POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP available to investigate the spatial distribution and abundance of seabirds and seaducks in nearshore and offshore waters of southern New England (USA) in relation to risks associated with proposed wind power developments.
We are seeking a postdoctoral researcher with strong quantitative skills and modeling experience (including distance sampling, occupancy estimation, spatially-explicit mechanistic population models, risk assessment), who understands the natural history of seabirds and its implications for modeling their ecology and risk of offshore development, and who thrives in collaborative, applied research groups. Among other duties, the postdoctoral researcher will use existing data to: (1) develop spatially explicit models that identify the key biotic and abiotic factors that affect the abundance and distribution of seabirds and seaducks in Rhode Island nearshore and offshore waters, (2) apply these spatially explicit models to predict affects of global climate change on seabird and seaduck abundance and distribution, and (3) estimate seasonal changes in population size of seaduck species and apply these population models to harvest management plans. Stipend approx. $3500/mo plus full benefits, depending on experience, for a minimum of 1 year (can be extended to 5 years depending on productivity). Start date January 2011. This work will be done through the Department of Natural Resources Science at the University of Rhode Island, under supervision of Drs. Peter Paton and Scott McWilliams, and in collaboration with federal and state biologists (notably, Jay Osenkowski, RI DEM). University of Rhode Island is a land-grant, seagrant academic institution that has state-of-the-art spatial analysis and graphic capabilities, hosts the Graduate School of Oceanography (http://www.gso.uri.edu/), hosts scientists from both the North Atlantic Coast Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (http://www.cesu.psu.edu/unit_portals/NOAT_portal.htm) as well as the National Park Service Inventory and Monitoring Program (http://science.nature.nps.gov/im/units/ncbn/a_staff.aspx), and is closely associated with the EPA Atlantic Ecology Division Laboratory (http://www.epa.gov/aed/). Please send letter of interest, resume, and contact information for 3 references to [email protected]. Review of applications will begin 10 December 2011. Early applications are encouraged.
