Post-Doctorate Position in Breeding Bird Distributions and Change Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin- Madison, Madison, Wisconsin
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Throughout the world, bird atlases are a widely used monitoring tool for identifying conservation areas and studying the impact of habitat loss and climate change on species distributions. The goal of the Wisconsin Breeding Bird Atlas II (WBBA II) (initiated in 2015) is to determine the current distribution and abundance of the breeding birds in Wisconsin, compare these results to the first Atlas (1995-2000), and make these data readily available to support the conservation of birds and their habitats. We are seeking a post-doctoral associate to 1) provide guidance in the analysis and management of atlas data, 2) develop a second-stage sampling design based on robust point count methodology, and 3) create an analytical framework for downscaling atlas data to identify species-environmental associations and identify areas of high conservation value. The successful candidate will be expected to meet regularly with atlas coordinators, develop manuscripts for peer-review, and collaborate with researchers and managers. The postdoc will be housed at University of Wisconsin-Madison, but will work closely with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. REQUIREMENTS: Minimum requirements include: 1) a Ph.D. in ecology, conservation biology, biostatistics, or related field; 2) knowledge of principles and methods of wildlife population dynamics and distributions; 3) demonstrated proficiency in R statistical programming and ArcGIS; 4) demonstrated desire and proficiency to publish in scientific journals; 5) ability to communicate (oral and in print) research findings to multiple audiences. The successful candidate should have excellent written and personal communication skills and be able to work collaboratively in a group setting. Preferred skills include experience designing or working with broad-scale monitoring data, managing spatial environmental data, and skills in species distribution modeling and/or abundance estimation. UNIVERSITY: The University of Wisconsin-Madison is one of the major research universities in the United States. UW-Madison has a long history of excellence in ecology, conservation biology, zoology, and remote sensing science. This project will be supported in the in the Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology and under the supervision of Dr. Benjamin Zuckerberg (http://labs.russell.wisc.edu/zuckerberg/). Madison, Wisconsin consistently ranks as one of the best places in the United States to live, work, and study (http://www.wisc.edu/about/location.php). It is Wisconsin's capital city, with a vibrant population of approximately 240,000 that combines small town charm with a nice variety of leisure and cultural opportunities. SALARY AND CONDITIONS: The duration of the appointment is 24 months, and a start date before December 1st, 2015 is preferred. The salary is $44,000 per year plus benefits. Reimbursement for relocation expenses is not available. APPLICATION/CONTACT INFORMATION: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Applications received before September 25th will be given full consideration. Candidates should send a well-crafted cover letter summarizing their research interests and reason for applying, CV, and contact information for three references. All applications (e-mailed as a single PDF file) should be sent to [email protected] with the subject heading “PostDoc Application - Atlas”.
