Postdoctoral Research Associate Department of Watershed Sciences, Utah State University – Logan, UT The National Aquatic Monitoring Center (NAMC) and the Western Center for Monitoring and Assessment of Freshwater Ecosystems (WMC) at Utah State University are hiring a postdoctoral research associate to work on aquatic conservation planning and bioassessment for lotic systems. In particular, the successful applicant will work to advance bioassessment indices, understanding of land – water interactions, and tools for causal analysis. The NAMC and WMC collaborate with state and federal agencies to foster scientifically defensible assessments of aquatic resources, with NAMC focusing on public lands. The successful candidate will work closely with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), U.S. Geologic Survey, and state wildlife and water quality departments to advance the science and practice of aquatic monitoring, assessment, and planning. A specific focus of this work will be conducting applied research to assess and refine the aquatic component of the BLM’s Landscape Approach; specifically, Rapid Ecoregional Assessments and the Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring Strategy. The Landscape Approach is a BLM framework for implementing science-based management of the National System of Public Lands. It was developed to ensure the sustainability of the agency’s multiple use mandate in light of increasingly complex environmental and socioeconomic challenges (e.g., climate change, invasive species, renewable energy development, and sensitive and endangered species). Potential areas of emphasis include: 1. Empirically comparing the analytical approaches and outcomes of aquatic Rapid Ecoregional Assessments conducted to date; 2. Developing spatially explicit, map- based aquatic indicators for use in Rapid Ecoregional Assessments and other monitoring and assessment activities (e.g., stream temperature, nutrients, and salinity); and 3. Developing tools to conduct casual analyses of the specific environmental alterations leading to degraded stream conditions identified through the BLM’s Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring Strategy. Emphasis 3 could specifically focus on alterations to the thermal and flow regimes of stream systems. The successful candidate will hold a PhD in aquatic ecology, fisheries, conservation biology, hydrology, or a related field. Applicants must have experience managing and analyzing large geospatial datasets with geographic information systems and using R, Python, or other programming languages. We are interested in candidates with strong people skills that enjoy working at the interface of science and management and interacting with state and federal agencies. The successful candidate will be encouraged to seek additional external funding to support research on special topics of their interest.
A competitive professional salary and benefit package is available for a minimum of two years with the potential for continuation contingent on funding and satisfactory performance. USU is an equal opportunity employer, and we encourage applications from diversity candidates. Applicants must apply online by June 30th, 2015.
