Colorado State University
PostDoctoral Fellow - Wildlife Scientist Modeling
Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States, 80553
Posting Details
Posting Detail Information
Working Title PostDoctoral Fellow - Wildlife Scientist Modeling
Position Location Fort Collins, CO
Work Location Position qualifies for hybrid/in-office work
Research Professional Position Yes
Posting Number 202501016AP
Position Type Admin Professional/ Research Professional
Classification Title Postdoctoral Fellows
Number of Vacancies 1
Work Hours/Week 40
Proposed Annual Salary Range $67,000-$70,000
Employee Benefits
Colorado State University is not just a workplace; it's a thriving community that's transforming lives and improving the human condition through world-class teaching, research, and service. With a robust benefits package, collaborative atmosphere, and focus on work-life balance, CSU is where you can thrive, grow, and make a lasting impact. Review our detailed benefits information here. Explore the additional perks of working at CSU here . For the total value of CSU benefits in addition to wages, use our compensation calculator . Lastly, click here for more information about why Fort Collins is consistently ranked in the top cities to live in !
Desired Start Date 09/01/2025
Position End Date (if temporary)
To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by 11:59pm (MT) on 08/11/2025
Description of Work Unit
The Colorado Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit enhances graduate education in fisheries and wildlife sciences, and facilitates research among cooperators and partners including Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the U. S. Geological Survey, the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Wildlife Management Institute. Research conducted by the Unit involves graduate and post-doctoral education and technical assistance to our Cooperators to understand and manage fish and wildlife resources in Colorado and elsewhere. General areas of emphasis include aquatic ecology and fish biology, population and community monitoring and modeling, the analysis of animal movement and spatio-temporal ecological processes, and disease ecology and epidemiology.
Position Summary
We seek an outstanding early career scientist to conduct research on the development of new models for forecasting the spread of willdfire and of invasive species. The primary objectives for this post-doctoral position are to (1) Develop and fit hidden Markov models to multiple fires that have occurred in the Southwest United States and test performance of models and transferability to other fires in the Southwest, to learn from the spread of observed fires to inform management of landscapes and better understand spatial variation in fires risk and how this risk can be mitigated; and (2) Develop multistate occupancy models that can be fit to detection/non-detection data and used to forecast future spread of invasive species, with developed models being transferable to multiple systems, increasing their usefulness and impact to management.
Required Job Qualifications
Applicants must have completed a Ph.D. in conservation science, ecology, natural resources, statistics, or a related discipline, and have: Expertise in the principles and methods of wildlife monitoring and statistical methods used for modeling population and other system dynamics; Demonstrated proficiency with statistical software including R; Demonstrated evidence of excellent written and oral communication skills; And demonstrated evidence of publishing in the peer-reviewed literature
Preferred Job Qualifications Competitive candidates will have a background in hidden Markov modeling for demographic estimation and population modeling, spatial modeling,. Experience in JAGS, OpenBUGS, STAN, or Nimble software is desirable. The successful candidate should have experience and enjoy working collaboratively in groups.
Essential Duties
Job Duty Category Research
Duty/Responsibility Develop and fit hidden Markov models to multiple fires that have occurred in the Southwest United States and test performance of models and transferability to other fires in the Southwest. Fit models to remotely sensed data that are widely available throughout the United States and combined with observations of fire perimeters and fire intensity to estimate model parameters. The end goal of this work is to learn from the spread of observed fires to inform management of landscapes and better understand spatial variation in fires risk and how this risk can be mitigated. Develop multistate occupancy models that can be fit to detection/non-detection data and used to forecast future spread of invasive species. Apply these models to one or more case studies from terrestrial and/or aquatic systems, which may include river networks in the southwest or avian communities, depending on the appropriateness of the model for data collected in these systems. The end goal of this work will be to use available information to inform future monitoring and management and increase learning during early stages of invasions
Percentage Of Time 80%
Job Duty Category Project Management
Duty/Responsibility Ensure project objectives are met by meeting regularly with project team, setting interim goals, and submitting reports. The postdoc will help the PIs communicate with the funding agency and explore opportunities for continuing the project through future grant proposals.
Percentage Of Time 20%
Application Details
Special Instructions to Applicants
Interested applicants must submit a cover letter which addresses how professional experiences align with identified required and preferred qualifications of the position, a current Curriculum Vitae (CV), and the names, e-mail addresses, and telephone number of three (3) professional references. References will not be contacted without prior notification to candidates.
CSU is committed to full inclusion of qualified individuals. If you are needing assistance or accommodations with the search process, please reach out to the listed search contact.
Please note, applicants may redact information from their application materials that identifies their age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution.
Conditions of Employment Pre-employment Criminal Background Check (required for new hires)
Search Contact William Kendall, william.kendall@colostate.edu
EEO
Colorado State University (CSU) provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
Background Check Policy Statement
Colorado State University strives to provide a safe study, work, and living environment for its faculty, staff, volunteers and students. To support this environment and comply with applicable laws and regulations, CSU conducts background checks for the finalist before a final offer. The type of background check conducted varies by position and can include, but is not limited to, criminal history, sex offender registry, motor vehicle history, financial history, and/or education verification. Background checks will also be conducted when required by law or contract and when, in the discretion of the University, it is reasonable and prudent to do so.
Posting Detail Information
Working Title PostDoctoral Fellow - Wildlife Scientist Modeling
Position Location Fort Collins, CO
Work Location Position qualifies for hybrid/in-office work
Research Professional Position Yes
Posting Number 202501016AP
Position Type Admin Professional/ Research Professional
Classification Title Postdoctoral Fellows
Number of Vacancies 1
Work Hours/Week 40
Proposed Annual Salary Range $67,000-$70,000
Employee Benefits
Colorado State University is not just a workplace; it's a thriving community that's transforming lives and improving the human condition through world-class teaching, research, and service. With a robust benefits package, collaborative atmosphere, and focus on work-life balance, CSU is where you can thrive, grow, and make a lasting impact. Review our detailed benefits information here. Explore the additional perks of working at CSU here . For the total value of CSU benefits in addition to wages, use our compensation calculator . Lastly, click here for more information about why Fort Collins is consistently ranked in the top cities to live in !
Desired Start Date 09/01/2025
Position End Date (if temporary)
To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by 11:59pm (MT) on 08/11/2025
Description of Work Unit
The Colorado Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit enhances graduate education in fisheries and wildlife sciences, and facilitates research among cooperators and partners including Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the U. S. Geological Survey, the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Wildlife Management Institute. Research conducted by the Unit involves graduate and post-doctoral education and technical assistance to our Cooperators to understand and manage fish and wildlife resources in Colorado and elsewhere. General areas of emphasis include aquatic ecology and fish biology, population and community monitoring and modeling, the analysis of animal movement and spatio-temporal ecological processes, and disease ecology and epidemiology.
Position Summary
We seek an outstanding early career scientist to conduct research on the development of new models for forecasting the spread of willdfire and of invasive species. The primary objectives for this post-doctoral position are to (1) Develop and fit hidden Markov models to multiple fires that have occurred in the Southwest United States and test performance of models and transferability to other fires in the Southwest, to learn from the spread of observed fires to inform management of landscapes and better understand spatial variation in fires risk and how this risk can be mitigated; and (2) Develop multistate occupancy models that can be fit to detection/non-detection data and used to forecast future spread of invasive species, with developed models being transferable to multiple systems, increasing their usefulness and impact to management.
Required Job Qualifications
Applicants must have completed a Ph.D. in conservation science, ecology, natural resources, statistics, or a related discipline, and have: Expertise in the principles and methods of wildlife monitoring and statistical methods used for modeling population and other system dynamics; Demonstrated proficiency with statistical software including R; Demonstrated evidence of excellent written and oral communication skills; And demonstrated evidence of publishing in the peer-reviewed literature
Preferred Job Qualifications Competitive candidates will have a background in hidden Markov modeling for demographic estimation and population modeling, spatial modeling,. Experience in JAGS, OpenBUGS, STAN, or Nimble software is desirable. The successful candidate should have experience and enjoy working collaboratively in groups.
Essential Duties
Job Duty Category Research
Duty/Responsibility Develop and fit hidden Markov models to multiple fires that have occurred in the Southwest United States and test performance of models and transferability to other fires in the Southwest. Fit models to remotely sensed data that are widely available throughout the United States and combined with observations of fire perimeters and fire intensity to estimate model parameters. The end goal of this work is to learn from the spread of observed fires to inform management of landscapes and better understand spatial variation in fires risk and how this risk can be mitigated. Develop multistate occupancy models that can be fit to detection/non-detection data and used to forecast future spread of invasive species. Apply these models to one or more case studies from terrestrial and/or aquatic systems, which may include river networks in the southwest or avian communities, depending on the appropriateness of the model for data collected in these systems. The end goal of this work will be to use available information to inform future monitoring and management and increase learning during early stages of invasions
Percentage Of Time 80%
Job Duty Category Project Management
Duty/Responsibility Ensure project objectives are met by meeting regularly with project team, setting interim goals, and submitting reports. The postdoc will help the PIs communicate with the funding agency and explore opportunities for continuing the project through future grant proposals.
Percentage Of Time 20%
Application Details
Special Instructions to Applicants
Interested applicants must submit a cover letter which addresses how professional experiences align with identified required and preferred qualifications of the position, a current Curriculum Vitae (CV), and the names, e-mail addresses, and telephone number of three (3) professional references. References will not be contacted without prior notification to candidates.
CSU is committed to full inclusion of qualified individuals. If you are needing assistance or accommodations with the search process, please reach out to the listed search contact.
Please note, applicants may redact information from their application materials that identifies their age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution.
Conditions of Employment Pre-employment Criminal Background Check (required for new hires)
Search Contact William Kendall, william.kendall@colostate.edu
EEO
Colorado State University (CSU) provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
Background Check Policy Statement
Colorado State University strives to provide a safe study, work, and living environment for its faculty, staff, volunteers and students. To support this environment and comply with applicable laws and regulations, CSU conducts background checks for the finalist before a final offer. The type of background check conducted varies by position and can include, but is not limited to, criminal history, sex offender registry, motor vehicle history, financial history, and/or education verification. Background checks will also be conducted when required by law or contract and when, in the discretion of the University, it is reasonable and prudent to do so.