About UMass Amherst

UMass Amherst, the Commonwealth's flagship campus, is a nationally ranked public research university offering a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University sits on nearly 1,450-acres in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts, and offers a rich cultural environment in a bucolic setting close to major urban centers. In addition, the University is part of the Five Colleges (including Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, and Smith College), which adds to the intellectual energy of the region.

Job Summary

The Senner Lab at UMass in the Department of Environmental Conservation is looking for a postdoctoral research associate. The position will support a collaborative NSF-funded project – along with the Velotta Lab at the University of Denver and Cheviron Lab at the University of Montana (UMT) – studying the influence of parasitic botflies on the demography, physiology, and evolutionary biology of deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) in the Colorado Rockies in the context of climate change. The preferred candidate will have a PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, or a related field, and will have experience with demographic analyses or climate change modelling. The position will be for 12 months with a potential to renew for up to three years. The start date is negotiable between December 1, 2024–March 1, 2025.

Essential Functions

• Lead efforts to model the population dynamics of deer mice and botflies along an elevational transect in the Colorado Rocky Mountains.
• Lead and contribute to publications and conference presentations stemming from current project field and lab work, as well as past project data collection, which includes seven years of data from along the elevational transect and more than a decade of lab-based experiments.
• Join in on current field and lab-based data collection efforts, develop new project ideas and submit grant proposals, and work in a collaborative environment alongside graduate and undergraduate students at UMass, DU, and UMT.

Other Functions

• Work collaboratively and effectively to promote teamwork, diversity, equality and inclusiveness. 
• Work in partnership with colleagues within the CNS community and across the campus to support the Dean’s strategic priorities.
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of the mission and goals of the College of Natural Sciences.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

• PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology or related field prior to the start date.
• Expertise in ecology and evolution, climate change science, and demographic modelling.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct independent research and to publish quality scientific papers.
• Good communication and writing skills.
• Commitment to fostering an inclusive work environment.
• Strong quantitative skills.

Preferred Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

• Experience with demographic analyses and/or species distribution models.
• Evidence of leadership, mentoring, and outreach.
• Fieldwork experience with small mammals, especially in alpine habitats.

Physical Demands/Working Conditions

• Standard office and fieldwork environments:
  • Ability to sit in front of a computer for an extended period time.
  • Ability to complete fieldwork including small mammal capture-mark-recapture, whole-animal respirometry, and blood and tissue collection.

Additional Details

• Field work takes place in both prairie and high-elevation environments, which can include rugged, mountainous terrain.

Work Schedule

• Monday – Friday, 8:30am – 5:00pm. Work schedule may vary.

Salary Information

• $61,008 annually.

Special Instructions to Applicants

Along with the application, please submit a resume and cover letter. References will be checked at the finalist stage. Please be prepared to provide contact information for three (3) professional references. Candidates that identify with groups currently underrepresented in wildlife ecology and conservation are encouraged to apply. Applications will be reviewed on a continuous basis until the position is filled. Early submissions are encouraged.

For best considerations, please submit your application materials by 5:00pm (EST) on October 15, 2024. Questions can be directed to Dr. Nathan Senner (nsenner@umass.edu).

At UMass Amherst and in CNS, we strive to be a community where every individual feels a sense of belonging, where every individual is included, and where every individual is valued. You can find these values and goals here: https://www.umass.edu/strategicplan/strategic-plan.

UMass Amherst is committed to a policy of equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, caste, creed, sex, age, marital status, national origin, disability, political belief or affiliation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related condition(s), veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, natural and protective hairstyle and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination in employment, admission to and participation in academic programs, activities, and services, and the selection of vendors who provide services or products to the University.  To fulfill that policy, UMass Amherst is further committed to a program of affirmative action to eliminate or mitigate artificial barriers and to increase opportunities for the recruitment and advancement of qualified minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and covered veterans.  It is the policy of UMass Amherst to comply with the applicable federal and state statutes, rules, and regulations concerning equal opportunity and affirmative action.