Postdoctoral Research Associate, Avian Science Center and Rangeland Ecology, Franke College of Forestry and Conservation,

Description

A two-year Postdoctoral Research Associate position is available in the Franke College of Forestry and Conservation at the University of Montana (UM) to be coadvised by PIs of the Avian Science Center and Rangeland Ecology laboratories. The project is focused on the interplay of bison grazing, invasive plants, and songbirds and is donor funded.

Songbirds associated with grasslands and shrublands have shown long-term population declines, largely due to habitat fragmentation and changes in land use. Historically, bison created a vegetative gradient that facilitated effective songbird habitat, yet contemporary bison grazing differs from historic, where bison are now restricted to much smaller and socially accepted areas, such as those within the Yellowstone Ecosystem. Further, the introduction of invasive plants may alter, or be altered by, bison movement by affecting forage availability and altering grazing patterns. Such adds to the complexity of the contemporary ecological role of bison in providing vegetative gradients to promote the conservation of declining grassland and shrubland songbirds. Within this framework, the successful candidate will work at the intersection of bison grazing and invasive plants on songbirds across invaded and native plant-dominated sites in the Yellowstone Ecosystem.

Project Overview

This postdoctoral researcher will lead the development and application of research to address effective conservation of the Yellowstone Ecosystem. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to collect field related data and synthesize existing datasets as they relate to bison grazing, invasive plants, and songbirds.

Working closely with project PIs and stakeholders, the succsessfull candidate will co-design analyses that address pressing conservation questions, such as:

• How does the intensity of bison grazing influence plant communities?
• How does bison grazing directly and indirectly influence songbird communities?
• How do our conservation efforts influence the relationship between bison, birds, and invasive plants?

Outcomes will directly inform conservation efforts in the Yellowstone Ecosystem and ecological interactions at a broader scale. This position also will contribute to science communication across a diverse audience and range of communication avenues.

Project Outcomes and Impact

This position provides an excellent opportunity to address real conservation issues through basic and applied ecological frameworks. Using the Yellowstone Ecosystem as a living laboratory, the postdoctoral researcher will:

• Develop peer reviewed publications to move our understanding of complex ecological interactions forward.
• Communicate findings through a variety of avenues.
• Contribute directly to local, regional, and/or national conservation planning efforts.

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

Examples of Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop and apply field based experimental questions in bison grazed areas in the Yellowstone Ecosytem.
• Integrate empirical and modeled data to assess conservation strategies and guide management actions.
• Collaborate within, and across, agency, NGO, and private landowner stakeholders to address real world conservation concerns.
• Lead preparation of peer-reviewed publications, technical reports, and presentations for scientific, management, and non-scientific audiences.
• Present findings at conferences and conservation meetings.

Position Details

This position is full-time (1.0 FTE), Letter of Appointment, and includes a comprehensive benefits package with health insurance, mandatory retirement plan, partial tuition waiver, and wellness program.

Salary: $65,000 to $75,000 depending on experience and availability of funding
Appointment Length: 2 years
Preferred Start Date: April 2026
Location: University of Montana, Missoula, MT

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• PhD (by start date) in wildlife biology, ecology, conservation biology, landscape or spatial ecology, quantitative biology, or related field.
• Demonstrated experience in applied and/or theoretical ecological research.
• Strong coding proficiency in one or more of the following: R, Jags, Nimble, Python, etc.
• Proven record of peer-reviewed publications, presentations, and effective scientific communication.
• Strong collaboration, coordination, and communication skills across academic, age