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The Montana Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit invites applications for a Post-doctoral Researcher to join their team.
- Researcher will work with a dynamic and passionate interdisciplinary team of researchers at the Montana Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, Seton Hall University, US Geological Survey, University of Wisconsin, Utah State University and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to develop and apply methods to quantify contact rates of hosts from remotely collected movement data and assess the impact of indirect transmission on disease processes.
- The case study that the researcher will use as a basis for development will be chronic wasting disease in white-tailed deer (Odcoileus virginianus) for which existing data for development, testing and application are readily available.
- Once developed, these models will be linked to larger disease models describing indirect transmission and population dynamics currently being develop by our research team.
- Specific research tasks may include:
- Development of novel and expansion of existing mathematical/statistical frameworks for examining the social interactions of hosts in heterogeneous landscapes
- Analyze potential impact of direct transmission on chronic wasting disease processes
- Integration of model developments with models characterizing indirect transmission processes and population dynamics to examine and forecast epidemic dynamics
- Translate results into effective and influential communication products including publicly released open-source models, journal publications, technical reports, and presentations for variety of scientific and public stakeholders
The University of Montana is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and has a strong institutional commitment to the principle of diversity in all areas. In that spirit, we are particularly interested in receiving applications from a broad spectrum of qualified people who would assist the University in demonstrating its five priorities for action : Place student success at the center of all we do; drive excellence and innovation in teaching, learning, and research; embody the principle of “mission first, people always"; partner with place; and proudly tell the UM story.
Position Details:
- Each position is a full-time, 1.0 FTE, Letter of Appointment and includes a comprehensive and competitive benefits package including Insurance package, mandatory retirement plan, partial tuition waiver, and wellness program
- Salary for these positions range from $75,000 per year commensurate with qualifications
Minimum Requirements:
- PhD in applied mathematics, statistics, or related disciplines
- Experience developing computational models in R, Python, Matlab, or similar
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience with modeling and simulation using ordinary and partial differential equations
- Experience with MCMC and statistical modeling
- Knowledge of parameter estimation using frequentist or Bayesian estimation methods
- Demonstrated publication record
- Detailed-oriented with problem solving skills
- Excellent work ethic
- Good communication and inter-personal skills
- Desire to make a difference and improve wildlife health
About the Montana Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit and UM :
The Montana Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit performs research designed to address the needs of cooperators, bridging the gap between applied and basic wildlife science. Our studies provide new insights useful to management and conservation, based on understanding the ecological mechanisms that underlie habitat requirements and demography of individual and coexisting wildlife species. Research emphases within the Unit include ecology and management of carnivores, applied landscape ecology, management of large game, interactions between forest management and wildlife, environmental influences (predators, habitat, ungulates) on demography and diversity of birds, habitat requirements and community ecology of birds, and comparative demography and life history strategies of birds in differing environmental and geographical contexts. Other research topics are addressed as needed, in keeping with the Cooperative Research Program's mission to best meet the needs of the Cooperators by remaining flexible and open to new areas of inquiry. When Cooperator's needs occur outside Unit expertise, the assistance of appropriate University faculty will be recruited.
Unit staff will advance the training and education of graduate students at the University of Montana by teaching up to one graduate-level course per year in wildlife science, chairing graduate committees of Unit students, and serving on graduate committees of non-Unit students. Technical support and training will be provided to Cooperators and other agencies as the need exists.
Objectives of Coop Units:
- Conduct research into the ecology of renewable natural resources, and to investigate the production, utilization, management, protection, and restoration of such resources. This research will be relevant to the needs of the State, the geographical region, and the Nation.
- Provide technical and professional education on the graduate and professional levels, in the fields of renewable natural resource sciences
- Make available to resource managers, land owners, other researchers, and other interested public, such facts, methods, literature, and new findings discovered through research
- To disseminate research findings through the publication of reports, bulletins, circulars, films, and journal and magazine articles
The University of Montana is a unit of the Montana University System with over 10,000 students. It is located in Missoula, a culturally vibrant community of about 72,000, surrounded by mountain grandeur which was recently ranked in the “top 20 best college towns with a population of less than 250,000 ” by the American Institute for Economic Research and ranked 9th in Outside Magazine’s “The 16 Greatest Places to Live in America” in 2014 . Many national publications recognize Missoula for its high quality of life . Abundant recreational opportunities in surrounding state and national forests and nearby Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park complement a thriving intellectual atmosphere. The University of Montana offers eligible employees a generous benefits package that positively separates UM from other local employers and offers many programs and policies to support work-life balance for its employees.
To learn more about the University of Montana, Missoula, and the State of Montana, please visit the links below.
Criminal Background Investigation is required prior to the Offer of Employment In accordance with University regulations, finalists for this position will be subject to criminal background investigations. ADA/EOE/AA/Veteran's Preference Reasonable accommodations are provided in the hiring process for persons with disabilities. For example, this material is available in alternative format upon request. As an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer, we encourage applications from minorities, veterans, and women. Qualified candidates may request veterans’ or disabilities preference in accordance with state law. References: References not listed on the application materials may be contacted; notice may be provided to the applicant. Testing: Individual hiring departments at UM may elect to administer pre-employment tests, which are relevant to essential job functions. Employment Eligibility: All New Employees must be eligible and show employment eligibility verification by the first date of employment at UM, as legally required (e.g., Form I-9).
How to Apply:
Priority Application Date: Wednesday, November 15, 2023by 11:59 PM (Mountain Time)
Complete applications received by the ‘Priority Application Date’ will be guaranteed consideration. The position will remain open until filled. Candidates are required to submit the following materials online.
A complete application Includes:
Missoula, Montana, United States