Graduate / Postdoctoral Research Coordinator in Feral Swine Population and Movement Ecology

Position Function

A graduate/postdoctoral research associate position is available with the Department of Environment & Sustainability at Catawba College with the Dollar Conservation Ecology Research Group, operating in partnership/collaboration with the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Veterinary Division and the DePerno Lab in the College of Natural Resources and North Carolina State University, to determine NC feral swine population density metrics and movement patterns and use those data to enhance State wildlife disease response capabilities and protocols.

Feral swine, Sus scrofa, present an ecological, health, and economic threat across North Carolina landscapes. Understanding the role that feral swine populations and their habitat play in general disease and specifically African Swine Fever (ASF) virus epidemiology has been limited, resulting in a lack of known effective ASF response measures in this North American feral swine population. The risk of an ASF incursion in feral swine becoming endemic, as it has in several other countries, is a very real threat to the US feral and domestic swine herd. To rapidly and efficiently address a potential ASF incursion in feral swine, their movements and population dynamics must be more thoroughly investigated and understood. Current prevention, detection, and response planning for an ASFV incursion, at a state and national level, have been limited based on knowledge gaps in feral swine population dynamics, specifically population distribution, density, and connectivity of subpopulations. These data sets are necessary to develop models that forecast disease spread and assess public policies and guide disease control efforts.

The Research Associate will develop datasets from source populations of feral swine in at least two NC river basins, Yadkin-PeeDee and Cape Fear, and potentially the Neuse, where a combination of growing feral swine populations, ongoing evidence of disease in feral populations, and the presence of commercial swine facilities further amplify the threat that feral swine pose to the State’s ecology and economy.

The Research Associate will determine population density metrics and movement parameters of feral swine through camera trapping with appropriate analytical methods. This information will be combined with GPS and GIS monitoring of collared feral swine to produce population connectivity metrics. The overall model, report, and resources will be shared with animal health officials in both our state and neighboring states, Tennessee and South Carolina, to enhance regionwide response planning, develop models that forecast disease spread and prepare for the arrival and response to large-scale diseases like ASF in a harmonized way.

Outside of this position and its funding, the hired candidate may also have the opportunity to teach or instruct courses in Catawba College’s Department of Environment & Sustainability.

Anticipated Division of Time

70% Research (including GIS, field work, modeling, and analysis), 15 % data collection, 15% writing & reporting

Requirements

Masters (PhD strongly preferred) in wildlife and/or biology, natural resources, ecology, or a related field, with a focus on quantitative methods in population demographics, density, and dynamics. Strong fieldwork, GIS, camera trapping, mathematical, modeling, and programming skills, with demonstrated proficiency in camera trapping and wildlife movement analytical tools. Experience in population estimation models required. Experience with satellite collaring, MetOcean, and Movebank preferred. Excellent writing and public/personal communication skills. Capacity for independent work under limited direct supervision, while prioritizing collaborative awareness and communication, expected.

Supervision

Position will be supervised by and directly report to Dr. Luke Dollar, Chair and Professor of Environment & Sustainability and Program Lead for the Catawba College Feral Swine Project at Catawba College. Collaborative reporting to and guidance by Dr. Catherine Harris, Director of Livestock Health Programs for the NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and Dr. Christopher DePerno, Professor for the College of Natural Resources and Coordinator of the Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology Program at NC State University, will also be incorporated.

Salary

(Determined by qualifications and terminal degree)/year plus Catawba College staff benefits. Appointment date not to exceed December 31, 2026. Possibility of extension, pending additional funding. Opportunity, completely outside this position and job description, to teach as an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Environment & Sustainability at Catawba College, exists, pending qualifications and experience. Start date is as soon as possible once a qualified candidate is identified

About Catawba College:

Founded in 1851 in Newton, North Carolina, Catawba College was established by German pioneers. In 1890, Catawba became a coeducational institution. In 1925, the College moved to its current location in Salisbury, North Carolina, strategically located just 45 minutes from Charlotte, Greensboro, and Winston-Salem and within two hours of the mountains and fours from the coast.

Catawba’s 276-acre wooded campus houses 41 buildings, including an 189-acre ecological preserve. Recognized as one of the best colleges in the South, Catawba offers 70 academic programs to about 1,300 students from 40 states and 26 countries. The College is home to 24 NCAA Division II athletic teams and features more than 40 student-led clubs and organizations. Nearly 90 full-time faculty and 200 full-time staff provide holistic student support.

Catawba received three transformational gifts in three years to its endowment, the most recent being a $200 million gift. This follows another $200 million gift in 2021 and a $42 million gift in 2022, pushing Catawba’s endowment to more than $580 million. The per-student endowment approaches $500,000, which is among the highest in the Southeast. The College is undergoing a time of significant development on campus, with multiple projects underway that align with their commitment to sustainability, community, and student experience. The Smokestack, a reclamation of the College’s old coal power plant, will be renovated according to Living Building Challenge stands and will provide an additional 10,000 square feet of student space. A new 150-bed residence hall is scheduled for completion in August 2026, and two additional residence halls are being renovated.

Catawba’s educational philosophy is rooted in a liberal arts foundation that emphasizes broad knowledge, intellectual and practical skills, and individual and social responsibility. The college’s mission is to provide “students an education rich in personal attention that blends the knowledge and competencies of liberal studies with career preparation,” enabling them to reach their highest potential and become responsible citizens. More information about Catawba College is located at catawba.edu.

APPLICATION PROCESS: Applicants shall submit the following materials, in a single file, pdf version only, to employment@catawba.edu:

• Letter of interest:
• Research and fieldwork experience narrative:
• Curriculum Vitae;
• Unofficial copy of transcripts for terminal degrees; and
• Contact information for at least three (3) professional references.

Catawba will prioritize applications received on or before February 17, 2025.

Catawba College is an equal opportunity employer. As such, Catawba is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all employees, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or veteran status, unless allowed by law and deemed necessary to Catawba operations. Candidates must successfully pass a background check and drug screening before employment begins, and Catawba complies with all federal, state, and local laws governing non-discrimination.