Postdoctoral Associate Forest Habitats, Climate Change, and Species Conservation
Forest Landscape Ecology Lab, Dept. of Forest & Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison Project Goal: Assess species and natural communities of greatest vulnerability to future climate change in Wisconsin based on habitat sensitivity to past climate variability. Simulate habitats for future conditions using LANDIS forest landscape model, with scenarios of climate change and management options. Derive habitat, natural community and species data and work with DNR Bureaus and Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts (WICCI) to communicate findings in appropriate form for planning and management, or further species-level modeling. This postdoc is one of two on a collaborative project. This postdoc will work in the Forest Landscape Ecology lab (Dr. David Mladenoff). We will collaborate closely with Dr. Sara Hotchkiss and a second postoc (UW-Madison, Dept. of Botany paleo-ecology lab), along with co-PI Dr. Gregor Schuurman, (WI DNR Bureau of Endangered Resources). Hotchkiss lab will Analyze existing sedimentary records for rates of vegetation change using fossil pollen and charcoal data in relation to past climate change and fire regimes. Collectively we will then work within the research group to identify natural communities and habitats most at risk based on historical patterns. Based on these target species and communities, we will identify current landscapes to simulate. This postdoc will acquire and create needed input data to set up future habitat change simulations using the Mladenoff's lab LANDIS forest change model. Participate in developing modeling scenarios, and conduct simulation runs using an experimental framework, with multiple treatments, control simulations, and replication. Analyze results and assemble maps and quantitative output of vegetation and habitat change. Provide output products to agency managers and ecologists. Assess need for further species-level modeling of priority species. Participate as lead or co-author on group publications for peer-reviewed journals. Candidates must have a PhD in hand at the time of beginning employment, in a relevant field. Background and experience in such fields as landscape ecology, conservation biology, species modeling, biogeography, forest ecosystems and communities, and paleoecology are relevant. Skills in spatial landscape modeling, spatial analysis, including spatial statistics, GIS, and use of broad-scale environmental and physical data are desirable. Experience with GIS, database, statistical, and spreadsheet software is assumed. This is formally an annually renewable appointment, with funding for up to four years. The starting salary is $44,000, and includes benefits. For further information on the lab and related work, please refer to our website: http://landscape.forest.wisc.edu. HOW TO APPLY: Send a cover letter, CV, and contact information for 3 references electronically to David Mladenoff djmla...@wisc.edu . Review of applications will begin immediately, and will continue until a suitable candidate is found. The position is open beginning February 2009.
