Postdoctoral Research Scholar: Decision Support Models for Turtle Conservation

Join a groundbreaking conservation research initiative developing decision support models to evaluate water management effects on the Western pond turtle, a species recently proposed for threatened status under the Endangered Species Act. This position offers the exceptional opportunity to conduct research with direct conservation impact while collaborating with Dr. Mike Adams and his team at the USGS Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative, along with stakeholders from USACE and other federal partners.

You will lead the development of quantitative frameworks that bridge turtle ecology with water management policy in Oregon's Upper Willamette River basin. Your work will create the scientific foundation for adaptive resource management decisions affecting this sensitive species, while addressing critical knowledge gaps in turtle seasonal habitat requirements, movements, and early life history. This research combines cutting-edge quantitative modeling with applied conservation to resolve complex multi-stakeholder water management challenges.

This position provides exceptional training in structured decision-making methodologies and adaptive resource management approaches formally adopted by the Department of Interior for managing federal resources. You'll develop expertise in uncertainty analysis, stakeholder engagement, and translating complex ecological models into actionable management tools.

Working directly with Dr. Mike Adams and the USGS Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative, you'll gain invaluable experience in federal research partnerships while building professional networks across USGS, USACE, and state wildlife agencies. Under the mentorship of Dr. James Peterson, you'll advance essential skills in decision modeling, stakeholder facilitation, and scientific communication, while accessing Oregon State University's world-class research resources and graduate programs.