AWE Postdoctoral Position in Urban Ecology
A postdoctoral position is available with the Applied Wildlife Ecology (AWE) Lab at the Yale School of the Environment under the supervision of Prof. Nyeema C. Harris, Knobloch Family Associate Professor of Wildlife and Land Conservation. The AWE Lab investigates antagonistic interactions in mammal systems including parasitism, competition, and predation namely in terrestrial carnivores. Our work has direct implications to species management through understanding ecological and environmental interactions.
We seek a committed, self-motivated, problem solving individual to investigate urban ecology through lens of social science, public health, and global change. The individual will be conscious of the myriad social and ecological interactions that cities create, which can lead to vulnerable populations within a landscape of fear for urban carnivores. We are interested in identifying areas of vulnerability for human-wildlife conflict in cities across North America. We are also interested in launching new wildlife surveys for comparative studies in cities around the world, particularly in the Global South. This includes investigating movement patterns of carnivores across gradients of air-quality, noise and environmental pollution. Additionally, the individual will help to plan and implement natural experiments testing how carnivores respond to stress and pressure from living in close proximity to humans.
Qualifications for the position include a Ph.D. in ecology, wildlife biology, geography, or a related field. Experience and familiarity with experience in chemical immobilization, carnivore collaring, trail cameras, and environmental sampling and data are preferred for this position. Demonstrated analytical experience includes hotspot analysis both from occupancy modelling, as well as movement data from GPS collars. This individual will have a growing publication record, and exceptional research and communication skills needed for leading teams in urban fieldwork settings. The ideal candidate should have demonstrated competency or emergent interests in urban fieldwork, as well as Arc GIS, RGoogle Earth Engine. Interest or familiarity with climatic data, iNaturalist or other crowd sourced data, participatory mapping, maximum entropy modelling, machine learning are also a bonus.
The position responsibilities include tasks related to research topics above, co-authoring papers, and mentoring students and technicians. AWE Lab members are expected to participate in lab meetings, retreats, field work and training activities as well as public engagement initiatives throughout the year. Public engagement and public science are fundamental to the AWE Lab, which seeks to inspire new generations of scientists and create opportunities for non-scientists to contribute in combatting the ecological and environmental challenges facing our planet. Diversity, equity, justice and inclusion are also core values in the AWE Lab and we are committed to ensuring the lab reflects those values and integrates them into our work. As such, we strongly encourage applications from researchers identifying as members of marginalized or underrepresented groups.
Yale University provides a stimulating academic community, situated among the Peabody Museum and Institute of Biospheric Studies(YIBS). The University offers its postdocs and staff a generous benefits package and is located in New Haven (75 miles north of New York City). This is a one-year position supported directed by Dr. Harris and YIBS, beginning asap with reappointment for an addition year based on outstanding performance and availability of funds. In addition to a competitive salary and full research support, the successful candidate will receive an annual professional development budget for additional trainings and conference participation.
To apply, please send a cover letter, CV (hyperlink publications), contact info for three referees, and “Urban Ecology Postdoc” in the subject line to: [email protected]. The anticipated start date for this position is on or before June 1st.