- Agency
- University of Maine
- Location
- Orono, Maine, or remote
- Job Category
- Post Doctoral Appointments
- Salary
- $4,167 per month, 17 months
- Start Date
- 01/02/2023
- Last Date to Apply
- 10/31/2022
- Website
- http://wildturkeyme.org
- Description
- Post-Doctoral Associate – Informing Monitoring and harvest management of wild turkeys in Maine Location – Flexible, the successful candidate may choose to be located at the University of Maine (Orono, ME), or to work remotely. Salary: $4,167 per month with at least 17 months funding secured, plus health benefits. Description – We seek a postdoctoral researcher to continue work on a collaborative project between the University of Maine Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Conservation Biology, the USGS Maine Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit (CFWRU), and the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW). The primary goal of the work is to provide MDIFW with science to support future wild turkey management in the state of Maine. The postdoc will use an existing integrated population model (IPM), three-years of wild turkey demographic data (www.wildturkeyme.org), and a combination of simulation modelling to address the following specific objectives: 1. Quantify uncertainty in turkey abundance estimates originating from current approaches to data collection to inform future sampling efficiency. This will include an evaluation of uncertainty related to various harvest reporting methods (e.g., reporting of harvested turkeys, ducks, or fish) and the implications for uncertainty. 2. Work with MDIFW biologists to evaluate candidate harvest regulations by simulating turkey abundance over time and predicting likely future population outcomes. 3. Provide MDIFW with a web-based tool that allows managers to evaluate potential population outcomes under varying harvest scenarios (i.e., the process developed in Objective 2). We encourage applicants who might prefer to conduct this work remotely as well as those who would choose to locate on the UMaine campus. The successful applicant will have the opportunity to participate in other ongoing research within the labs of Dr. Erik Blomberg (erikblomberg.weebly.com), Dr. Joseph Zydlewski, and more generally within the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Conservation Biology (https://umaine.edu/wle/), and Maine CFWRU (https://umaine.edu/mainecoopunit/research/).
- Qualifications
- Required Qualifications: We seek applicants with a keen interest in the using quantitative methods to inform the management decision process, regardless of taxonomic experience. A PhD from a Wildlife Ecology, Biology, Natural Resource, or related program is required. Demonstrated aptitude for quantitative analyses, evidence of publishing peer-reviewed science, effective communication skills, ability to work collaboratively, a commitment to principles of equity and inclusion in wildlife science, and strong recommendations are required. Experience using R for data management, analysis, and presentation of results will be necessary for this position. Other Desired Qualifications: Preference will be given to applicants with experience or demonstrated interest in quantitative methods that are relevant to this position, including simulating animal demographic and population processes, conducting analyses commonly applied at the population level (e.g. capture-mark-recapture), and experience working in a Bayesian analysis framework. Experience or demonstrated interest in animal harvest management, and working to support managers in sustainable harvest practices, is preferred. To apply please submit the following materials: A cover letter describing your qualifications for the position, a current CV including relevant information about all degrees obtained, contact information for at least three professional references, and pdfs of 1 or 2 publications or scientific products you feel best reflect your qualifications. A single merged pdf is preferred. Please submit application materials, and address any questions about the position, to Erik Blomberg (erik.blomberg@maine.edu) and Joseph Zydlewski (josephz@maine.edu) Applications will be reviewed as they are received and should be submitted by 31 October 2022 for full consideration. Start date is flexible, but ideally by January 2023. Contacts: Please address correspondence to Erik Blomberg (erik.blomberg@maine.edu) and Joseph Zydlweski (josephz@maine.edu)
- Contact Person
- Erik Blomberg
- Contact eMail
- erik.blomberg@maine.edu
