Funding in place, and need to fill the position as soon as possible. Given the short timeline we will not be able to support applicants requiring a visa. 

The Rare and Elusive Species Lab in the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware is seeking a Postdoctoral Researcher to work collaboratively with the New Jersey DEP Fish and Wildlife Endangered and Nongame Species Program. The primary expectations of the incumbent will be 1) an updated spatially explicit agent-based model of bobcat recolonization potential into southern NJ under various management actions, such as implementation of priority wildlife crossing structures and translocations.  2) A report to the relevant departments at the State of New Jersey detailing the data, modelling process, and final results of the projected outcomes of various management actions as well as the identification and assessment of priority locations for constructing/enhancing wildlife crossings. 3) A status assessment and recovery plan, incorporating recommended management actions and potential wildlife crossing structures, for the state threatened bobcat. Opportunities exist for analyzing additional data sets and authoring subsequent publications if primary expectations are met.  

We are a small but productive lab with a focus on local and global felid ecology and conservation. Currently we have one PhD student working on tiger conservation in Bangladesh, an MS student evaluating road passage structures for bobcat movement and dispersal in New Jersey, and several undergraduate students working towards senior theses on carnivore ecology. The postdoc will work closely with the MS student and have opportunities to mentor undergraduate students in associated research. Our collaborator, Gretchen Fowles, is a Research Scientist with the New Jersey DEP Fish and Wildlife Endangered and Nongame Species Program. We have worked closely on previous and ongoing projects and expect this position to maintain that synergy.  

Location Located in scenic Newark, Delaware, within 2 hours of New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C., the University is a Land Grant, Sea Grant, Space Grant, and Carnegie Research University, with very high research activity, a designation accorded to fewer than 3% of degree-granting institutions in the U.S.  

The College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR), within the University of Delaware, is a dynamic, innovative academic unit with more than 1,100 undergraduate and graduate students and ~90 faculty, who are nationally and internationally recognized leaders across multiple disciplines.  

The Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology within the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources has 12 faculty and 18 affiliated faculty. We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive academic environment while providing an engaging and rigorous education for our undergraduate and graduate students.   

Qualifications A PhD in Wildlife Ecology or closely related discipline. Proficiency in R and GIS (any platform) with a solid understanding of raster-based calculations. Experience in carnivore ecology and/or endangered species conservation is desirable. Ideal candidates will have a track-record of peer-reviewed publications appropriate for their career stage and experience authoring reports or management plans for submission to a government entity. The successful applicant will also be capable of working independently and cooperatively, and motivated to be a productive member of our department. 

Salary and benefits Minimum annual salary of $50,000/year and benefits. Expected term of ~16 months, with start date before 8/1/2025.

Potential for remote work at start of appointment until housing can be secured, or hybrid work for applicants living in close proximity to Delaware.