The Mississippi Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit is recruiting the next generation of conservation scientists who are eager to step forward and solve pressing conservation problems and emerging threats. We seek a fish, aquatic or wildlife ecologist to address dynamics of species, communities, and ecosystems, including assessing associations among landscape patterns and ecological processes, and among structure, dynamics, diversity, and stability of multispecies communities and their habitats. The post focuses on the insights that broad-scale views can offer into our understanding of ecological patterns, how those patterns may be affected by system stressors, and developing conservation solutions that integrate the spatiotemporal dynamics of ecosystems. For example, the applicant may study how human activities, such as land use and climate change, impact wildlife or aquatic organisms and how to maintain biodiversity in these human-altered landscapes. The ideal applicant will help support solutions to large, complex ecological and conservation issues in Mississippi and the Southeastern U.S.

This position is expected to implement research that incorporates modeling of species distributions and ecosystem dynamics, characterizing landscape or waterscape patterns and associations with ecosystem integrity, cost-benefit analyses associated with different management actions, species-status assessments, and systematic approaches to prioritizing management actions at regional or river basin scales. Core responsibilities include collaboration with agency and interdisciplinary teams to integrate large-scale data into broad conservation projects and initiatives. Examples of desirable topical areas include spatial ecology, invasive species, persistence and recovery of endangered species and species of greatest conservation need, restoration ecology, management of keystone and recreationally significant species, ecosystem management in the face of land-use and climate factors, maintenance of habitat quality and landscape/waterscape connectivity. The candidate will teach one graduate level class per year in their area of expertise and supervise graduate students and/or post-doctoral fellows.

The Mississippi Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit works closely with state and federal cooperators to conduct research that supports management of fish and wildlife populations in Mississippi and throughout North America. Unit scientists help prepare graduate students for careers in state and federal governments and academia. The Unit offers a unique collaborative partnership among the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, MSU, USGS, Wildlife Management Institute, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service whereby partners work together to design and conduct research that helps solve complex issues.

The Assistant Unit Leader (AUL) will serve in a dual capacity, employed, and paid by the USGS, yet holding a separate MSU faculty appointment, without tenure, at a professorial level commensurate with experience and starting at the Assistant or Associate Professor level. The academic appointment will be made in the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Aquaculture. All MSU faculty engage in teaching, research, and service, with research programs supplemented or supported by extramural funding. This is a federal position (USGS) that includes a faculty appointment with Mississippi State University. Academic rank will be determined commensurate with qualifications.