PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The successful candidate will lead an ongoing project to develop climate change vulnerability assessments for a set of candidate species (eastern massasauga rattlesnake, ruffed grouse, snowshoe hare) in the Upper Great Lakes region. Our approach relies on estimating demographic sensitivities to climatic variability and quantifying the exposure of populations to historic and future climate. The postdoc will: 1) identify the ecological impacts of climate change on select species, 2) process relevant climate and land use data, 3) develop spatially-explicit population models, 4) write project reports and develop manuscripts for peer-review, and 5) collaborate with researchers, managers, and stakeholders to disseminate work and convey management implications. The postdoc will be housed at University of Wisconsin-Madison.
REQUIREMENTS: Minimum requirements include: 1) a Ph.D. in ecology, conservation biology, biostatistics, or related field; 2) knowledge of principles and methods of animal population dynamics; 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 familiarity in managing weather/climate data, proven skills in demographic and/or species distribution modeling, and familiarity with population modeling approaches or platforms (e.g., HexSim). 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, 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. 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 position is available immediately and the duration of the appointment is 24 months. A start date before September 1st, 2014 is preferred. The salary is $43,000 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 July 23rd, 2014 will be given full consideration. Candidates should send a well-crafted cover letter summarizing their research interests, 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 ĀPostDoc ApplicationĀ.
