Two postdoctoral fellows in forest landscapes and bird modelling

The Boreal Avian Modelling Project (BAM) seeks two Postdoctoral Fellows to join the Cumming lab at Université Laval, Québec City, in collaboration with J.A. Tremblay of Environment and Climate Change Canada. BAM is a highly collaborative, long-term, national research project supporting the conservation and management of boreal breeding birds in North America. Positions are offered for one year, with the possibility of three years, conditional on performance and funding.

The successful applicants will be instrumental to new initiatives in population assessment and avian conservation planning for eastern Canada.  Position 1 will develop species-specific habitat models for forest bird species that are sensitive to regional variation in habitat selection (e.g. Crosby et al. (2019) and Adde et al. (2020)) and to the factors addressed by Position 2, who will apply spatial simulation models to forecast species responses to forest management, anthropogenic disturbance, and climatic change (e.g., Cadieux et al. 2020; Micheletti et al. 2021). One or both of these positions  will also apply spatial prioritization methods to support conservation planning (e.g., Stralberg et al. 2018). This work will be integrated with BAM’s efforts to produce broad-scale avian density models. Both postdocs will lead the writing of manuscripts and represent the project at meetings from local to international, and to diverse research partners. 

Applicants must hold a recent PhD. Essential qualifications include strong quantitative skills coupled with an interest in avian ecology and conservation in general, independent of disciplinary background. Significant experience with advanced statistical or computational methodologies will be an asset, as will past field experience in boreal systems and in multidisciplinary collaborations. Proficiency in French and English, both  written and spoken, is preferred. 

Positions will ideally begin by January 10, 2022. Location of tenure is negotiable given current circumstances. Relocation expenses to Québec may be covered for qualified applicants.  These are lab-based positions, but some field work may be needed or can be arranged. Annual salaries are $55,000-$60,000, with additional funds to cover expenses for software, project travel, scientific conferences (virtual or in-person attendance), and publications. BAM and Université Laval are committed to an equitable, diverse, and inclusive workplace. We welcome applications from all qualified persons. We encourage women; First Nations, Métis and Inuit persons; members of visible minority groups; persons with disabilities; persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity and expression; and all those who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas and the University to apply. 

To Apply: 

Please provide a letter of interest, CV, an example of your scientific writing, and a list of three referees. In your letter, state HOW you meet the qualifications, WHEN is your earliest availability and WHICH (or both) of the positions you are applying for. Apply by email to bamp@ualberta.ca with the subject heading “Postdoctoral Fellow in Eastern Forest and Bird Modelling”. Applications will be accepted from 15.10.2021 until the positions are filled.

This position is now closed.