Postdoctoral Conservation Scientist — CWD & Stakeholder Insights

The University of Massachusetts Amherst; Amherst (MA); On-site; USD 63,000 - 71,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Massachusetts Amherst is seeking a Postdoctoral Researcher in Conservation Science to lead human dimensions and wildlife disease research on chronic wasting disease. You will analyze statewide surveys, help design an interagency tabletop exercise, and co‑design communication tools with state partners.

You’ll publish peer‑reviewed work, collaborate with USGS, MassWildlife, and a partner university, and contribute to modeling of CWD dynamics.

Qualifications

• PhD in human dimensions of natural resources, conservation social science, ecology, conservation, epidemiology, wildlife science, or other 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 and identify hunter subpopulations at highest risk.
• Help design and co‑facilitate an in‑person, multi‑agency tabletop exercise (1.5 day) that simulates CWD detection scenarios and tests the state’s reactive response.
• Translate the tabletop results into a revised reactive‑response section of the state CWD plan and a positive‑detection decision tree for preventative, surveillance, and reactive actions.
• Co‑design pre‑positioned communication materials with the state agency’s outreach staff using the surveys’ trust and channel data.
• Lead and co‑author peer‑reviewed manuscripts, write research reports, and prepare code and data for release.
• Work with a large team to build a broad professional network across the Northeast.

Skills

Quantitative analysis in R

Scientific writing

Communication skills

Collaboration

Education

PhD in relevant field

Job description

The University of Massachusetts Amherst is seeking a Postdoctoral Researcher in Conservation Science to lead human dimensions and wildlife disease research on chronic wasting disease. You will analyze statewide surveys, help design an interagency tabletop exercise, and co‑design communication tools with state partners.

You’ll publish peer‑reviewed work, collaborate with USGS, MassWildlife, and a partner university, and contribute to modeling of CWD dynamics.