Ecologist (Postdoctoral Research Fellow) (IS-0408-11)

Application Deadline: 17 April 2025

Department: National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Washington, DC

Reporting To: Supervisory Research Wildlife Biologist

Compensation: $84,601 / year

Description

OPEN DATE: March 17, 2025                CLOSING DATE: April 17, 2025 (This job will close once 100 applications are received which may be sooner than the closing date.) 
POSITION TYPE: Trust FundAPPOINTMENT TYPE: Temporary Not to Exceed Three (3) Years (may be extended based on funds availability)SCHEDULE: Full Time DUTY LOCATION: Washington, DC
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

Open to all Qualified Applicants

What are Trust Fund Positions?Trust Fund positions are unique to the Smithsonian. They are paid for from a variety of sources, including the Smithsonian endowment, revenue from our business activities, donations, grants and contracts. Trust employees are not part of the civil service, nor does trust fund employment lead to Federal status. The salary ranges for trust positions are generally the same as for federal positions and in many cases trust and federal employees work side by side. Trust employees have their own benefit program and may include Health, Dental & Vision Insurance, Life Insurance, Transit/Commuter Benefits, Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance, Annual and Sick Leave, Family Friendly Leave, 403b Retirement Plan, Discounts for Smithsonian Memberships, Museum Stores and Restaurants, Credit Union, Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center (Child Care), Flexible Spending Account (Health & Dependent Care).  Conditions of Employment

• Pass Pre-employment Background Check and Subsequent Background Investigation for position designated as low risk.
• Complete a Probationary Period
• Maintain a Bank Account for Direct Deposit/Electronic Transfer.
• The position is open to all candidates eligible to work in the United States.  Proof of eligibility to work in U.S. is not required to apply.
• Applicants must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. 

OVERVIEW

INTRODUCTIONThe Smithsonian Institution is the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex, with 21 museums and the National Zoo. This position is located in the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI), Washington, DC. NZCBI plays a leading role in the Smithsonian's global efforts to save wildlife species from extinction and train future generations of conservationists.
SUMMARY This Ecologist – Postdoctoral Research Fellow position is in NZCBI’s Migratory Bird Center. The position aims to train the postdoctoral researcher to conceive, plan, and conduct highly specialized research in the incumbent’s area of specialization. The Ecologist will work with scientists at the Migratory Bird Center, the U. S. Geological Survey’s (USGS) Eastern Ecological Science Center, and the U.S. National Park Service’s Inventory and Monitoring Division (NPS I&M) to provide statistical support to NPS I&M wildlife monitoring programs and to perform scholarly research that answers complex and quantitative questions about wildlife population trends and how wildlife  in U.S. National Parks are responding to climate change or other anthropogenic impacts on the environment.
LOCATION
Migratory Bird Center, Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Apply advanced statistical approaches to analyze wildlife monitoring data, using climate and other environmental variables as covariates, from across the National Park system. 
• Evaluate NPS I&M survey designs and monitoring programs; recommend improvements to survey methods and data collection.
• Provide training workshops and virtual office hours for NPS I&M staff. Participate in a community of practice (including NPS staff and other partners using NPS I&M data) exchanging ideas on analytical approaches, coding, and sampling designs.
• Lead-author and co-author refereed publications derived from the work of this position and present related talks at professional meetings. 
• Travel and fieldwork in remote locations as required.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

Education and Experience:

A. Degree: Bac