Post-Doctoral Research Opportunity at the University of Saskatchewan Integrating Resource Selection, Movement, and Group Size Models to Predict and Communicate Chronic Wasting Disease Risk for Elk with Co-occurring White-tailed Deer
A well-funded post-doctoral position is available on the Northern Prairie Elk Project in the Wildlife Ecology and Community Resilience Lab of Dr. Ryan Brook at the University of Saskatchewan. Our research group has initiated a large-scale interdisciplinary study investigating the ecology and management of northern prairie elk populations across Saskatchewan and Manitoba, with a focus on disease risk at the interface of elk and white-tailed deer. This position will provide opportunities to collaborate on projects spanning multiple spatial and temporal scales from local foraging decisions to interprovincial corridors of elk movement. Much of this position will focus on an existing long-term database of >400 radio-collared elk and deer from our model system in southwestern Manitoba in addition to extensive data on crop damage claims and disease testing. Fieldwork could include participation in collecting additional telemetry data, validating GIS layers, and helping support related graduate student projects. Incorporating local and traditional knowledge is also an important part of what we do and is approached in different ways, often integrated with conventional biological investigation. Given our existing and on-going data collection built on broad collaborations, there is strong potential for publishing peer-reviewed publications and to contribute important information on the ecology and management of cervids on the Canadian Prairies. The philosophy of our research group is to recruit bright, mature people and give them considerable latitude to develop the project in ways that best fit their skills and career aspirations. The successful applicant will become an active partner in our larger research program studying wildlife at the agricultural interface, fostering new ideas and initiatives for both the Northern Prairie Elk Project and other initiatives on feral wild boar, bison, caribou, and wolves. The postdoctoral position will also be expected to contribute to media relations and our school-based education module to teach rural and aboriginal youth concerning wildlife and Chronic Wasting Disease. Our interdisciplinary research program incorporates fully funded specialized training modules with partners from Canadian and US institutions academic and provincial, national and international wildlife agencies, presenting strong opportunities to network with potential employers and develop a broad skill set. This project also provides support for conference attendance, fieldwork, and other research costs, but the postdoctoral fellow will also be expected to participate in grant writing. The successful applicant will ideally begin July 1, 2011 (negotiable). Applicants must have completed their PhD at the time the position begins from a recognized university in biology, ecology, geography, environmental science, veterinary medicine, geography, or a related field, with practical experience in GIS, wildlife health, and community engagement. Must possess excellent interpersonal communication and writing skills. Funding is available for two years, with the second year renewal subject to budget allocation and upon review of progress. Salary will be $40,000$50,000/year, depending on qualifications. Interested candidates should email Ryan Brook (ryan.br...@usask.ca) based in the Indigenous Land Management Institute, the Department of Animal and Poultry Science, and the School of Environment and Sustainability, along with a letter of interest, CV, and two recent papers in which the applicant is senior author. Application review will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.
