ANNOUNCEMENT NO: RA-06-051H POSITION: Research Ecologist LOCATION: Las Cruces, NM DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES: The position is part of collaborative research conducted at the USDA-ARS, Jornada Experimental Range located in the Chihuahuan Desert near Las Cruces, New Mexico. The incumbent will assist in developing a spatially-explicit simulation model of cattle grazing behavior, forage selection, and movement linked dynamically to an existing spatial model of vegetation and soil water dynamics (ECOTONE). The incumbent will synthesize existing data and develop functional relationships with key environmental drivers, such as soil texture and seasonal precipitation and temperature, that influence vegetation and soil water dynamics with consequences for animal behavior and impacts at multiple scales. QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: A recent PhD in Ecology or a closely related field is required. Demonstrated effective writing skills are required along with strong quantitative skills and familiarity with ARC-GIS, statistical analysis software, especially SAS, and object-oriented programming languages (C++/Java). Knowledge of animal foraging behavior, herbivore physiological ecology, landscape ecology; and ability to develop spatially explicit, processed based models are desirable. INFORMATION ON APPLICATION PROCEDURES FOR POSTDOCTORAL POSITIONS is available at: http://www.afm.ars.usda.gov/divisions/hrd/hrdhomepage/vacancy/pd962.html INFORMATION ON EMPLOYEE BENEFITS is available at: http://www.usajobs.opm.gov/ei61.asp FOR SPECIFIC INFORMATION ON THE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THIS POSITION OR TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION, CONTACT: Drs. Debra Peters or Ed Fredrickson USDA/ARS/Jornada Experimental Range Box 30003, MSC 3JER New Mexico State University Las Cruces, NM 88003-8003 Phone: 505-646-4842 Fax: 505-646-5889 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] or [EMAIL PROTECTED]
