Seeking Postdoctoral Researcher for white-tailed deer integrated population modeling

Researchers from Auburn University’s College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment, in partnership with the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR), are seeking a postdoctoral researcher to assist with development of a novel white-tailed deer population modeling and management framework. This collaborative project seeks to identify common challenges and questions associated with effective deer management, construct a suite of modeling tools for evaluating management options, and then use those tools to provide actionable and defensible information to agency biologists. The postdoc will work closely with faculty, graduate students, and ADCNR personnel to develop models that integrate heterogeneous data sources (e.g., harvest records, citizen science observations, deer-vehicle collisions) to improve estimates of deer population parameters. The selected candidate will have substantial freedom to explore options for identifying and modeling data sources as long as the ultimate goals of accurately estimating demographic parameters are kept in focus.

The researcher will be supervised by Drs. Jonathon Valente (https://valentelab.auburn.edu/) and Aniruddha Belsare (https://cfwe.auburn.edu/profile/aniruddha-belsare/). The position will ideally begin in the fall of 2026 (August-October) and is fully funded for up to 2.5 years at a starting salary of $60,000 plus benefits. Prospective candidates should be highly motivated, interested in quantitative ecology, and have a strong background in ecology, biology, zoology, wildlife management, population modeling, or a related field.

Required qualifications

• PhD in Wildlife, Biology, Ecology, Zoology, Statistics, or another closely related field
• Strong communication skills in oral and written English
• Ability to work independently and as part of an interdisciplinary team
• Self-motivation, a positive attitude, and strong interpersonal skills
• Experience presenting and publishing peer-reviewed research
• Experience with the R statistical programming language, GIS software, and population modeling.

Desired qualifications

• Experience with integrated population modeling, species distribution modeling, Bayesian data analysis, machine learning, artificial intelligence
• Experience working with agencies to meet applied management priorities

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AUBURN UNIVERSITY IS AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. It is our policy to provide equal employment opportunities for all individuals without regard to race, sex, religion, color, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other classification protected by applicable law. Moreover, the Valente and Belsare labs are committed to creating and maintaining a diverse, positive, and inclusive environment. We listen to, learn from, and support all voices in our labs and expect other members of our lab groups to do the same.