Research Associate-Fixed Term

Position SummaryThe Department of Fisheries & Wildlife seek a Postdoctoral Research Associate to join the Christensen Lab at Michigan State University to evaluate private land access for management of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in free-ranging deer populations using spatial and statistical models.Project Title: Assessing Landowner Access for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Management in White-tailed deer.Overview: We invite applications for a postdoctoral research associate position to join a dynamic research team in the Christensen Lab at Michigan State University, a research group with a strong focus on wildlife disease ecology and spatial modeling. The successful candidate will work on a critical project that aims to evaluate patterns of landowner access and implications for mitigating the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) among ungulates. This project's goal is to use spatial models to assess the risks associated with CWD spread, explore potential mitigation strategies based on landowner willingness to participate in disease management efforts and their characteristics, and determine optimal locations for CWD management efforts based on private land access. This research project builds upon the lab's current data collection on attributes of landowner access and will be part of a multi-disciplinary collaboration with the USDA-APHIS Wildlife Services National Wildlife Research Center.The postdoctoral research associate will collaborate on research activities designed to produce results suitable for presentation in scientific journals, conferences, and for stakeholder interests. Expected deliverables include assisting or leading the completion of annual reports, submission of at least one scientific publication, and presentation of research findings at conferences. The Postdoctoral Research Associate is expected to work collaboratively with colleagues and project partners and communicate research findings to broad audiences.Equal Employment Opportunity StatementAll qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.Required DegreeDoctorate -statistics, geography, wildlife ecologyMinimum RequirementsExcellent communication skills, both written and oral. Ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a research team. Expertise in spatial and statistical modeling (preferably at a landscape scale), working with remote sensing and census tract data, and expertise of software such as Program R, Python, and other GIS platforms. Ability to formulate hypotheses, conduct appropriate analyses independently and with appropriate scientific and statistical validity, and interpret data sufficient to draw defensible inferences and conclusions. Experience publishing statistical, ecological, geographical, and/or disease research results in peer-reviewed scientific journals. Ability to work effectively and courteously with a multi-disciplinary team.Desired QualificationsCompetitive candidates will have experience developing statistical and/or spatial models for wildlife ecology and disease systems (private lands analysis or CWD a plus), experience with simulation, experience in human geography, strong oral and written communication skills for diverse audiences including biologists, scientists, policy makers, and the public sufficient to document and disseminate completed research results, experience collaborating with state wildlife management agencies on wildlife disease research and management, ability to summarize and analyze spatially explicit data using R and ArcGIS, experience establishing productive collaborations with other researchers, research background in population or disease ecology and a publication