Post-Doc, GIS-Analyst and Ph.D Assistantship Positions Announced Through the Strategic Conservation Assessment of Gulf Coast Landscapes Project

May 12, 2017

The Strategic Conservation Assessment of Gulf Coast Landscapes (SCA) Project Team announces the availability of three positions to support the SCA project. These positions are for a Postdoctoral Associate in Ecological Modeling, a Geospatial Analyst Research Associate, and a Ph.D. Student in Coastal Ecological Modeling and Geospatial Application Development.

The Restore Council approved the SCA project as one among a suite of projects in the 2015 initial Funded Priorities List. This project will coalesce existing conservation and socioeconomic priorities into conservation planning decision support tools to aid the Restore Council and their stakeholders in identifying high priority lands for voluntary conservation efforts. The SCA project is being led by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Gulf Restoration Team and administered through a cooperative agreement with Mississippi State University, with support from the four Gulf Landscape Conservation Cooperatives. More information on the SCA project is available in the project summary.

Position Descriptions

1. Postdoctoral Associate in Ecological Modeling
   
   The SCA project team is seeking a Postdoctoral Associate in Ecological Modeling to be based out of the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering at Mississippi State University. The Postdoctoral Associate must hold a Ph.D. in biological or environmental engineering, geography, geosciences, ecology, environmental science/management, or other related fields. ABD candidates will also be considered. The ideal candidate will have some combination of the following skills: spatially explicit ecological modeling, landscape conservation, MCDA, programming (especially Python), and web-based app development. Expertise with geographic information systems (GIS) and other related software applications and technologies is also required. Additional information and detailed submission instructions can be found in the Post Doc Position Description. Review of applicants will begin June 7, 2017. If you have any questions, are interested in submitting an application, or have a suggested candidate, please contact Anna Linhoss (alinhoss@abe.msstate.edu). Applicants must complete an application through the MSU HRM website to be considered, but should also email a copy of the cover letter and resume/CV directly to Anna Linhoss.


2. Research Associate – Geospatial Analyst
   
   The SCA project team is seeking a Geospatial Analyst Research Associate to be based out of the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries & Aquaculture at Mississippi State University. The applicant must hold minimally a B.S. in geography, geosciences, ecology, environmental science/management, coastal or marine ecology, wildlife and fisheries science, or other related fields and minimum of 3 years of relevant experience and the equivalent of a master's degree; or a M.S. degree and minimum of 1 year of relevant experience and demonstrated competency. A strong background and expertise with geographic information systems (GIS) and other related software applications and technologies is required. The ideal candidate will also have some combination of experience developing web-enabled geospatial data applications, expertise in other GIS software applications and html programming applications, as well as experience working in Gulf Coast landscape conservation, large-scale data applications, spatially explicit ecological modeling, multi-criteria decision analysis, and interacting with stakeholders. Additional information and detailed submission instructions can be found in the GIS Analyst Position Description. Review of applicants will begin June 7, 2017. If you have any questions, are interested in submitting an application, or have a suggested candidate, please contact Kristine Evans (kristine.evans@msstate.edu). Applicants must complete an application through the MSU HRM website to be considered, but should also email a copy of the cover letter and resume/CV directly to Kristine Evans.


3. Ph.D. Student in Coastal Ecological Modeling and Geospatial Application Development
   
   The SCA project team is seeking a Ph.D. student to be based out of either the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering or the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries & Aquaculture at Mississippi State University. The student will work with SCA staff to develop a suite of ecological models and associated geospatial applications predicting ecosystem, species, and/or socioeconomic response to potential Gulf Coast system stressors and planned coastal restoration activities. The Ph.D. student must hold a Master's degree in geography, geosciences, ecology, environmental science/management, biological/environmental engineering, coastal or marine ecology, wildlife and fisheries science, or other related fields with competitive GPA and GRE scores. Research experience with predictive ecological modeling and geographic information systems (GIS), and a demonstrated publication record are preferred. Additional information and detailed submission instructions can be found in the Ph.D. Student Position Description. Review of applicants will begin June 7, 2017. If you have any questions, are interested in submitting an application, or have a suggested candidate, please contact Kristine Evans (kristine.evans@msstate.edu) (Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture) or Anna Linhoss (alinhoss@abe.msstate.edu) (Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering) at Mississippi State University.