The USGS Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center is seeking current grad students or recent graduates for several projects on wildlife and vegetation. Researchers may be involved in multiple projects, depending on skills and interests.

Wildlife projects use GPS or VHF tracking data from pronghorn, mule deer, and sage-grouse to map habitat suitability and evaluate responses to energy development and other environmental disturbances. Wildlife researchers will be expected to 1) evaluate animal movement and behavior with GPS data; 2) manipulate large; spatial datasets in a GIS; 3) analyze data (e.g., resource selection functions, survival); and 4) prepare manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals.

Vegetation projects focus on 1) mapping sagebrush and yellow sweet clover across the Northwestern Great Plains to support research on sage-grouse; 2) evaluating datasets for fractional cover of vegetation (e.g., RCMAP, RAP, LandCART), and 3) evaluating vegetation responses to habitat restoration treatments across Montana and Wyoming, particularly for invasive annual grasses in the sagebrush ecosystem. Vegetation mapping involves analyses of imagery from UAVs, traditional aircraft, and satellites to map vegetation at high spatial resolutions across multiple states and years. Research on habitat restoration involves analyses of field survey data and time series of satellite-based data on vegetative cover. Researchers will be expected to 1) manipulate large, spatial datasets in a GIS, 2) analyze data (e.g., mixed models, machine learning algorithms), and 3) prepare manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals.

Positions are open to current students or recent graduates eligible to work as a student contractor (MS or PhD preferred). Graduates that completed their degree within the past year are eligible to work as student contractors. Contracts can cover up to 1 (PhD) or 2 (MS) years of work. Opportunities for subsequent work through other appointments are possible. The start date, work schedule (i.e., full- versus part-time), and work location are negotiable; applicants that can start immediately and work full-time in Bozeman, MT are preferred.   

If interested, please send your resume, cover letter, and contact information for 3 or more references to Aaron Johnston at ajohnston@usgs.gov. Alternatively, applications can be mailed to Aaron Johnston, 2327 University Way, Suite 2, Bozeman, MT, 59715, or faxed to (406) 994-7525. Please include your dates of availability and graduation date in the cover letter. Applications will be accepted until positions are filled.

Wages: up to $37.42/hr depending on experience

Requirements:

• Analyses of spatial datasets

• Analyses of large datasets for animal movement and habitat characteristics

• Strong scientific writing skills

Desirable qualifications:

• Proficiency in GIS and R

• Expertise in ungulate or sage-grouse ecology and movement

• Expertise in resource selection and associated analytical methods

• Expertise in remote sensing and image analysis

• Expertise in disturbance ecology and invasive annual grasses in the sagebrush ecosystem

• Record of publication in peer-reviewed journals

• MS or PhD in ecology