Bat Population Estimate Research Position
Posted: Sep 20, 2012 7:12 pmAdvertisement - Postdoctoral Research Associate
Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
Immediate position opening for a postdoctoral research associate to investigate methods for estimating abundance of endangered bat species (e.g., Indiana bats). Work will be in close collaboration with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in an effort to meet their needs for methods to use in monitoring population responses to mitigation actions. Research will require a mixture of analytic and field skills and will entail selection of appropriate estimation methods and trial application of these methods. One likely approach will use exit counts at roosting sites based on either direct counts by investigators or videographic records. N-mixture models are being considered as a method for estimating abundance from such data. Following selection of an approach that is feasible from both field and analytic perspectives, various questions of monitoring design will be addressed using computer simulation and other approximations.
Candidates should have a Ph.D. degree in animal ecology, wildlife management, or a related discipline, and possess good quantitative skills. Field experience with bats would be very useful. Knowledge of various estimation approaches used in animal ecology would also be useful.
Funding is currently available for 1 year, but prospects for a second year are fairly good. Salary will be approximately at the GS-12 level. Duty station will be Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Laurel, MD. Fieldwork will likely be at various locations throughout the eastern and midwestern U.S.
Applications should include a brief statement of interest and a CV sent (via email) to:
James D. Nichols
Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
12100 Beech Forest Road
Laurel, MD 20708
301-497-5660; jnichols@usgs.gov
Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
Immediate position opening for a postdoctoral research associate to investigate methods for estimating abundance of endangered bat species (e.g., Indiana bats). Work will be in close collaboration with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in an effort to meet their needs for methods to use in monitoring population responses to mitigation actions. Research will require a mixture of analytic and field skills and will entail selection of appropriate estimation methods and trial application of these methods. One likely approach will use exit counts at roosting sites based on either direct counts by investigators or videographic records. N-mixture models are being considered as a method for estimating abundance from such data. Following selection of an approach that is feasible from both field and analytic perspectives, various questions of monitoring design will be addressed using computer simulation and other approximations.
Candidates should have a Ph.D. degree in animal ecology, wildlife management, or a related discipline, and possess good quantitative skills. Field experience with bats would be very useful. Knowledge of various estimation approaches used in animal ecology would also be useful.
Funding is currently available for 1 year, but prospects for a second year are fairly good. Salary will be approximately at the GS-12 level. Duty station will be Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Laurel, MD. Fieldwork will likely be at various locations throughout the eastern and midwestern U.S.
Applications should include a brief statement of interest and a CV sent (via email) to:
James D. Nichols
Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
12100 Beech Forest Road
Laurel, MD 20708
301-497-5660; jnichols@usgs.gov