Positions available at Boston College and the GCP Boston Office
The Center for Earth System Science and Global Sustainability (CES3) and the Global Carbon Project (GCP) Boston Office at Boston College (BC) are seeking candidates for three postdoctoral positions (details provided below). The Center’s research supports key initiatives, including the GCP’s global assessments of nitrous oxide, methane, and carbon budgets, RECCAP3, Global Land Nitrogen Budget (N) – Model Intercomparison Project (NMIP), Land-Ocean-Aquatic Continuum (LOAC), the Global Stocktake, Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR), Sustainable food systems, Nature-based Climate Solutions and Wildfire-GHG emissions. These positions offer a unique opportunity for early-career scientists to collaborate with leading experts from the Center and GCP scientific community. Most of the former students and postdocs have secured faculty positions and established their own research teams in the U.S. and other countries. For example, a recent postdoc was just offered a faculty position at Virginia Tech. Successful candidates will have access to state-of-the-art modeling tools, ground-based and satellite data, and advanced machine learning technologies. The start date is negotiable, with a preference for an immediate start.
To apply, please see additional details below and submit the following materials: 1) A cover letter outlined your research interest and qualification, 2) your CV, 3) DOI links to two representative publications, and 4) The names and contact information of three referees.
- For postdoctoral positions, please send your application to: Hanqin Tian (Inaugural Director) at email: hanqin.tian@bc.edu and Prof. Susan Pan (Research Director) at email: panshu@bc.edu
- For the Ph.D. program application, please visit the Graduate Program page for the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences (EES) at Boston College. The dissertation research generally aligns with the broad themes outlined in Hanqin Tian’s Faculty Profile
Postdoctoral Researcher Opportunities:
Position 1: Terrestrial Biosphere Modeling (with a focus on land use and wildfire)
Position 2: GeoAI and Remote Sensing for water, food and ecosystem (MAP)
Position 3: Integrated terrestrial-aquatic modeling for the lateral fluxes of sediment, nutrient and carbon
Ph.D. Graduate Student Opportunities:
We plan to recruit Ph.D. graduate students starting in Fall, 2026. Prospective students may come from a variety of educational backgrounds, but those with a major in earth system science, ecosystem ecology, hydrology, meteorology, soil and crop science, forestry, geography, or related fields are preferred. Strong skills and a keen interest in computer programming, AI/Machine Learning, GIS, and remote sensing are highly desirable. The dissertation research generally aligns with the broad themes outlined in Dr. Hanqin Tian’s Faculty Profile, while offering flexibility to explore new directions. To view the most recent publications, please visit the Google Scholar. Students who speak a native language other than English must provide evidence of English proficiency. A score of 100 or higher on the TOEFL iBT test or 7.0 or higher on the IELTS test is required. The GRE is not needed for admission. Highly motivated students interested in applying to the Ph.D. program are encouraged to visit the Graduate Program page for the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences (EES) at Boston College. Contact Information: Email: hanqin.tian@bc.edu.
Positions available at Simon Fraser University
The TBM-CaN research group applies an interdisciplinary approach – combining empirical ecology and field work with global modelling of boreal and Arctic ecosystems, the terrestrial biosphere, and climate change – with the goal of improving climate change projections informing climate policy and decision-making from local to global scales. New members will join a dynamic research group with the opportunity to develop strong working relationships with academic and government scientists across Canada. Potential students and postdocs interested in terrestrial ecosystem ecology, carbon and nitrogen cycling, global change, field research, and/or ecological modelling, please reach out to Dr. Sian Kou-Giesbrecht at email: sian.kougiesbrecht@gmail.com.
In addition to general interest, the following PhD projects are open:
- PhD Project 1: Measuring greenhouse gas fluxes across boreal and Arctic disturbance gradients
This field-based project will explore how global change – rising temperatures and wildfire – affects plant and soil carbon-nitrogen cycling, particularly nitrous oxide (N₂O) fluxes alongside carbon dioxide (CO₂) and methane (CH₄) fluxes in the Canadian boreal forest and Arctic. The PhD student will lead field measurement campaigns using automated soil gas chamber systems to capture high-frequency in situ greenhouse gas flux data across gradients of vegetation change and burn history. These empirical data will be used to inform terrestrial biosphere and climate models, improving our ability to project how northern ecosystems will respond to and feedback to future climate change. - PhD Project 2: Projecting Carbon and Ecosystem Co-Benefits of Forest-Based Climate Solutions in Canada
This project will be focused on the effectiveness of nature-based climate solutions for carbon sequestration alongside co-benefits to other ecosystem services. The PhD student will generate future forest management and harvest scenarios across Canada using applicable datasets (from provincial and federal agencies responsible for forestry and remote sensing products). Using the CLASSIC model, the student will conduct simulations over the Canadian domain to project impacts on carbon sequestration potential (accounting for changing climate and disturbances) alongside effects on streamflow and water supply, forest productivity timber yield, and biodiversity indicators.
PhD students are supported with a minimum of $30,000 per year for four years and many additional funding opportunities are available. More information on SFU REM graduate programs are available here: https://www.sfu.ca/rem/prospective-students/graduate-students.html. Ideal start date is September 2025. Please submit a CV, unofficial transcripts, and a cover letter outlining your relevant experience, your personal goals, and how these align with our research group. Ideal candidates would have prior experience in ecology, biogeochemistry, climate science, field work, and/or programming.
The following postdoctoral position is available:
- Postdoctoral position: Nitrogen impacts across planetary boundaries
This project will investigate how nitrogen pollution drives transgressions across multiple planetary boundaries. While the biogeochemical flows boundary is the most heavily exceeded, its impacts go far beyond eutrophication. This project will leverage the NMIP2 model ensemble to quantify how agricultural nitrogen fertilizer application influences nitrogen gas emissions (e.g., N2O, NOx, NH3), aerosol loading, air pollution, stratospheric ozone depletion, biosphere integrity, and climate effects. The goal is to advance the planetary boundaries framework by integrating the full suite of impacts caused by reactive nitrogen. More information is available here.
We expressly encourage prospective students from equity-deserving groups to apply. We are committed to creating an inclusive, communal, and accountable workplace.
Simon Fraser University (SFU) is a leading research university, advancing an inclusive and sustainable future. The School of Resource and Environmental Management (REM) is part of SFU’s Faculty of Environment. It is an applied graduate and undergraduate school in which both social and natural scientists apply inter- and trans-disciplinary approaches to research in resource and environmental management. REM’s mission is to inspire leadership and improve decision-making in environmental management through internationally recognized research, education, professional practice, and community engagement to support a socially just and ecologically sustainable world.