About this role
Job Summary
This position is part of a multistate adaptive management project developed through the CWD Research Consortium in partnership with state wildlife agencies, universities, and federal research collaborators. The postdoctoral research associate will be primarily responsible for the landowner survey component of the larger project, while also contributing to other research activities. The specific responsibilities will involve discovery in the human dimensions of deer management in the Midwest. Specifically, the post-doc will:
- (1) Collaboratively design, refine, and initiate a quantitative landowner survey addressing decisions about deer harvest, participation in deer management activities, and barriers and motivations relevant to increased antlerless harvest
- (2) Lead survey implementation in Ohio and Missouri, including coordinating sampling and questionnaire pretesting with agency partners and aligning survey instruments and methods with the broader multistate team
- (3) Prepare materials for institutional review board review and coordinate human subjects research requirements with collaborating institutions and project partners
- (4) Lead management and quantitative analysis of Ohio and Missouri survey data to assess landowner social and behavioral conditions and responses to behavioral interventions
- (5) Collaborate with the MSU postdoctoral researcher and the broader CWD Research Consortium team to conduct regional analyses of survey data across participating states
- (6) Use research findings to collaboratively develop, refine, and evaluate behavioral interventions to increase antlerless harvest and contribute to formative evaluation of the project
- (7) Contribute to a systematic literature review and complementary qualitative research with landowners as needed
- (8) Communicate research progress and findings to project partners and agency leadership, and contribute to scientific manuscripts, presentations, and agency reports
- (9) Help coordinate human dimensions research across Ohio, Michigan, and Missouri in collaboration with the MSU postdoctoral researcher and the broader CWD Research Consortium team. This may include working with university researchers and state agency partners to align research activities, organize collaborative meetings, track timelines and progress, and maintain communication across participating states. Education Ph.D. in conservation social science, human dimensions of natural resources, environmental social science, human geography, environmental psychology, or a related field by the start date. Experience
- Experience designing and implementing quantitative social science surveys, including questionnaire development and sampling.
- Strong quantitative data analysis and data management skills.
- Ability to communicate and write clearly for scientific and management audiences and contribute to peer-reviewed publications.
- Ability to organize research activities and collaborate with an interdisciplinary team and agency partners.
- A valid U.S. driver’s license Additional Information Preferred qualifications include experience with landowner or wildlife management research in the U.S.; collaboration with state wildlife agencies; and integrating qualitative findings into survey design.
FLSA Status Exempt