POSTDOCTORAL POSITION: ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST U. S. Geological Survey (Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center and Patuxent Wildlife Research Center)
POSITION: USGS seeks a recent Ph.D. for a one- to two-year postdoctoral position to develop an adaptive management-based decision support system that can guide and inform restoration of native prairies owned and managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the northern Great Plains. The proposed location for this position is Jamestown, North Dakota, but flexibility may exist for locating it in Athens, Georgia. BACKGROUND: Invasive plants pose a serious threat to the integrity of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service prairies in the northern Great Plains and have been linked to management history. Restoration and maintenance of prairies require an understanding of factors contributing to ecosystem dysfunction and conversely, those necessary for restoring ecosystem health. The central challenge to managers is how to select an appropriate management action when it is unclear how any proposed treatment would interact with the fixed characteristics of the site and the dynamic vegetative and environmental conditions. An adaptive approach to this decision problem would cast uncertainty about management in a set of competing, plausible system models, each repeatedly evaluated through time as decisions are made. RESPONSIBILITIES: The scientist will play an integral role in the four general facets of the study: 1) identification of the decision structure, 2) analysis of uncertainty and construction of decision models, 3) monitoring design, and 4) design of mechanisms for model feedback and decision selection. As these are highly integrated tasks under adaptive management, they will be pursued mostly in parallel rather than in sequence, and will involve numerous formal and informal meetings with stakeholders. The scientist will be responsible for moving the study forward in a manner and time schedule consistent with the study plan and expectations of co-PIs and project partners. Duties include but are not limited to: 1) initiating and participating in various meetings and workshops for exchanging ideas and extracting information crucial to the adaptive management process, 2) day-to-day project planning, coordination, and communication, 3) modeling system uncertainty, 4) developing details of the adaptive updating process, and 5) preparing jointly authored reports and manuscripts. POSITION REQUIREMENTS: Applicants should have a Ph.D. in statistics, applied mathematics, or ecology with strong quantitative emphasis. Desirable characteristics include: 1) significant interest in the management of ecological systems using structured-decision making, 2) experience designing ecological studies, 3) experience developing and using models to address problems in ecological management or research, 4) ability to work both independently and cooperatively with resource managers and other researchers, 5) excellent organizational and interpersonal abilities, and 6) strong written and oral communication skills. U.S. citizenship is required. APPROXIMATE DATES OF EMPLOYMENT: 14 July 2008 ? 13 July 2009, but negotiable. The initial contract is limited to one year, but the position will likely run two years, possibly longer. SALARY: $23.20 ? $28.06 hourly wage ($48K ? $58K annually), depending on qualifications HOW TO APPLY: The initial deadline for applications is 13 June 2008, but applications may be accepted after that until the position is filled. Interested applicants should send letter of interest, c.v., transcripts (copies okay), and names and contact information for 3 references to each of the following: Terry Shaffer USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center [EMAIL PROTECTED] Clint Moore USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center [EMAIL PROTECTED]
