post doc opportunity | landbird range dynamics

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post doc opportunity | landbird range dynamics

Postby cooch » Mon Oct 20, 2008 10:17 am

Post Doctoral Research Associate
Range Dynamics of Landbirds in Eastern North America and Conservation

J. D. Nichols, J.A. Royle, J.R. Sauer
Patuxent Wildlife Research Center

J. A. Collazo
NC Cooperative Resesarch Unit, North Carolina State University


The Patuxent Wildlife Research Center and the NC Cooperative Research Unit seek a postdoctoral research associate to investigate range dynamics of landbirds in eastern North America over the past 30 years. Local probabilities of extinction and colonization are viewed as the vital rates responsible for range dynamics. Competing hypotheses about variation in these vital rates across time and space in response to increasing temperatures and landcover changes will be incorporated into spatially referenced occupancy models and tested using data from the North American Breeding Bird Survey. Analytic results should lead to predictive models for North American landbirds and should also provide a framework for addressing similar questions for other taxa. Work will be done in concert with the Biodiversity and Spatial Information Center at NCSU and the Auburn Cooperative Research Unit, both USGS sponsored research teams that have developed regional vegetative cover maps and models of landcover change.

Description

The successful applicant will work with Patuxent researchers and Dr. Collazo to apply and develop methods to estimate parameters of interest under different models. Analyses will be used to discriminate among competing hypotheses about the spatial pattern of range dynamics and about landscape attributes associated with conservation value (e.g., low probabilities of extinction). Resulting predictive models will be used to assess the risk/benefits of land use and management scenarios in conjunction with decision support tools. Significant contributions in macroecology and biogeography are expected from the development of new analytic methods and from the hypothesis-driven approach to the modeling of range dynamics as a function of global climate change.

Qualifications

1. Ph.D. in quantitative ecology or biostatistics
2. Knowledge of landscape ecology and avian ecology,
3. Working knowledge of Geographic Information Systems.
4. Excellent verbal and written communication skills to facilitate a collaborative research environment and dissemination of results in public forums and scientific outlets.

Benefits

The salary range is approximately $50,000 - $70,000 (includes 15% fringe benefits with the potential for a 5% annual increase) depending on qualifications. This is a two-year time-limited appointment with potential for extension based on the scope of the applicant’s interests and contingent on funding. Benefits are fully described in the University’s Benefits Handbook (http://www7.acs.ncsu.edu/benefits/pdf/P ... ooklet.pdf). The job announcement will be posted on the official NCSU jobs website (https://jobs.ncsu.edu).

If interested, please email a CV, unofficial transcripts, statement of research interests and experience, and names and contact information for three references to James D. Nichols (jnichols@usgs.gov) and Jaime A. Collazo (Jaime_Collazo@ncsu.edu).
cooch
 
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