Postdoc Conservation Scientist: CWD Stakeholder Insights

UMass Amherst; Amherst (MA); On-site; USD 63,000 - 71,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Massachusetts, Amherst, seeks a Postdoctoral Research Associate in Conservation Science to lead a human dimensions and wildlife disease project. You will analyze statewide stakeholder surveys, help design an interagency tabletop exercise, and co-design communication tools that guide risk management for chronic wasting disease in Massachusetts.

You will collaborate with federal scientists, state biologists, and a partner university, contributing to modeling work on CWD arrival

Qualifications

• PhD in human dimensions of natural resources, conservation social science, ecology, conservation, epidemiology, wildlife science, or a related field.
• Experience with quantitative analysis in R.
• Evidence of scientific writing, such as published or submitted peer-reviewed manuscripts or technical reports.
• Strong written and oral communication skills, and an ability to work collaboratively with agency partners.

Responsibilities

• Analyze statewide CWD stakeholder surveys to quantify knowledge, attitudes, and regulation-relevant behaviors.
• Help design and co-facilitate a 1.5-day in-person tabletop exercise to stress-test the state\'s reactive response.
• Translate tabletop results into a revised reactive-response section and a decision tree for preventative, surveillance and reactive actions.
• Co-design pre-positioned communication materials with the state agency\'s outreach staff using survey data.
• Lead and co-author peer‑reviewed manuscripts, write reports, and prepare code and data for release.
• Work with a large team of professionals to advance objectives and build a Northeast research network.

Skills

R programming

Scientific writing

Collaborative work

Education

PhD in related field

Tools

Git

Job description

The University of Massachusetts, Amherst, seeks a Postdoctoral Research Associate in Conservation Science to lead a human dimensions and wildlife disease project. You will analyze statewide stakeholder surveys, help design an interagency tabletop exercise, and co-design communication tools that guide risk management for chronic wasting disease in Massachusetts.

You will collaborate with federal scientists, state biologists, and a partner university, contributing to modeling work on CWD arrival