Postdoctoral Research Scientist

Montana State University is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Scientist to support a DOE-funded project developing an AI-driven Soil Functional Type framework. The role will lead soil database harmonization, machine learning-based SFT mapping and validation, field campaign data integration, and Earth System Model benchmarking in collaboration with national laboratory partners.

Responsibilities:

• Soil Functional Type (SFT) Framework Development
• Compile and harmonize global observational soil databases in support of SFT framework development
• Apply (unsupervised) machine learning methods to develop depth-explicit SFTs
• Biogeochemical Representativeness Analysis & SFT Mapping
• Evaluate whether existing global soil databases adequately sample the biogeochemical. process space relevant to soil organic matter (SOM) dynamics
• Produce global SFT maps and identify priority data/sampling gaps
• Field Campaign Support
• Provide analytical and logistical support for a Montana field sampling campaign
• Integrate field-collected data (reactive mineralogy, radiocarbon, SOM fractionation) into SFT validation
• ELM Benchmarking & PNNL Collaboration
• Lead benchmarking activities in close collaboration with Dr. Avni Malhotra (PNNL)
• Diagnose where current Earth System Model structures fail to represent mineral–organic matter controls on carbon persistence
• Complete an extended research residency at PNNL; contribute to development of an EMSL user proposal for molecular-scale characterization