Hello EcoLoggers, The Quantitative Ecology and Spatial Technologies Laboratory at Mississippi State University is seeking qualified candidates for a post- doctoral research position in the field of species distribution modeling for rare and at-risk species for the purpose of informing at-risk species management at state and regional levels in the United States.
This 2-year term limited position will be funded from 2 January 2019 through 31 December 2020. Salary will be $45,900 per year, including a full benefits package, with the possibility of extension pending acquisition of additional extramural funding. The Post-Doctoral Associate will be based out of the Quantitative Ecology and Spatial Technologies Lab in the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture at Mississippi State University in Starkville, Mississippi. In addition to project duties the candidate will be expected to take a leadership role in the MSU QuEST lab, which includes but is not limited to mentorship of graduate and undergraduate researchers, involvement in lab research projects, coordination of lab meetings, leadership on lab- generated publications, as well as development and curation of lab website content. Minimum Qualifications: The Postdoctoral Associate must hold a Ph.D. in wildlife and fisheries science, natural resource management, biological science, environmental science/management, or other related fields. The candidate must have some combination of the following skills: spatially explicit species distribution modeling, landscape conservation, and computer programming. Expertise with geographic information systems (GIS) and other related software applications and technologies is also required, and a general background in quantitative ecology and biostatistics will be viewed favorably. The candidate must also have excellent oral and written communication skills, be self-motivated, and able to work effectively both independently and as part of a cross-agency team. Preferred Qualifications: A Ph.D. in wildlife and fisheries science, natural resource management, biological science, environmental science/management, or other related fields. The preferred candidate will also have experience compiling and conducting QA/QC on state-level wildlife and fisheries datasets, working with sensitive species data (T&E species or Species at Risk), developing large-scale species and ecosystem models, and extrapolating models to watershed-level spatial datasets. The preferred candidate will have an understanding of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service At-Risk Species efforts, state wildlife diversity programs, and state natural heritage programs. Additional expertise in other species modeling (e.g., Maxent, GAM, GBM, GLM), urbanization and climate change predictive modeling, and GIS software applications (e.g., Google Earth Engine, ERDAS Imagine, ENVI, GRASS, QGIS, etc.) is considered a valuable asset for this position. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Expertise with geographic information systems (GIS) and other related software applications and technologies is also required, and a general background in quantitative ecology and biostatistics will be viewed favorably. The candidate must also have excellent oral and written communication skills, be self-motivated, and able to work effectively both independently and as part of a cross-agency team. Working Conditions and Physical Effort: This position may require some travel to stakeholder meetings and to present research findings at regional and/or national conferences (approximately 2-4 overnight trips during the year). Restricted Clause: Position is contingent upon continued availability of funding. Instructions for Applying: Applications must include: 1) cover letter, 2) resume or Curriculum Vitae, 3) one-page statement of interest and expertise, 4) contact information for three references, and 5) academic transcripts, Applicants must complete an application through the MSU HRM website (http://explore.msujobs.msstate.edu/cw/en-us/job/497830/postdoctoral- associate), but should also email a copy of the cover letter and resume/CV directly to [email protected] and [email protected]. Equal Employment Opportunity Statement: MSU is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, ethnicity, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, disability status, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We always welcome nominations and applications from women, members of any minority group, and others who share our passion for building a diverse community that reflects the diversity in our student population. Garrett M. Street Assistant Professor – Wildlife, Fisheries, and Aquaculture Mississippi State University Treasurer – Movement Ecology Special Interest Group Associate Editor – Journal of Animal Ecology The British Ecological Society
