The Department of Biology at Carleton University is accepting applications for a postdoctoral fellowship exploring movement ecology and behaviour of temperate bats. The fellow will join a conservation ecology research group that works to explore the mysteries of wildlife behaviour, and to produce rigorous scientific work that advances our ability to conserve wildlife species and their habitats. The anticipated start date will be May 1st, 2022 with a duration of 2 years (potentially 3, pending funding), with renewal after the first year contingent upon performance. The research fellow will be based at the Carleton University campus in Ottawa. We are willing to consider remote options for excellent candidates who cannot relocate to Ottawa. However, we would strongly prefer to have the postdoc located here, so they can participate in our field work as well as data analyses and writing.
Salary
The postdoctoral fellow will be offered a salary of $55,000 annually, plus generous employee benefits outlined here: https://carleton.ca/hr/cu-files/baag-postdoctoral-fellows/. Salary can be slightly higher if the fellow chooses to opt out of benefits. The postdoc will be considered unionized and will be a member of PSAC Local 77000. Information on this bargaining unit can be found here: https://psac77000.ca/about/.
Position Duties and Responsibilities
The post-doctoral fellow will work under the supervision of Dr. Davy and collaborators to coordinate and conduct research on migration and habitat use by bats using the Motus Wildlife Tracking System, to meet specific project goals. The fellow is expected to participate in the research groups’ workshops, meetings, and field work, and to lead one study per year. They will also support ongoing student research, which includes opportunities to co-author publications with other lab members.
This position will be a good fit for someone who enjoys field ecology, statistical analyses, writing, and working in a team environment. The successful applicant will have a strong analytical and field research skills, and be able to work well independently, with students, and with our various collaborators.
Required Qualifications
- PhD in ecology or related field, and a strong interest in conservation science
- Strong writing skills and evidence of recent research publications in peer-reviewed journals
- Competency with statistical analyses in R
- Experience installing, maintaining, and retrieving data from Motus stations
- Experience analyzing Motus data and/or other types of animal tracking data
- Willingness to work in the field for long hours under sometimes challenging conditions during the field season (e.g., wet/cold/buggy conditions; night work; etc.).
- Ability to work respectfully with others in small teams to carry out project goals
- Desire to contribute to an inclusive lab environment, including mentorship of graduate and undergraduate students. Members of our group are committed to supporting each other and our diverse collaborators as we grow together as scientists and as people.
- Vaccinated against rabies, or willing to be vaccinated (we will cover the costs of the vaccine)
Beneficial (but not required)
- Experience carrying out wildlife trapping and handling wildlife following approved Animal Care Protocols
- Experience working with species at risk or in other contexts involving sensitive data
- Experience working with and handling wild bats
- Experience or interest in science communication (broadly defined)
Accommodations and Accessibility
Should you require a copy of this posting in an alternate format, please contact us as soon as possible and we would be happy to get one to you in a timely manner. We believe in the importance of supporting on the-job success for the incumbent and are pleased to discuss and/or provide specific tools, resources, or other requirements for day-to-day work requirements, as needed.
About Carleton University:
Carleton University is a dynamic and innovative research and teaching institution with a
national and international reputation as a leader in collaborative teaching and learning, research, and governance. To learn more about our university and the City of Ottawa, please visit www.carleton.ca/provost.
Carleton University is committed to fostering diversity within its community as a source of
excellence, cultural enrichment, and social strength. We welcome those who would contribute
to the further diversification of our university including, but not limited to: women; visible
minorities; First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples; persons with disabilities; and persons of
any sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression. Carleton understands that career
paths vary. Legitimate career interruptions will in no way prejudice the assessment process and
their impact will be taken into careful consideration. We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. If contacted for an interview, please inform us should accommodation be required, and arrangements will be made in a timely manner. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply.
How to Apply
Candidates that would like to apply for this fellowship opportunity are invited to submit their application by February 28st, 2022 to Christina.Davy[at]carleton.ca , using the subject “Bat Postdoc 2022”. Please include: 1) 1- page cover letter stating your interest and key qualifications, and explaining how you think this position can help you move towards your personal career goals; 2) CV, including contact information for 2 references, and 3) 1-3 example publications. Applications should be submitted as a single pdf attachment and file name “LastName.FirstName.bats.pdf”.