*Position Description*: The Florida Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit at the University of Florida is seeking a post-doctoral associate to explore methods for the optimal control of exotic and invasive biota. Perhaps nowhere in the contiguous U.S. are the problems created by exotic plants and animals more evident than in South Florida, where millions of dollars are spent annually to monitor and control their spread. Within the constraints of their budgets, responsible agencies must routinely make tradeoffs inherent in controlling the spread of exotics; e.g., monitoring abundance in well-established areas vs. monitoring potential sites for colonization, eradicating large infestations vs. eradicating newly colonized sites, and monitoring populations vs. implementing control measures. There are also temporal tradeoffs that must be considered because decisions made now produce a legacy for the future (e.g., how long to wait before implementing controls). These tradeoffs can be investigated within the context of a Markov decision process, which can be used to identify optimal actions based on management goals and constraints, available budgets, and the demography of the invasive population. The post-doctoral associate will be expected to accomplish their tasks with limited supervision, and they will be expected to coordinate with management agencies, to participate in relevant workshops, to present seminars at various venues, and to publish their research findings in a timely fashion. Some travel is anticipated. No field work is required.
*Qualifications*: Applicants must hold a Ph.D. in ecology, zoology, natural resource management, biometrics, applied mathematics, operations research, or related field. Solid mathematical and computing skills are essential, and the ideal candidate will have expertise in applied decision science. The best qualified applicants will also have exceptional reasoning and analytical skills, demonstrable communication skills (especially writing), and the ability to function well both on their own and in teams. The selected candidate must be able to meet eligibility requirements for work in the United States at the time appointment is scheduled to begin and continue working legally for the proposed term of the appointment. *Location*: Gainesville, Florida, USA *Compensation*: This is a full-time, fixed-term, non-tenure-track appointment for up to 24 months. Annual salary is $40,000 - $50,000 depending on education and experience; appointees should expect to start at the low end of this range unless they have exceptional qualifications. Benefits include health insurance options and paid leave. Extension of the appointment for the second year is contingent on performance and available funding. *Enquiries*: To discuss this position or request a copy of the study proposal, contact Dr. Fred Johnson, USGS Southeast Ecological Science Center, at fjohn...@usgs.gov or at 1-352-264-3488. Applicants should submit a cover letter, resume (or curriculum vitae), and the names and contact information of three professional references. The application deadline is March 31, 2013. -- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fred A. Johnson, Ph.D. Research Wildlife Biologist Southeast Ecological Science Center U.S. Geological Survey 7920 NW 71 Street Gainesville, FL 32653 phone: 352-264-3488 personal webpage: https://profile.usgs.gov/fjohnson Science Center webpage: http://fl.biology.usgs.gov/ -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
