The interdisciplinary group utilizes qualitative and quantitative tools to solve key problems impeding action in conserving forests, restoring biodiversity, and scaling natural pathways for carbon sequestration.

The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) has set ambitious goals for conserving and restoring biodiversity as well as mobilizing public and private sector action and finance to meet these goals. Coupled to this has been the emergence of mandatory (European Union’s [EU] Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive [CSRD]) as well as voluntary (Taskforce on Nature Related Financial Disclosures [TNFD]) reporting regimes. In addition, a nascent but developing market has emerged for biodiversity and/or net natural positive credits. The success of these initiatives in part will rely on providing actionable scientific information on biodiversity and natural capital at policy and market relative spatial and temporal scales. Big data and AI including but not limited to large language models (LLM) in combination with field data and remotely sensed satellite, acoustic, camera, and genetic data have a critical role to play in driving action.

The postdoctoral researcher for this position will work to identify and develop novel data-enabled solutions to accurately and efficiently measure and report on natural capital and biodiversity to provide actionable information to track change and scale restorative actions.

Responsibilities:
• Provide domain specific research to improve scientific understanding of in the area of natural capital and biodiversity
• Interviewing relevant parties working in the space
• Collating and collecting as necessary available information and data
• Coordinating data management, quality control, and archiving
• Developing code, datasets, and applications as appropriate
• Co-mentoring at team of one 1-2 graduate students and 3-4 undergraduate researchers each year;
• Disseminating research results to the broader scientific community via peer reviewed publications, conferences, and seminars
• Preparing manuscripts for publication, as lead author.

Mentoring
The postdoctoral researcher will meet regularly with the PI and will participate in regular goal-setting and development plan activities. They would have the opportunity to participate in campus data science initiatives, faculty development, and other professional development opportunities. They would have the opportunity to guest lecture in the PI’s classes and to mentor students. They would be able to use project funds to attend one USA-based conference each year.

UC Berkeley is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. The excellence of the institution requires an environment in which the diverse community of faculty, students, and staff are welcome and included. Successful candidates will demonstrate knowledge and skill related to ensuring equity and inclusion in the activities of their academic position (e.g., teaching, research, and service, as applicable).

The University of California, Berkeley is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status.

Please refer to the University of California’s Affirmative Action Policy and the University of California’s Anti-Discrimination Policy.

In searches when letters of reference are required all letters will be treated as confidential per University of California policy and California state law. Please refer potential referees, including when letters are provided via a third party (i.e., dossier service or career center), to the UC Berkeley statement of confidentiality prior to submitting their letter.

As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.