Black Rock Forest and Dr. Scott LaPoint are seeking a Postdoctoral Fellow in wildlife ecology for 2025.

Black Rock Forest Postdoctoral Fellowship

We strongly recommend applicants contact Dr. Scott LaPoint (slapoint AT blackrockforest.org) for guidance on the application process and opportunities.

Application deadline: Friday November 8, 2024

Summary:
Black Rock Forest is a non-profit, research, education, and conservation organization founded in 1989 that uses its 1586-hectare forest as a scientific field station to advance our understanding of the natural world. The Black Rock Forest Postdoctoral Fellowship is a two-year endowed fellowship awarded on a competitive basis. For 2025, we are seeking individuals with a strong background in and passion for mammalian ecology and applied conservation.

Opportunities:

As both a non-profit field station and a consortium of research and academic institutions, the 2025 Fellow will have multiple opportunities, below.

Black Rock Forest (BRF): We are seeking applicants that propose compelling and feasible projects in wildlife ecology. We are particularly interested in proposals that capitalize on our existing efforts in camera trap surveys, white-tailed deer population monitoring, landscape connectivity, and/or road ecology. Other opportunities in carnivore movement ecology and to work with the New York State Department of Transportation may arise, funding dependent. Fellows will receive $5000/yr in research support.

Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (LDEO): BRF and the LDEO have created a unique opportunity for Fellows interested in working closely with LDEO or Columbia University faculty whose research endeavors are focused within BRF. This Fellowship has many of the same features as the above, but also carries a $6,000/yr research allowance from the LDEO and a postdoctoral appointment at LDEO. To learn more and apply, applicants must visit the LDEO fellowship portal.

American Museum of Natural History (AMNH): As a BRF Consortium member, the AMNH offers prospective BRF Fellows the opportunity to collaborate closely with AMNH faculty on wildlife ecology-related efforts. If an applicant has contacted a potential collaborator from the AMNH-Richard Gilder graduate School faculty, they should indicate that in their Cover Letter to BRF (see “Instructions for applying” below).

Competitive applicants will:

- Fulfill all doctoral requirements and have their degree awarded before the start of the appointment or 31 August 2025, but no more than five years prior,
- Complement existing research programs at BRF,
- Communicate with an academic mentor that will actively support the professional development and research objectives of the candidate,
- Build upon existing data and strengths of BRF,
- Take full advantage of our in-house lab facilities, forest road network, wireless mesh network, and possibilities for manipulative experiments.

Additional information:

At BRF we value diversity, in our ecosystems and in our organization. We are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in our workplace and in our science, education, and conservation. We strongly encourage applications from underrepresented group members as we seek to diversify and strengthen our organization, science, and society.

The Fellow will be provided with an office, shared lab space within our Science Center (235 Reservoir Rd, Cornwall, NY), and a computer if needed, and is expected to conduct a significant portion of their field research within BRF or closely nearby. Opportunities to supervise volunteers, interns, and/or students often arise. Other opportunities to participate in our education and conservation programs are available.

The Fellowships are supported by an endowed fund managed by BRF and the Fellow will receive an annual salary of $68,000, a research allowance of $5,000/yr, plus individual ACA-compliant health insurance. If desired, housing is available for the Fellow and immediate family at a Forest-owned residence (129 Continental Rd, Cornwall, NY).