What are the responsibilities and job description for the Ecologist (Postdoctoral Research Fellow) (IS-0408-09) position at National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute?
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 Fund
POSITION TYPE: Trust Fund
APPOINTMENT TYPE: Temporary Not to Exceed Eighteen (18) Months (may be extended based on funds availability)
SCHEDULE: Full Time
DUTY LOCATION: Front Royal, VA
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Open to all Qualified Applicants
What are Trust Fund Positions?
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
IINTRODUCTION
The 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
The Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute is seeking a Post-doctoral Research Fellow to advance research in the spatial ecology and conservation of bustard species with a special focus on houbara bustard. This research program is part of a scientific collaboration between NZCBI, the International Fund for Houbara Conservation (IFHC) and Reneco International Wildlife Consultants LLC (RENECO). The fellow may visit Reneco scientists for research discussions and coordination and travel to bustard field and IFHC research and conservation facilities in North Africa and Central Asia for data collection, analysis, and model validation.
LOCATION
Conservation Ecology Center, Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Front Royal, VA
Conservation Ecology Center, Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Front Royal, VA
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The IFHC has cultivated an unprecedented dataset collected over the past 30 years which consists of intensive monitoring of reinforced houbara populations. These data will form the foundation for analyses. The post-doctoral fellow will need to demonstrate significant programming and analytical skills for analyzing large datasets. He/she will integrate remote sensing data layers and forecast how land use/land cover change, human impacts, resource availability, and projected climate change are predicted to affect the population distribution and abundance of bustards. The post-doctoral fellow will be encouraged and expected to develop their own research objectives that fit in with the project.
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
Education and Experience:
A. Degree: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in biology or a related field of science underlying ecological research that involved at least 30 semester hours of coursework in basic and applied biological sciences. These hours must have included at least 9 semester hours in ecology, and 12 semester hours in physical and mathematical sciences.
OR
B. Combination of education and experience - at least 30 semester hours of courses equivalent to a major in any combination of biological sciences, statistics, or mathematics, with required course work as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
Additional Requirements:
A Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree that has equipped applicants with the knowledge, skills, and abilities (described below) necessary to do the work of the position.
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE
- Experience working in arid environments on avian species.
- Expertise and experience in advanced spatial analysis, with expertise in incorporating remote sensing variables in analytical frameworks. The applicant must demonstrate the ability to manipulate large spatial databases.
- Exposure to multi-scale occurrence modeling.
- Significant analysis skills in R; additional programming experience advantageous (e.g., Python, Java, and/or Google Earth Engine).
- Experience designing, organizing, and managing field work.
- Enthusiasm for collaborating across institutions and countries to jointly pursue research topics relevant to both academic and applied audiences.
- Willing and able to reside near SCBI in Virginia, and to travel to Abu Dhabi, and field sites in North Africa, Middle East and Central Asia.
Applicants who wish to qualify based on education completed outside the United States must be deemed equivalent to higher education programs of U.S. Institutions by an organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials. This documentation is the responsibility of the applicant and should be included as part of your application package.
HOW TO APPLY:
CV/Resume must include a description of your paid and non-paid work experience that is related to this job; starting and ending dates of job (month and year); and average number of hours worked per week.
CV/Resume must include the month and year of all degrees earned; professional and relevant volunteer experience; peer-reviewed publications; competitive funding received; any honors or awards received; memberships in professional societies; presentations given at national/international meetings; and names, addresses, and phone numbers of four persons familiar with your scientific stature, contributions, and recognition. Earned academic degrees must be verified with copies of official university transcripts that clearly state the classes taken, degree awarded, the major, and date of conferral.
CV/Resume must clearly identify how you fulfill the SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE to be considered.
Failure to provide this information and documents will result in your application receiving no further consideration.
A cover letter can be included with the application materials to summarize the applicant’s training, experience, and interest in the position.
Any false statement in your application may result in your application being rejected and may also result in termination after employment begins.
Join us in "Inspiring Generations through Knowledge and Discovery."
What To Expect Next: Once the vacancy announcement closes, a review of your resume will be compared against the qualification and experience requirements related to this job. After review of applicant resumes is complete, qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager.
Relocation expenses are not paid.
The Smithsonian Institution provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation should contact biagasl@si.edu. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. To learn more, please review the Smithsonian’s Accommodation Procedures.
The Smithsonian Institution provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation should contact biagasl@si.edu. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. To learn more, please review the Smithsonian’s Accommodation Procedures.
The Smithsonian Institution is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe that a workforce comprising a variety of educational, cultural, and experiential backgrounds support and enhance our daily work life and contribute to the richness of our exhibitions and programs. See Smithsonian EEO program information: www.si.edu/oeema.
About National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute
The Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI) leads the Smithsonian's global efforts to save species, better understand ecosystems, and train future generations of conservationists. Founded in 1889, NZCBI is part of the Smithsonian Institution, the world’s largest museum and research complex. Its two campuses are home to more than 2,100 animals, including some of the planet’s most critically endangered species. NZCBI’s employees, located in the nation’s capital, Front Royal, Virginia, and worldwide, are leaders in conservation, care, exhibition, and research of wildlife and habitats.