Field Veterinarian Postdoc

Colorado State University • Fort Collins, CO

3d • $72,000 - $76,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Field Veterinarian supports a wild deer monitoring program by assisting with field capture operations, conducting necropsies, and performing laboratory-based work. Deer capture activities primarily occur during late fall, winter, and early spring, when environmental conditions allow for safe and predictable fieldwork. Capture efforts are suspended in late spring and summer to prevent heat stress and to avoid disturbing does during the fawning season. During the summer months, when capture efforts are lowest and deer mortalities are more likely, the position shifts to a greater emphasis on laboratory-focused tasks related to monitoring and analysis. The workload varies seasonally, with higher demands during winter months and reduced field activity in summer, while averaging no more than 40 hours per week over the course of the year.

Requirements

• DVM and active CO veterinary license
• Experience working in a Biosafety Level 2 laboratory
• Ability to work independently and part of a team
• Extensive laboratory experience with processing biological samples
• A driver’s license and ability to pass a motor vehicle check
• Experience operating 4x drive vehicles in snowy conditions
• Experience working with ungulates in wild or captive settings.
• Pre-employment Criminal Background Check.
• Valid drivers license and ability to drive 4WD vehicles.

Nice To Haves

• Experience collecting biological samples from large mammals (e.g., deer) including nasal and oral swabs, blood draws, fecal, ear punches, ear tagging, and collar deployment
• Experience managing and organizing data base on animal samples
• Experience performing diagnostic veterinary necropsies.
• Knowledge of northern Colorado wild deer ranges and tendencies.

Responsibilities

• Assisting in studying the transmission dynamics of various diseases in both mule deer and whitetail deer in northern Colorado.
• Capturing deer and fitting tracking collars
• Collection and processing of biological samples
• Field necropsy
• Mortality biopsy sampling.
• Providing veterinary support for ongoing deer studies conducted at the National Wildlife Research Center that are synergist with the northern Colorado field study
• Managing and overseeing all laboratory work on samples from the study.
• Scheduling volunteer schedules
• Maintaining volunteer and wildlife safety
• Supervising volunteer activities.

Benefits

• Robust benefits package
• Collaborative atmosphere
• Focus on work-life balance

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level