The UCLA La Kretz Center for California Conservation Science
<http://www.environment.ucla.edu/lakretz/> invites applications for its
2018 Postdoctoral Fellowship in California Conservation Science. We seek
a postdoctoral scholar who conducts innovative biological research to
work with the La Kretz Center and our partner agencies to achieve
outcomes that will direct and lead California conservation efforts.
Candidates may work in any discipline that provides the scientific
underpinnings for the preservation, protection, management, or
restoration of at-risk species, environments, or ecological communities
in California. Our current emphasis is focused on research related to
(i) conservation science at the urban/wildland interface, (ii) urban
biodiversity, ecosystems, and ecosystem services, and (iii) California
conservation science that leverages networks of protected areas, and
successful candidates will most likely perform research at La Kretz that
is related to one or more of these themes.
One of the hallmarks of our postdoctoral program is collaborating with
local agencies and NGO leaders, and the successful applicant will be
expected to conduct research with our partner agencies that is focused
on applied conservation outcomes. To accomplish this, we seek Fellows
whose research interests overlap with at least one UCLA faculty member
who is a La Kretz affiliate
<http://www.environment.ucla.edu/lakretz/people/affiliates.asp> and one
agency partner in California. Successful projects require input from
both faculty and agency partners, and we encourage applicants to contact
partners to discuss their project prior to the deadline. Our current
list of agency partners and contacts includes:
The Nature Conservancy: Sophie Parker
<http://sophie_par...@tnc.org/> (restoration; urban conservation;
invasive species)
LA Natural History Museum: Jann Vendetti
<http://jvende...@nhm.org/> (mollusk ecology and evolution; species
natural history)
U.S. Geological Survey: Robert Fisher
<http://rfis...@usgs.gov/> (applied conservation; biodiversity; ecology
and evolution)
US Bureau of Land Management: Mike Westphal
<http://mwest...@blm.gov/> (applied conservation, climate change)
US Fish and Wildlife Service: Cat Darst
<http://cat_da...@fws.gov/> (endangered species management)
Tejon Ranch Conservancy: Bob Reid
<http://www.tejonconservancy.org/breid.htm>(conservation planning;
restoration ecology)
Nature Reserve of Orange County: Milan Mitrovich
<http://mitrov...@naturereserveoc.org/> (protection and recovery of
sensitive species)
National Park Service: Katy Delaney
<http://katy_dela...@nps.gov/> (amphibian and avian ecology, evolution,
and conservation)
National Park Service: Seth Riley
<http://seth_ri...@nps.gov/> (mammalian ecology, evolution, and
conservation)
Department of Defense: Robert Lovich
<http://robert.lov...@navy.mil/> (conservation on DoD lands)
We will consider candidates who have recently completed their Ph.D. or
will have completed it by August 2019. We envision hiring at least one
Fellow this year that will interact with and contribute to our growing
team of conservation scientists at the La Kretz Center
<https://www.ioes.ucla.edu/lakretz/people/?ioesrole=postdoctoral-scholars>.
The Fellow is expected to work on the UCLA campus and engage with the
faculty, postdocs, and graduate students in the Departments of Ecology
and Evolutionary Biology and the Institute of the Environment and
Sustainability. Candidates are also expected to meet with agency
partners either on campus or at the agency partner’s offices as project
timelines require.
The La Kretz Fellowship is for two years, subject to review after the
first year. The planned start date is September 2019. The position has
an annual salary of ~ $50,000 (depending on experience) plus full
benefits, an annual research fund of $5,000, and an additional travel
allowance of $1000/year to present at a scientific meeting. The Fellow
has the option to reside at the newly renovated La Kretz Field Station
<http://www.environment.ucla.edu/lakretz/fieldstation/> (~ 25 miles from
campus), located in the Santa Monica Mountains at a very modest rate.
The La Kretz Field Station is adjacent to numerous hiking and biking
trails and a short 10-minute drive from beaches, restaurants, and shops.
To apply, please email to Will Zou, Administrative Assistant at
(lakr...@ioes.ucla.edu <mailto:lakr...@ioes.ucla.edu>), a single PDF
file that includes (i) a cover letter, (ii) your CV, (iii) a research
and management accomplishments statement (1-2 page), (iv) a project
proposal that includes La Kretz affiliates and agency partners of
interest (2-pages max, single-spaced, plus references), and (v) two
relevant publications. We also ask that you have two letters of
reference (one from your Ph.D. advisor), plus a letter from your
proposed faculty mentor and your proposed agency collaborator indicating
their interest in your work and its relevance to California conservation
efforts. Please arrange to have letter writers deliver their reference
to Will Zou under separate emails with the subject line “La Kretz
Postdoc letter for XXX (your last name)”. The deadline for completed
applications is 4 January 2018. Please e-mail questions to Brad Shaffer
<http://brad.shaf...@ucla.edu/>, Director of the La Kretz Center.
Best,
UCLA La Kretz Center for California Conservation Science
