Agency

Mississippi State University

Location

Starkville, MS

Job Category

Post Doctoral Appointments

Salary

$55,000

Last Date to Apply

11/15/2022

Website

https://explore.msujobs.msstate.edu/cw/en-us/job/505096/postdoctoral-associate

Description

The Post-Doctoral Associate will work closely with Mississippi State University co-investigators, and scientists from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and Southeast Blueprint user support team to develop a set of stochastic scenario models that will allow for rapid assessment of conservation action via the Action Impact Tool. The successful candidate will compile baseline biological information on species and system response to conservation action (e.g., protection, restoration), and develop a set of iterative stochastic models that reflect uncertainty in response to such action. The successful candidate will also work closely with conservation GIS developers to incorporate the stochastic models into the web-based Action Impact Tool platform. The candidate will have the opportunity to engage with a large group of scientists in federal conservation agencies, particularly the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and other key conservation partners. The candidate will also have a leadership role in the Quantitative Ecology and Spatial Technologies Lab at Mississippi State University and have the opportunity to engage with researchers at MSU’s Geosystems Research Institute. The candidate will be required to publish minimally 2 peer-reviewed publications from this work. This project extends the scenario planning capabilities of the web-based Southeast Blueprint Action Impact Tool (AIT). The Southeast Blueprint is a regional conservation planning tool that identifies the network of lands and waters in the Southeastern United States that are most important for ecosystem sustainability into the future. The AIT is a spatially explicit, web-based scenario planning and decision support tool that allows users to assess current and future health, function, and connectivity of priority ecosystems in project areas of interest, with particular interest in areas prioritized under the Southeast Blueprint. The AIT allows for planners to predict outcomes of conservation action in potential project areas to inform and improve return on investment in conservation decision making and ultimately to help meet ecosystem targets of the Southeast Conservation Adaptation Strategy. In the second phase of the AIT project, we will incorporate stochastic models that allow for uncertainty in management outcomes to help optimize and target delivery of conservation actions within areas of interest from landscape to ecoregional scales. The 1-year term limited position will be funded from 2 January 2023 (or as negotiated) through 31 December 2023. Salary will be $55,000 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. Link to apply: http://explore.msujobs.msstate.edu/ Applications must include: 1) cover letter, 2) resume or Curriculum Vitae, 3) contact information for three references, and 4) academic transcripts (please redact social security numbers from prior to submitting transcript). Applicants must complete an application through the MSU HRM website, but should also email a copy of the cover letter and resume/CV directly to kristine.evans@msstate.edu. Mississippi State University is ranked as one of the top research institutions in the United States; MSU is among only 2.7% of universities in the U.S. that hold the Carnegie Foundation R1-Very High Research Activity designation. The National Science Foundation has MSU ranked No. 12 nationally (top 5%) in Agriculture and Natural Resources Conservation expenditures with more than $109 million spent annually. The 35-member faculty within the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture leads one of the most productive research programs in the Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine at Mississippi State University. The department has a highly collegial and productive group of faculty, post-doctoral fellows, research associates, and Extension associates that help make the department one of the premier institutions for applied wildlife, fisheries, and aquaculture science in the nation. MSU is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, sex, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, pregnancy, gender identity, status as a U.S. veteran, and/or any other status protected by applicable 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.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications: The Postdoctoral Associate must hold a Ph.D. in wildlife and fisheries science, agricultural/biological engineering, biometrics or quantitative ecology, natural resource management, biological science, environmental science/management, or other related fields. The candidate must have some combination of the following skills: ecological modeling skills, computer programming (e.g., in R, JAGS, Python, or other appropriate software), baseline knowledge of landscape-level conservation. 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: In addition to the above, the preferred candidate would also have experience developing large-scale species and ecosystem or climate models. The preferred candidate will understand the Southeast Conservation Adaptation Strategy and Southeast Blueprint. Working Conditions: 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). In compliance with the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position with Mississippi State University, please contact the Department of Human Resources Management at tel: (662) 325-3713 or ada@hrm.msstate.edu. If you have any questions regarding this policy, contact the Department of Human Resources Management at (662) 325-3713 or ada@hrm.msstate.edu. Upon request, sections of this job listing are available in large print, and readers are available to assist the visually impaired.

Contact Person

Kristine Evans

Contact eMail

kristine.evans@msstate.edu

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