Post-Doc: Quantitative Wildlife Ecology

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Post-Doc: Quantitative Wildlife Ecology

Postby smcrimmins2 » Mon Mar 20, 2023 4:16 pm

Agency: University of Alaska Fairbanks & Alaska Department of Fish and Game

Location: Fairbanks, AK

Salary: $74,000

Start Date: July 1, 2023

Late Date to Apply: April 30, 2023

Description: We seek a motivated and talented post-doctoral quantitative researcher or statistician to work with a team of agency and academic researchers to develop and refine analytical approaches for estimating abundance of socially structured species through spatial detection frameworks such as spatial-capture-recapture and spatial-mark-resight models.

The post-doc will work with a team of researchers and biologists from both the University of Alaska Fairbanks and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game in order to improve monitoring of wolves throughout Alaska by extending existing statistical approaches for spatial-capture-recapture and spatial-mark-resight models. The post-doc will be expected to use simulation approaches to identify issues associated with heterogeneity in detection probabilities, partial identity, and the integration of multiple data sources, and to then develop statistical approaches for accounting for these potential sources of bias. The post-doc will have the opportunity to then work with existing and contemporaneous genetic mark-recapture, remote camera, and telemetry datasets to evaluate the efficacy of the newly developed analytical tools. The post-doc may also contribute to the application and integration of novel data collection approaches such as acoustic monitoring and may have the opportunity to assist with field-based data collection.

The position will be housed at the Alaska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. UAF is world-renowned for its research programs in arctic systems and wildlife biology, with a highly productive group of researchers focusing on ecology in high latitude systems. The post-doc will be expected to work with other lab members and individuals in the program and will have the opportunity to engage with mentoring, proposal development, collaborative research, and teaching if so desired.

Fairbanks is a mid-sized college town (~25,000) in interior Alaska with a vibrant intellectual community driven largely by the university. Unique activities in Fairbanks include ice sculpture competitions, dog sled races, and aurora viewing, among others. The area offers abundant outdoor recreational activities and access to unique natural systems (e.g. Denali National Park).

The position is fully funded for two years and includes remuneration of approximately $74,000 annually with a full benefits package (health insurance, retirement, etc.). Partial coverage of moving expenses will be covered, and the potential for remote work at the onset of the project will be considered. The desired start date for the position is July 1, 2023, however a later start date would be considered for an exceptional candidate.

Qualifications: The ideal candidate will have a doctoral degree in Ecology, Wildlife Biology, Statistics, or a related field. The ideal candidate will have experience with both frequentist and Bayesian methods and proficiency will statistical software and languages such as R, JAGS, and NIMBLE as well as a strong background in the applicant of simulation procedures to evaluate model performance.

A background with spatial-capture-recapture methods, evaluating model performance through simulation procedures, integrated population modeling, and the development of novel analytical tools is strongly preferred. We are especially interested in applicants with a desire to contribute to applied, management driven research in a collaborative environment. We strongly encourage applicants from underrepresented groups.

In order to apply, please send a cover letter, CV, contact information for at least two references, and one representative publication as a single pdf to Shawn Crimmins (smcrimmins2@alaska.edu). Review of applications will be gin immediately and will continue until a suitable candidate is found.

Contact Person: Shawn Crimmins
Contact Email: smcrimmins2@alaska.edu
smcrimmins2
 
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