Research Scientist, Assistant - Haub School of Environment & Natural Resources

University of Wyoming • Laramie, WY

18h • $45,000 - $60,000 • Onsite

About The Position

The Holbrook Team and Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) are recruiting a Research Scientist to join them at the University of Wyoming (work location will be in Laramie, WY). The Research Scientist will primarily be working at the intersection of elk behavioral ecology and human recreation. We have deployed an extensive network of trail counters and cameras, as well as GPS units to recreationists, to sample human recreation. We have also acquired privatized human mobility data to add to our sample of humans recreating on our landscapes of interest. Additionally, over the last 6 years, our team has deployed GPS collars on 280 adult female elk in the two main study locations. The main objective for this position is to advance our understanding regarding human-elk interactions, and provide guidance on recreation development into the future. Recreation is multi-billion dollar economy, and generating insights that inform the development conversation for wildlife conservation is really our hope with this position. Candidates should have expertise in a suite of modeling approaches aimed at understanding animal-habitat relationships and animal movement. Candidates should show creativity and flexible thinking, be extremely self-motivated, and have an authentic desire to cultivate real-world insights from data analyses. Candidates should also be able to work exceptionally well with a team of collaborators. The position is for one to three years, with appointment for the second year and beyond contingent on performance and project funding. Financial support for travel to attend at least one conference will also be available.

Requirements

• Masters of Science degree is required for this position
• MS in a related field (ecology, wildlife ecology)
• Experience collaborating and/or being part of a team
• Strong written and oral communication skills (English)
• Valid driver's license with a motor vehicle record (MVR) compliant with the University Vehicle Use Policy

Nice To Haves

• Experience with models seeking to address animal-environment relationships using GPS-based data
• Experience with animal movement modeling with the aim of informing animal-environment relationships
• Experience with spatial data in R
• Familiarity with Wyoming and/or the rural intermountain west

Responsibilities

• Lead research projects related to advancing our understanding of elk-human recreation relationships
• Publish work in peer-reviewed journals and present at conferences
• Mentor graduate students
• Interact with faculty, research staff and students to contribute to a vibrant community within the Holbrook Team and Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources

Benefits

• Generous Retirement Contributions: The State contributes over 15% of your gross salary. With your mandatory employee contribution, the total contribution toward your retirement plan exceeds 19%.
• Exceptional Health & Prescription Coverage: Enjoy access to medical, dental, and vision insurance with competitive employer contributions, that include 4 deductible options to suit your needs
• Paid Time Off: Benefit from ample vacation, sick leave, paid holidays, and paid winter closure.
• Tuition Waiver: Employees and eligible dependents can take advantage of tuition waivers, supporting continuous education and professional growth.
• Wellness and Employee Assistance Programs: Stay healthy with wellness initiatives, counseling services, and mental health resources.

What This Job Offers

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