Closing: June 7, 2013 or until filled Position duration: two years with possible extension for third year
Salary: $45K Start date: August 1st, negotiable We are seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Associate in the area of ecological modeling to work on an NSF-funded project investigating the interactive role of bird behavior and dynamic atmospheric conditions in shaping the trans-gulf migration strategies of songbirds. Responsibilities: The successful candidate will work with project collaborators to (1) develop and validate spatially-explicit, individual-based simulation models to predict migratory routes across the Gulf of Mexico and arrival behavior in relation to morphology and atmospheric conditions, and (2) evaluate possible consequence of climate change on bird migration in the region. Data collected from radio-tracked birds will be used to initialize, tune and validate the models. The successful candidate will work with project supervisors at USGS Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Eastern Illinois University and Ohio State University to develop the models. Qualifications: Candidate should be highly motivated, able to work independently, and have experience developing and testing ecological models. Strong quantitative skills are required. Experience with animal movement models and atmospheric data preferred but not essential. Also, experience with individual- or agent-based modeling approaches preferred. Computer programming experience necessary although there is flexibility in programming language and development environment. Knowledge of bird ecology, and/or physiology is a plus. Candidate also must be willing to travel periodically for extended periods (e.g., up to two weeks) to Illinois and Ohio to meet with project collaborators. Location: Montana State University, Bozeman, MT Contact: If interested please send cover letter, CV and contact information for three references to Mike Ward ([email protected]). Questions regarding the nature of the work can be directed to Mike Ward or Robb Diehl ([email protected])
