Postdoctoral Researcher

Announcement Number

Announcement Number STAFF - VA - 27119

For questions regarding this position, please contact:

The Department of Ecology at Montana State University is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Scholar to lead a collaborative research program assessing recreation ecology and its application to federal public lands management. This position is funded through a Mutual Benefit Agreement between MSU and the USDA Forest Service Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute ( ALWRI ), Missoula, MT.

Position Number

Position Number 4C6540

Department

Department Ecology

Division

Division College of Letters & Science

Appointment Type

Appointment Type Professional

Contract Term

Contract Term Fiscal Year

Semester

If other, specify From date

If other, specify End date

FLSA

FLSA Exempt

Union Affiliation

Union Affiliation Exempt from Collective Bargaining

FTE

FTE 1.0

Benefits Eligible

Salary $60,000 - $65,000 annually, commensurate with experience, education, and qualifications

Contract Type

Contract Type LOA

If other, please specify

Recruitment Type

Recruitment Type Open

As recreational use of public lands increases, managers need scientific guidance to balance recreation access with ecological protection. This project will synthesize and advance the state of recreation ecology science to better inform management decision-making, with a focus on federally designated Wilderness and similarly protected areas. Research themes include:

• Developing a contemporary conceptual framework to help managers address challenges associated with recreation ecology within areas of the National Wilderness Preservation System.
• Characterizing trade-offs between recreational use and ecological conditions at multiple spatial and temporal scales.
• Evaluating management concerns related to recreation impacts on natural resources (water quality, vegetation, soils, wildlife).
• Proposing novel adaptive approaches to recreation in wilderness areas.

• Conduct a comprehensive literature review on the state of science in recreation ecology.
• Review management plans and guidance documents to evaluate how recreation ecology influences land management decisions.
• Engage with federal public land