Landscape-scale decision support for conservation of gopher tortoise populations in Georgia
The Georgia Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit is recruiting for a postdoctoral research associate to conduct research focusing on landscape-scale decision support for conservation of the gopher tortoise and associated natural communities in Georgia. This research will help the main client, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, make informed decisions about the prioritization of management actions that will result in a viable landscape for this iconic species and other organisms of conservation concern. The work will also help other conservation agencies in the region support their efforts to conserve the tortoise across its range.
We seek an individual with excellent communication skills who can work as part of a collaborative team and who is knowledgeable of the needs and constraints of a resource management agency. The incumbent is expected to lead or assist in the structuring of the decision problem, to develop models of key processes, to identify and quantify important uncertainties, and to investigate alternative approaches for constructing maps of conservation action that account for uncertainties. The incumbent will be expected to participate in workshops, present work at conferences, and publish results. Some travel is expected, but no field work is required.
The minimum qualification for this position is a PhD from an accredited institution in the area of wildlife biology, conservation biology, ecology, biometrics, operations research, or a related field. The preferred candidate will have knowledge and practical experience in (1) structured decision making, (2) spatial demographic modeling, (3) optimal reserve design, and (4) landscape analysis. The candidate must be proficient in R or in some other programming language such as Python, Matlab, or C. The candidate should also have experience with GIS-based tools for evaluating land cover and conducting spatial modeling.
Salary is $45,000/year, with full benefits (http://www.hr.uga.edu/benefits). Term of employment is 2 years (contingent on satisfactory performance after year 1), starting in January 2014, with extensions possible contingent on receipt of additional funding and satisfactory performance. The work will be conducted at the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens.
TO APPLY: Interested candidates should provide in a single PDF document (1) a cover letter, (2) a current vita, (3) a transcript of PhD work indicating degree award date, and (4) the names and contact information of three professional references. THE COVER LETTER SHOULD ADDRESS QUALIFICATIONS IN EACH OF THE FOUR ENUMERATED AREAS OF EXPERTISE ABOVE, AS WELL AS QUALIFICATIONS IN BOTH GIS AND COMPUTING SKILLS. Non U.S. citizens must meet eligibility requirements for working in the U.S. for the duration of the 2-year employment term. Send applications and inquiries by email to Dr. Clinton Moore, Assistant Unit Leader.
Contact Information:
Dr. Clinton Moore
Georgia Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources
University of Georgia
180 E. Green St.
Athens, GA 30602
cmoore @ warnell.uga.edu
websites: warnell.uga.edu | coopunits.org/Georgia | profile.usgs.gov/cmoore