Post Doctoral Research Associate - Illegal Turtle Trade, Confiscation & Reintroduction

About UMass Amherst

UMass Amherst, the Commonwealth's flagship campus, is a nationally ranked public research university offering a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University sits on nearly 1,450-acres in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts, and offers a rich cultural environment in a bucolic setting close to major urban centers. In addition, the University is part of the Five Colleges (including Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, and Smith College), which adds to the intellectual energy of the region.

Job Summary

The US Fish and Wildlife Service, working with state and federal agencies with regulatory authority over turtles in the northeastern U.S., makes decisions about the confiscation and disposition of multiple species of native U.S. freshwater turtles encountered via extra-legal trade routes. Illegal collection of wild animals for the pet trade has resulted in population declines, and U.S. freshwater turtles are particularly vulnerable. Decision-makers wish to maximize the conservation status of turtle populations in the wild, so consider the repatriation and translocation of confiscated turtles to enhance population viability. The decision is complicated by risk to recipient populations, primarily of the disease and genetic (i.e., originating-recipient population mismatch) status of confiscated turtles. Therefore, this project aims to estimate and project the consequences of confiscation and repatriation decisions for illegally traded turtles. The successful candidate would have experience or interest in decision analysis, population matrix modeling, and population viability analyses.

This work is a collaboration among the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Massachusetts Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Research Unit (MA Coop Unit) and the USGS Eastern Ecological Science Center (form. Patuxent Wildlife Research Center) at the SO Conte Anadromous Fish Research Lab.

Essential Functions

• Build/refine a population matrix model and population viability analysis that examines the effect of (re)introducing confiscated individual(s), who have unknown disease and poor genetics status, into a wild population.
• Update a set of decision trees with the output of the population viability analysis to evaluate conditions that affect an optimal decision.
• Writing research reports, papers for publication, and preparing data for release.

Other Functions

• Work collaboratively and effectively to promote teamwork, diversity, equality and inclusiveness.
• Work in partnership with colleagues within the CNS community and across the campus to support the Deans strategic priorities.
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of the mission and goals of the College of Natural Sciences.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

• PhD in Ecology, Conservation, Herpetology or other related field.

Work Schedule

• Monday - Friday 8:30am - 5:00pm.

Salary Information

• Commiserate with experience.
• PRO Bargaining Agreement

Additional Details

• Start date negotiable with a target of mid 2025.
• 12-month appointment, additional reappointment contingent upon availability of funding.

Special Instructions to Applicants

Along with the application, please submit a resume and cover letter. References will be checked at the finalist stage. Please be prepared to provide contact information for three (3) professional references.

The cover letter should be 1 - 2 pages describing:

• Your research interests and background, skills, and experience.
• Why you are interested in this position and/or enthusiasm related to the projects listed in the job summary.
• Your career goals.

Priority review of applications will begin on December 23, 2024, but will remain open until suitable candidate identified.

Please send questions to either Graziella DiRenzo (gdirenzo@umass.edu) or Evan Grant (ehgrant@usgs.gov).

At UMass Amherst and in CNS, we strive to be a community where every individual feels a sense of belonging, where every individual is included, and where every individual is valued. You can find these values and goals here (https://www.umass.edu/strategicplan/strategic-plan).

UMass Amherst is committed to a policy of equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, caste, creed, sex, age, marital status, national origin, disability, political belief or affiliation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related condition(s), veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, natural and protective hairstyle and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination in employment, admission to and participation in academic programs, activities, and services, and the selection of vendors who provide services or products to the University. To fulfill that policy, UMass Amherst is further committed to a program of affirmative action to eliminate or mitigate artificial barriers and to increase opportunities for the recruitment and advancement of qualified minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and covered veterans. It is the policy of UMass Amherst to comply with the applicable federal and state statutes, rules, and regulations concerning equal opportunity and affirmative action.