Post-Doctoral Associate in Ecosystem Services, University of Washington
Post-doctoral Associate in Ecosystem Services and Habitat-suitability modelling
College of the Environment, University of Washington
We are searching for a post-doctoral associate to join a collaborative team including the Natural Capital Project, The Nature Conservancy, Industrial Economics, Stanford University, and the University of Washington, focused on mapping the quantity and value of the ecosystem services in three demonstration Department of Defense (DOD) installations and surrounding landscapes, and illuminating the tradeoffs and implications of land‐management decisions in a way that can be applied to additional installations. This project will estimate the relative benefits, measured in ecological or financial terms, of alternative future patterns of land use and land cover (including restoration and land purchases) on and around demonstration DOD installations. The successful post-doc will work with Josh Lawler and Josh Tewksbury in the College of the Environment, and will interface directly with principle partners in all other institutions.
Responsibilities: This is a highly collaborative position working with academic, NGO, and agency ecologists, conseration biologists, and economists. The primary objective associated with this position is the parameterization and validation of an existing habitat suitability module in the InVEST ecosystem services model for a series of species on and around two DOD instillations, Joint Base Lewis-McChord (Washington) and Fort Pickett (Virginia). This modelling exercise involves identifying and mapping habitat susceptibility and threats to a series of threatened and endangered species that include a pocket gopher, a squirrel, two butterflies, and one bird species on Lewis-McChord, and a fish and mussel species on Fort Pickett. In collaboration with the project team, the post-doc will evaluate models and scenarios for future land use on and around these institutions, and the post-doc will have the freedom to explore related questions ranging from InVest model development . more detailed PVA modelling or scenario building for particular species, articulation of dynamic stressors, such as changes in climate, or other, related projects. The post-doc will be responsible for basic deliverables (reports and presentations) and will work with the project team to develop a series of research results for publication.
Employment Details: We would like to start this position before March, 2012, and as early as December 15th. Compensation will be competitive and the position will extend for 2 years, pending successful progress. The position will be open until filled.
Qualifications: A PhD in landscape, community, or population ecology, or conservation or management (or a related discipline) is required. The successful candidate will have a quantitative or modelling background, excellent grounding in population and community ecology, and familiarity with landscape mapping and analysis platforms, including GIS. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.
More information about the Natural Capital Project and InVEST can be found here:
http://www.naturalcapitalproject.org/
More information about the Lawler and Tewksbury Labs can be found at the following sites:
http://depts.washington.edu/landecol/index.shtml
http://faculty.washington.edu/tewksjj/
To apply, send a CV, a cover letter, and the names and contact information for 3 references to Josh Tewksbury at tewksjj@uw.edu and Josh Lawler at jlawler@uw.edu. Please use the following subject line: Ecosystem Services Post-doc application.