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

Application Deadline: 24 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 21, 2025

CLOSING DATE: April 21, 2025 (This job will close once 100 applications are received which may be sooner than the closing date.)

POSITION TYPE: Trust Fund

APPOINTMENT 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

INTRODUCTION

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

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 environmental effects on population trends of birds and other wildlife.

LOCATION

Migratory Bird Center, Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Washington, DC

Duties And Responsibilities

• Apply advanced statistical approaches to analyze wildlife monitoring data, using 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:

• 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

• 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

• Knowledge of designing and implementing research to address questions about wildlife ecology
• Knowledge of managing, analyzing, and graphically visualizing large datasets
• Skill in applying advanced statistical methods (e.g., Bayesian, machine learning) and custom computer code to answer scientific questions, as demonstrated by peer-reviewed publications
• Skill in oral and written communication about wildlife ecology, as evidenced by presentations at professional meetings and peer-reviewed publications
  
  

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 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.