Postdoctoral Fellow II in Quantitative Ecology

Position Summary
We seek a Postdoctoral Fellow II in Quantitative Ecology to join the 2025-2027 Future of Species Range Shifts cohort as part of the Climate Adaptation Postdoctoral (CAP) Fellows Program, hosted by the U.S. Geological Survey Climate Adaptation Science Centers. This postdoctoral research scholar will be located in the Utah State University Department of Wildland Resources. The successful applicant will conduct research related to range shifts of Southwestern birds in response to environmental change, as well as join eight other postdocs from around the country to conduct a national synthesis project related to species range shifts.
Primary Research Duties and Required Skills
This is a two-year position studying how abundance distributions of Southwestern bird species have shifted over time. The goals of this project are: 1) determine how Southwestern bird species’ abundance ranges have shifted over the past ~20 years; 2) understand how these population trends vary within the core, leading-, and trailing-edges of their range; and 3) evaluate how these trends are related to environmental change, including climate, fire, and drought. The successful applicant will use long-term observational data collected by the Breeding Bird Survey, Integrated Monitoring of Bird Conservation Regions (IMBCR) program; and the eBird data platform. The focus of the project will be to build novel Bayesian statistical models to analyze shifts in bird populations over space and time. The project also includes opportunities for engaging with collaborators and managers at the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, Bird Conservancy of the Rockies, and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. The position includes travel to national synthesis meetings, meetings with cooperators/partners, and conferences.
The position will ideally be located in Logan, UT, on the main campus of Utah State University, but fully remote-work will be considered for exceptional candidates within the U.S. This is a full-time, Postdoctoral Fellow position with salary depending on experience (~$62,000-65,000 per year), and includes full benefits (13 paid holidays, 22 days of paid leave and 12 days of sick leave per year, competitive health benefits packages, and a fully-vested 14.2% employer retirement contribution). This Postdoctoral position will be available for an initial duration of one year with potential for extension for a second year depending on performance.

USU Collaborators: Dr. T.J. Clark-Wolf, USU Department of Wildland Resources; and Dr. Erica Stuber, USGS UT Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit

To Apply:
Submit all application materials here: <https://careers-usu.icims.com/jobs/8810/job>
Please include: 1) your CV, 2) a maximum 2-page cover letter indicating how you meet the qualifications of the position, why you are interested in this position specifically, how this position might support your career goals, and why you might be a good fit for this project, and 3) contact information for three (3) professional references willing to provide letters of reference. Letters will only be requested for a short-list of applicants.