Research Foundation - Postdoctoral Associate - Quantitative Fish Population Ecology and Modeling - College of Environmental Science and Forestry

About the position

The Research Foundation for the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) seeks a Postdoctoral Research Associate with an interest and ability to work with fish population ecology data and modeling in the large river ecosystem of the St. Lawrence River. This project is funded as part of the International Joint Commission (IJC) Great Lakes Adaptive Management (GLAM) Ecosystems Team, an international effort between the USA and Canada to expedite review of the current water levels management and improve and develop models for the benefit of the Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River ecosystem. The position involves work with a substantial long-term and multifaceted dataset and associated field studies with ongoing data collection alongside undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and agency professionals in a collaborative team environment. Research involves restoring critical reproductive habitat of native freshwater predator fishes, with a focus on muskellunge, northern pike, and the nearshore fish community as well as with wetland ecology and the populations of muskrats as key herbivores. Hydrology regulation, climate, with its related hypoxia and invasive species are key ingredients in these ecological dynamics. Innovative methods, including work with long-term field data sets from standardized seining, fyke netting, and fish emigration sampling, macrophytes, physical habitat, water temperature, and dissolved oxygen will be used to further elucidate patterns and build process-based models.

Responsibilities

• Work with a substantial long-term and multifaceted dataset and associated field studies.
• Participate in ongoing data collection alongside undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and agency professionals.
• Develop research for impactful publications and management outcomes.
• Restore critical reproductive habitat of native freshwater predator fishes.
• Utilize innovative methods to elucidate ecological patterns and build process-based models.
• Manage and develop the long-term database to increase its utility in ecological modeling.

Requirements

• PhD degree in fisheries and/or aquatic ecology or closely related field.
• Previous field, data management, and science involving fish and/or aquatic ecology.
• Extensive quantitative and analytical skills.
• Prior demonstrated scientific publication of independent research.

Nice-to-haves

• Knowledge and experience with Great Lakes nearshore and wetland ecology.
• Demonstrated knowledge of aquatic sampling methods and experimentation.
• Experience with freshwater fish biology and habitat requirements.

Benefits

• Healthcare
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Pension plans
• Competitive pay
• Generous paid time off
• Life insurance
• Long-term disability insurance