[PCA] JOB: Post-Doc in Optimal Control of Exotic & Invasive Biota (Gaineville, FL)

[Kwong, Olivia]

University of Florida - IFAS
Building 810
P.O. Box 110485
Gainesville, FL 32611‐0485
(352) 392‐1861
Fax: (352) 846‐0841
Florida Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Research Website:
http://www.wec.ufl.edu/coop/

Post‐Doctoral Associate
Optimal Control of Exotic and Invasive Biota

Position Description: The Florida Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research
Unit at the University of Florida is seeking a post‐doctoral associate to
explore methods for the optimal control of exotic and invasive biota.
Perhaps nowhere in the contiguous U.S. are the problems created by exotic
plants and animals more evident than in South Florida, where millions of
dollars are spent annually to monitor and control their spread. Within the
constraints of their budgets, responsible agencies must routinely
make tradeoffs inherent in controlling the spread of exotics; e.g.,
monitoring abundance in well‐established areas vs. monitoring potential
sites for colonization, eradicating large infestations vs. eradicating
newly colonized sites, and monitoring populations vs. implementing control
measures. There are also temporal tradeoffs that must be considered because
decisions made now produce a legacy for the future (e.g., how long to wait
before implementing controls). These tradeoffs can be investigated
within the context of a Markov decision process, which can be used to
identify optimal actions based on management goals and constraints,
available budgets, and the demography of the invasive population. The
post‐doctoral associate will be expected to accomplish their tasks with
limited supervision, and they will be expected to coordinate with
management agencies, to participate in relevant workshops, to present
seminars at various venues, and to publish their research findings in a
timely fashion. Some travel is anticipated. No field work is required.

Qualifications: Applicants must hold a Ph.D. in ecology, zoology, natural
resource management, biometrics, applied mathematics, operations research,
or related field. Exceptional mathematical and computing skills are
essential, and the ideal candidate will have expertise in applied decision
science. The best qualified applicants will also have exceptional reasoning
and analytical skills, demonstrable communication skills (especially
writing), and the ability to function well both on their own and in teams.
The selected candidate must be able to meet eligibility requirements for
work in the United States at the time appointment is scheduled to begin and
continue working legally for the proposed term of the appointment.

Location: Gainesville, Florida, USA

Compensation: This is a full‐time, fixed‐term, non‐tenure‐track appointment
for up to 24 months. Annual salary is $40,000 ‐ $50,000 depending on
education and experience; appointees should expect to
start at the low end of this range unless they have exceptional
qualifications. Benefits include health insurance options and paid leave.
Extension of the appointment for the second year is contingent
on performance and available funding.

Enquiries: To discuss this position or request a copy of the
study proposal, contact Dr. Fred Johnson, USGS Southeast Ecological Science
Center, at fjohnson at usgs.gov or at 01‐352‐264‐3488. Applicants should
submit a cover letter, resume (or curriculum vitae), and the names and
contact information of three professional references. The application
deadline is July 15, 2013.
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