POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP available to investigate the spatial distribution and movement ecology of multiple species of sea ducks inhabiting eastern North America. Over the last 6+ years, four different species of sea ducks have been outfitted with satellite transmitters and tracked to/from breeding and wintering areas over multiple years as part of a large collaborative project between Sea Duck Joint Venture (USFWS), key states in the Atlantic Flyway, USGS, and Biodiversity Research Institute. We are seeking a postdoctoral researcher with strong quantitative skills and modeling experience (including spatially-explicit resource selection, individual-based movement dynamics, population delineation, risk assessment), who understands the natural history of sea ducks and its implications for modeling their ecology and risk of offshore development, and who thrives in collaborative, applied research groups. Among other duties, the postdoctoral researcher will use existing data to: (1) develop spatially explicit models that identify the key biotic and abiotic factors that determine resource selection and movements of multiple species of sea ducks during winter, (2) apply these spatially explicit models to predict affects of global climate change on seaduck abundance and distribution, and (3) develop annual cycle movement models that define key breeding, molting, migration, and wintering areas, that delineate populations for management purposes, and that reveal ecological drivers of sea duck movements. Stipend approx. $3960/mo plus full benefits, depending on experience, for a minimum of 1 year (can be extended to more years depending on productivity). Start date March-June 2017. This work will be done through the Department of Natural Resources Science at the University of Rhode Island, under supervision of Drs. Peter Paton and Scott McWilliams, and in collaboration with federal and state biologists (notably, Jay Osenkowski, RI DEM) as well as other collaborative partners. University of Rhode Island is a land-grant, seagrant academic institution that has state-of-the-art spatial analysis and graphic capabilities, hosts the Graduate School of Oceanography (http://www.gso.uri.edu/), hosts scientists from both the North Atlantic Coast Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (http://www.cesu.psu.edu/unit_portals/NOAT_portal.htm) as well as the National Park Service Inventory and Monitoring Program (http://science.nature.nps.gov/im/units/ncbn/a_staff.aspx), and is closely associated with the EPA Atlantic Ecology Division Laboratory (http://www.epa.gov/aed/). Please send letter of interest, resume or curriculum vitae, and contact information for 3 references to ppa...@uri.edu. Review of applications will begin no later than 27 January 2017. Early applications are encouraged.
