Postdoctoral Research Associate, Franke College of Forestry and Conservation, Wildlife Biology Program

Description

A one-year postdoctoral research associate position is available in the Franke College of Forestry and Conservation at the University of Montana (UM) – Avian Science Center & Wildlife Biology Program, focused on advancing conservation and management approaches for at-risk, data-limited species using the Florida intertidal firefly (Micronaspis floridana) as a model system.

This project represents a collaborative effort among the University of Montana, the National Park Service (NPS), and The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. It serves as a pilot initiative to help NPS develop a framework for how to make conservation and management decisions for rare and at-risk species with limited data availability, a challenge increasingly common under rapid environmental change.

The Florida intertidal firefly (Micronaspis floridana) is a rare, bioluminescent beetle native to mangrove and salt marsh habitats along Florida’s coast. It is threatened by sea level rise, hydrologic modification, and light pollution, factors shared by many other vulnerable species. By using M. floridana as a case study, this project will integrate theoretical, spatial, and population modeling to identify strategies for advancing conservation decisions despite ecological uncertainty and data limitations.

 

Project Overview

This postdoctoral researcher will lead the development and application of quantitative modeling frameworks to inform conservation for M. floridana and to generalize those approaches for other data-limited, at-risk taxa. The project will synthesize existing datasets—species occurrence records, environmental and habitat layers, etc.—to identify key ecological and conservation insights.

Working closely with partners at NPS and the Xerces Society, the postdoctoral researcher will co-design analyses that address pressing management questions, such as:

• How can conservation planning proceed for data-limited species under changing environmental conditions, including changing ocean and coastal dynamics?
•  What modeling frameworks best support decision-making under uncertainty?
• How can limited data be leveraged to assess vulnerability, prioritize habitats, and evaluate extinction risk?
• What transferable lessons can guide conservation for other rare, understudied taxa in dynamic coastal ecosystems?

Outcomes will directly inform NPS conservation planning and may contribute to forthcoming U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service status assessment efforts for M. floridana, and other regional coastal management strategies.

 

Project Outcomes and Impact

This position provides a unique opportunity to advance both applied conservation practice and ecological modeling theory for species facing data scarcity. Using Micronaspis floridana as a test case, the postdoctoral researcher will:

• Develop modeling frameworks and decision-support tools that enable NPS and partners to make science-based conservation decisions despite limited data.
• Generate transferable insights and methodologies applicable to a wide range of rare and understudied species.
• Contribute directly to local, regional, and/or national conservation planning efforts and habitat protection strategies.
• Publish research that advances understanding of how to operationalize conservation for species where data gaps have historically hindered action.

This project sits at the intersection of quantitative ecology, conservation planning, and environmental management, offering both scientific innovation and immediate real-world application.

 

Example Tasks and Responsibilities

• Develop and apply spatial and theoretical models to evaluate the distribution, connectivity, and persistence of Micronaspis floridana under current and projected environmental conditions.

• Integrate empirical and modeled data to assess conservation strategies and guide management actions for at-risk species.
• Collaborate with NPS and Xerces Society scientists to identify data gaps and decision-support opportunities.
• Produce both species-specific conservation outputs (e.g., habitat suitability maps) and generalizable modeling frameworks for broader application.
• Lead preparation of peer-reviewed publications, technical reports, and presentations for scientific and management audiences.
• Present findings at conferences and conservation planning meetings.

• Coordinate limited field or partner-based sampling to improve data quality and model validation.