Postdoctoral Research Associate​/MTCWRU

We are seeking a post-doctoral research associate to join an interdisciplinary team exploring the integration of ecological, epidemiological, and behavioral change theory to increase antlerless harvest of white-tailed deer in the Midwestern United States to meet wildlife management agency population and disease management goals. The project team consists of social scientists, wildlife veterinarians, deer researchers and managers, epidemiologists, disease modelers and statisticians who will collaboratively design and execute work aimed at understanding the behavioral drivers of antlerless deer harvest and donation of venison to support local communities.

This position is part of a new research project initiated by the Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Research Consortium () in collaboration with 8 Midwestern state wildlife agencies. The position will be directly supervised by Dr. Zhao Ma (Purdue University), Dr. Alexander L. Metcalf (University of Montana), Dr. Megan Jones (Oregon Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Oregon State University), and Dr.

Daniel Walsh (Montana Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, University of Montana) in collaboration with a larger team of scientists from the US Geological Survey, US Department of Agriculture, University of Minnesota, Michigan State University, IADNR, ILDNR, INDNR, MIDNR, MNDNR, MODOC, OHDNR, and WIDNR.

• co-lead a social science study, particularly a qualitative component, to develop a comprehensive understanding of private landowners’ and hunters’ behaviors related to the harvest of antlerless deer and their participation in venison donation programs in the Midwestern United States,
• collaborate on other project components related to developing enhancements to donation programs and behavioral interventions to increase antlerless deer harvest and venison donations based on findings,
• participate in and co-lead regular project team meetings, provide periodic project updates to project team and agency leadership and complete other duties as assigned.
• communicate research findings at conferences and in refereed publications.
• Completed a PhD in environmental social science, human geography, environmental psychology, and/or other natural resource/conservation social science discipline(s)/field(s) by the start date.
• Experience designing collecting and analyzing qualitative data from interviews, focus groups, workshops, etc.
• Strong interest in and commitment to interdisciplinary research and team science, such as social-ecological science collaborations
• Willingness and ability to travel to conduct fieldwork during an extended period of time (e.g., multiple weeks).
• Good writing skills and ability to effectively communicate with a wide variety of audiences including landowners, hunters, academics and agency personnel.
• Willingness and ability to both lead efforts and be an effective member of a multidisciplinary team.
• Experience obtaining Institutional Review Board approval for human-subjects research studies.
• Valid US driver’s license.

Position is full-time, 1.0 FTE, Letter of Appointment and includes a comprehensive and competitive benefits package including insurance package, mandatory retirement plan, partial tuition waiver, and wellness program.

• Letter of Interest – addressing the stated required skills for the position
• Detailed resumelisting education and describing work experience
• Three (3) professional references
  - Names and contact information
• Two examples of relevant publications or writing samples