Post-doctoral Position: Investigations on Causes of Prespawning Mortality in Chinook salmon.
A research scholar appointment (Post-doctoral Scholar) at the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University is now open for applications, and we anticipate that the successful candidate will start in this position in late Spring 2012 and will close April 30. The primary research focus is a multidisciplinary investigation of the causes of prespawning mortality in Chinook salmon in the Willamette River. Prespawning mortality in the river is very high in some years, and ongoing research to determine the causes is being funded by the U.S. Corps of Engineers to a team of researchers at Oregon State University (Drs. Carl Schreck, Michael Kent and James Peterson) and University of Idaho (Dr. Chris Claudill). We have been documenting the pathogen burden, histological changes, and field parameters in prespawn mortalities and successful spawners for the last three years, and have already observed interesting and informative patterns. As seen in other rivers, the dead and dying fish exhibit massive infections with a variety of parasites and other pathogens, but their precise role in prespawning mortality has not been resolved. The ultimate goal of this research is to develop models for use by management agencies to evaluate the effectiveness of alternative management strategies for reducing prespawn mortality in Chinook salmon. The successful candidate will be in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife located in Nash Hall on the OSU campus. Applicants should have the ability to and experience in modeling animal population dynamics and species interactions, such as host-parasite and predator prey-relations, and interest in the application of basic research to fisheries conservation and management decision-making. They must be able integrate information concerning habitat quality metrics into community-oriented population models. The successful candidate will work with an interdisciplinary team of researchers and resource managers from state and federal agencies to develop an integrated, decision support program for managing Chinook salmon. The position will primarily involve data analysis and modeling, with limited laboratory research and field research. Mentorship will be provided by Dr. Peterson (fisheries biologist and population modeler), Dr. Kent (parasitologist and fish pathologist) and Dr. Schreck (fisheries biologist and physiologist), all who are housed in Nash Hall. Applicants must have completed all the requirements for their doctoral program (PhD or equivalent), with demonstrated research accomplishments, and publications in the primary research literature. Commensurate with the multidisciplinary nature of the project, we are seeking applicants with a background in several of the following areas: modeling, statistics, parasitology, epidemiology, ecology, physiology, and fisheries biology, with an interest in integrating these disciplines. Excellent command of the English language, quantitative analytical skills, and excellent written and verbal communication skills are required. We look forward to discussing this position with interested candidates, and you are welcome to contact us as follows: James Peterson (541-737-1963; jt.peter...@oregonstate.edu) Carl Schreck (541-737-1961; carl.schr...@oregonstate.edu), Michael Kent (541-737-8652; michael.k...@oregonstate.edu). Appointment: Appointments will be intended for a term of one (1) year, with the possibility for renewal, based upon a satisfactory performance review and the annual nature of federal funding. Salary is around $ 40,000, commensurate with qualifications of the successful applicants, and full benefits will be provided.
