Post Doctoral Fellow - Future of Species Range Shifts

 

University of Alaska Fairbanks

 

Conduct research related to quantifying and projecting the effects of changing climate conditions on the summer behavior and distribution of the Porcupine Caribou Herd in Arctic Alaska. Using unprecedented field data, collected by the USGS, USFWS, ADFG, Yukon Government, and Parks Canada, on the habitat and behavior of the Porcupine Caribou Herd, the successful candidate will: 1) identify the influence of climatic variation on caribou summer forage and insect conditions and predict how they will be altered in the future, 2) determine how these climate-mediated summer conditions influence caribou behavior and distributions, and 3) project future shifts in summer caribou distributions.

 

Synchronous declines in many barren-ground caribou herds across North America have coincided with the ‘greening of the Arctic', raising concerns about the influence of changing climate conditions on caribou populations, and the subsequent effects on Indigenous communities that rely on caribou for subsistence. These concerns have been heightened by plans and proposals to expand energy development into caribou summer ranges across the North Slope of Alaska. In response, the USGS, USFWS, ADFG, Yukon Government, and Parks Canada developed a research collaboration and recently collected unprecedented field data on the habitat and behavior of the Porcupine Caribou Herd, one of the largest remaining herds, and which spans the Alaska-Yukon border. This postdoctoral project will leverage that field data to 1) identify the influence of climatic variation on caribou summer forage and insect conditions and predict how they will be altered in the future, 2) determine how these climate-mediated summer conditions influence caribou behavior and distributions, and 3) project future shifts in summer caribou distributions. To meet these objectives the post-doctoral scholar will generate predictive spatiotemporal models of summer forage and insect conditions across the Porcupine caribou summer range, use outputs in caribou resource selection and movement analyses, and apply future climate scenarios to forecast changes to summer conditions and project the subsequent impact on caribou space-use patterns. Results will identify the specific mechanisms by which climate change is driving caribou behavioral responses during summer, along with enabling detailed future projections that can be used to assess Indigenous subsistence opportunities and key habitat areas for land-use planning.

 

Concurrently, the post-doctoral scholar will join a cohort of nine post-doctoral fellows to participate in an independent national-scale synthesis effort on a unifying theme, the Future of Species Range Shifts, and gain valuable experience in collaborative research. The national synthesis topic typically addresses nationally pressing research questions related to the cohort topic, synthesizes the state of the science and advances our understanding of management-relevant applications of this information. Fellows will conduct much of the national synthesis effort at four in-person workshops, attended by Fellows, facilitators, and other subject matter experts. Two of these workshops are hosted in Santa Barbara, CA by the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS), who provides varied support for the Fellows throughout their program tenure. For more information, visit the CAP fellows program webpage (https://www.usgs.gov/programs/climate-adaptation-science-centers/climate-adaptation-postdoctoral-cap-fellows-program).

The post-doctoral scholar will receive extensive training and mentorship on three core areas crucial for their success and in their future careers: 1) Team Science, 2) Synthesis Science, and 3) Actionable Science. Many of these skills are not taught during standard graduate school curriculums or conventional post-doctoral positions.

Fellows should expect to devote approximately 80% of their time to their regional projects, and the remaining 20% of their time to the national synthesis effort and professional training.

 

The successful candidates will be advised by Dr. Ophelie Couriot and work in collaboration with Dr. Heather Johnson (USGS, Anchorage), as well as other collaborators from the USGS, USFWS, ADFG, Yukon Government, and Parks Canada.

 

As a postdoc on the Porcupine Caribou Herd project, you'll work closely with agencies like USGS, USFWS, and Parks Canada to understand how climate change is affecting caribou behavior and habitat during the summer. You'll use cutting-edge field data to build models predicting future forage and insect conditions, and how those changes will influence caribou movement and subsistence access for Indigenous communities. Alongside this, you'll be part of a national cohort focused on species range shifts, attending workshops hosted by NCEAS and receiving hands-on training in team science, synthesis, and actionable research-all designed to support your growth as a collaborative, impact-driven scientist.

 

Minimum Qualifications:

 

- Education: Ph.D. in Ecology, Wildlife Biology, Environmental Science, Geography, Climate Science, or a related field.

- Understanding of Arctic ecological dynamics and climate change impacts on ecosystems.

- Expertise in spatial modeling.

- Strong programming skills in R.

- Proficiency in GIS and remote sensing tools.

- Background in statistics and data analysis.

- Strong scientific writing skills for publishing results and communicating with stakeholders.

- Ability to collaborate with agencies and research teams.

 

Position Details:

 

This position is located on the UAF campus in Fairbanks, and flexible on-site work arrangements may be considered in accordance with UA regulations. This is a full-time, exempt faculty position complete with both a competitive salary and https://www.alaska.edu/hr/benefits/support/prospectiveemployees.php. UA provides a generous compensation package that includes retirement options, annual leave, 12 paid holidays per year, tuition waivers for employees and family members, and affordable medical, dental, and vision care coverage. New hires will be placed at Grade 40 UNAC, based on education and experience.

 

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until a successful candidate is identified.

 

📃To view the full list of job responsibilities, please click https://docs.google.com/document/d/1lTmmje4U0kVbqP0A4ZQtAi1mONzfQ2dSFMz1-AY8rgA/edit?usp=sharing.

 

☎️If you have any questions regarding this position, please contact Ruth Dinardi, IAB HR Manager, at mailto:rsdinardirosado@alaska.edu or 907 474 6466.

 

*To be eligible for this position, applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without restriction. Applicants who now or may in the future require visa sponsorship to work in the United States are not eligible.

 

This position is represented by United Academics (UNAC). https://unitedacademicsak.org/

 

This position is term-funded and is reviewed annually for contract renewal at the University's discretion.

 

The University of Alaska (UA) is responsible for providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities throughout the applicant screening process. If you need assistance in completing this application or during any phase of the interview process, please contact UA Human Resources by phone at 907-450-8200.

 

The http://www.alaska.edu/ (https://www.alaska.edu/alaska/index.php) is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access Employer and Educational Institution. The University is committed to a http://www.alaska.edu/nondiscrimination (http://www.alaska.edu/nondiscrimination) against individuals on the basis of any legally protected status.

 

The successful applicant is required to complete a background check. Any offer of employment is contingent on the background check.

 

Your application for employment with the University of Alaska is subject to public disclosure under the Alaska Public Records Act.

 

All employees at the University of Alaska are expected to uphold the highest standards of ethics and professionalism when conducting or engaged in university business.

 

*Each university within the University of Alaska system publishes an Annual Security and Fire Safety Report which contains information regarding campus safety and security including topics such as: campus law enforcement authority; crime reporting policies; campus alerts (Timely Warnings and Emergency Notifications); fire safety policies and procedures; programs to prevent dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking; the procedures the University will follow when one of these crimes is reported; and other matters of importance related to security on campus. The report also contains information about crime statistics for the three most recent calendar years concerning reported crimes that occurred on campus; in On-Campus Student Housing Facilities; in Noncampus buildings or property owned or controlled by the University or a recognized student organization; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus. The report also contains fire statistics for any fires occurring in an On-Campus Student Housing Facility during the three most recent calendar years.

 

Access to the reports is available at:

 

UAA: (Addresses Anchorage campus, Aviation Technology Complex, JBER - Elmendorf Extension, JBER - Richardson Extension, Kenai Peninsula College - Kachemak Bay campus, Kenai Peninsula College - Kenai River campus, Kodiak College, Kodiak High School Extension, Matanuska-Susitna College, Prince William Sound College, and Prince William Sound College - Cordova Extension) Online: https://www.uaa.alaska.edu/students/safety. Request a paper copy in person: UAA Police Department Office at Room 114 of Eugene Short Hall on the Anchorage campus / UAA Dean of Students Office at Room 122 of Rasmuson Hall on the Anchorage campus. Request a paper copy by mail: 907-786-1120 or mailto:police@uaa.alaska.edu / 907-786-1214 or mailto:uaa_deanofstudents@alaska.edu.

 

UAF: (Addresses Fairbanks Campus, Bristol Bay Campus, Chukchi Campus, Community and Technical College, Kasitsna Bay Campus, Seward Marine Center, Tok Campus, Kuskokwim Campus, and Northwest Campus) Online: https://www.uaf.edu/orca/files/ASFSR.pdf. Request a paper copy in person: UAF Office of Rights, Compliance and Accountability on the 3rd Floor of Constitution Hall. Request a paper copy by mail: 907-474-7300 or mailto:uaf-orca@alaska.edu.

 

UAS: (Addresses the Juneau Auke Bay Campus, Juneau Technical Education Center, Sitka Campus, & Ketchikan Campus) Online: https://uas.alaska.edu/equity-and-compliance/docs/clery/UAS_ASFSR.pdf. Request a paper copy in person: Hendrickson Building, Suite 202 on the Juneau campus. Request a paper copy by mail: 907-796-6371 or emailing mailto:uas.clery@alaska.edu.

 

To apply, please visit: https://apptrkr.com/6395905

 

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