Back to search results Apply now Job no:904683
Work type:Faculty/Academic Staff
Major Administrative Unit / College: College Of Agriculture And Nat Resources
Department: Fisheries And Wildlife 10002344
Sub Area: FAS- Fac./Acad Staff
Salary: 60000.00
Location:East Lansing
Categories:Research/Scientific, Fixed Term Academic Staff, Full Time (90-100%), Non-Union

The 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. 

All 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.

Doctorate -statistics, geography, wildlife ecology

Excellent 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.

Competitive 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 record commensurate with time since degree completion are preferred.

Please submit your CV, a letter of research interests and goals, a list of three references, and academic transcripts for all terminal degrees.

Review of applications will continue until filled. For more information about the position, contact Dr. Sonja Christensen (chris625@msu.edu ). Search committee will further include Dr. Nathan Snow (nathan.p.snow@usda.gov ), and Dr. David Ortega (dlortega@msu.edu ),

10/19/2023

www.christensen-lab.org

More about The Christensen Lab: Join our team at the Christensen Lab and contribute to critical research that addresses the challenges posed by CWD and its impact on ungulate populations. We look forward to welcoming a dedicated postdoctoral research associate to our project and our dynamic research group. Our lab focuses on evaluations of wildlife population health and understanding the dynamics of infectious diseases in wildlife populations to develop strategies for their management and conservation. We employ cutting-edge field research, quantitative modeling, and interdisciplinary approaches to address critical challenges in wildlife health. For more information about our lab, please visit our website: www.christensen-lab.org .

The Department of Fisheries and Wildlife is a vibrant community of scholars comprising >40 core faculty (tenure stream and fixed-term faculty, and academic specialists), 80 graduate and 240 undergraduate students, and >30 research associates. Our Mission is to build local, national, and international capacities to conserve ecosystems that support fish, wildlife, and society through integrated programs in research, education and engagement. We are committed to the integrative nature of natural resources conservation and management, with our expertise ranging from disciplinary areas with a long-standing history in the domain of fisheries and wildlife to those emerging more recently. For more information about the Department, please visit our website: https://www.canr.msu.edu/fw/

Michigan State University has been advancing the common good with uncommon will for more than 160 years. One of the top research universities in the world, MSU pushes the boundaries of discovery and forges enduring partnerships to solve the most pressing global challenges while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community through more than 200 programs of study in 17 degree-granting colleges.

Advertised:Oct 10, 2023 Eastern Daylight Time
Applications close:Oct 10, 2025 Eastern Daylight Time