[ES_JOBS_NET] ​P​ostdoc Research Fellow in Wildlife-Livestock Interactions in East Africa

[Bilal Butt]

Postdoc Research Fellow in Wildlife-Livestock Interactions in East Africa
<https://careers.umich.edu/job_detail/238571/east-africa-wildlife-research-fellow>

(Please circulate widely & with sincere thanks)

Applicants should send the following materials with their application:  Apply
Now
<https://careers.umich.edu/job_detail/238571/east-africa-wildlife-research-fellow>

   - Cover letter describing your qualifications related to the position
   and research accomplishments
   - Curriculum vitae
   - Contact information for three professional references
   - Two representative publications
   - Application materials must be uploaded as a single file. If your file
   exceeds the maximum size limit or you are unable to merge files, please
   upload your cover letter and CV only and email the remaining documents to
   Dr. Bilal Butt (bilalb at umich.edu)

Applications are welcomed and encouraged from all qualified individuals
regardless of background and identity. To apply, please complete the
application on the U-M Careers site. A one-page cover letter is required
for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first
page of your resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest
in the position and outline experience that is directly related to this
position.

*Summary*

The School for Environment and Sustainability is seeking a postdoctoral
fellow to work with the Pastoralism Lab (PLab) <https://envgeopolitics.com/>to
research and conduct statistical analysis on pastoral livestock movements
and forage interactions with wildlife in East Africa for an NSF CAREER
Grants. The research will be concerned with statistical analysis and
preparation of publications from empirical field data collected previously
on the spatial dynamics of wildlife and livestock in the Maasai Mara
ecosystems of Southwestern Kenya.  The research will evaluate questions
related to the spatial utilization, overlaps, and effects of wildlife and
livestock on grazing ecology, including analysis of GPS derived cattle
tracking and movements in relation to forage quality and quantity. The
fellow will also work to link empirical field data (including soil physical
and chemical analysis, protein content harvested from grass samples, dung
counts of wildlife and livestock across spatial transects) with imagery
from MODIS and other satellite imagery to compile a comprehensive dataset
of biotic interactions. The fellow will also work with a diverse team of
graduate students to provide experience with data entry, analysis, journal
preparation, and mentoring.

The successful applicant's appointment will be at the University of
Michigan's School for Environment and Sustainability located in Ann Arbor,
Michigan. This person will spend their on-site work time at the School for
Environment and Sustainability and the Pastoralism Lab in Ann Arbor,
Michigan. Remote and flexible work agreements may be made to allow for
partial off-site work at a remote location.

Term-Limited: The initial appointment is for one year, with an opportunity
for extension based on performance, need, and availability of funds.

*Mission Statement*

The School for Environment and Sustainability (https://seas.umich.edu/) is
a collaborative and interdisciplinary school. Our mission includes
contributing to the protection of environmental resources and the
achievement of a sustainable society. We accomplish this by generating and
sharing knowledge, contributing to policy, and engaging managers and
stakeholders. The University of Michigan is a top-ranked public university
with excellence in research and teaching.  Ann Arbor, home to the
University of Michigan, is a town known for arts, culture, parks and
restaurants.

SEAS is committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive and equitable
environment that respects diverse experiences, promotes generous listening
and communications, and discourages and restoratively responds to acts of
discrimination, harassment, or injustice. Our commitment to diversity,
equity and inclusion is deeply rooted in our values for a sustainable and
just society.

*Why Work at Michigan?*

In addition to a career filled with purpose and opportunity, The University
of Michigan offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package
to help you stay well, protect yourself and your family and plan for a
secure future. Benefits include:

   - Generous time off
   - Many choices for comprehensive health insurance
   - Life insurance
   - Long-term disability coverage
   - Flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care expenses

*Responsibilities**

   - Conduct data clean, entry, and analysis of wildlife-livestock
   competition using spatial analysis and statistical analysis/modeling,
   including manipulation of multiple datasets (soil, vegetation, and
   wildlife-livestock dung counts).
   - Analyze and model animal movements in relation to forage quality and
   quantity
   - Conduct analysis on the relationships between satellite derived
   indicators (e.g. MODIS NDVI) and on the ground estimates of biomass
   availability
   - Lead publication preparation and submission to ecology, spatial
   analysis, and geography specialist journals.
   - Assist workshop planning and networking for a conference on
   wildlife-livestock relationships globally.
   - Present analysis and feedback to stakeholders on wildlife-livestock
   competition and conflict in Nairobi, Kenya, and the Maasai Mara, Narok
   County, Kenya.

*Required Qualifications**

   - A Ph.D. in Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, Vegetation Ecology, Animal
   Behavior, Geography, Spatial Statistics, or a similar field
   - Experience with an understanding of wildlife-livestock human dynamics
   in drylands ecosystems (preferably East Africa)
   - Experience with soil-vegetation dynamics in dryland ecosystems and/or
   plant-herbivore interactions
   - Familiarity with data analysis and visualization in a scripting
   environment using R, Python, or similar software
   - Experience with running simulations on supercomputer or cluster
   computing environments
   - Strong communication skills and a demonstrated ability to work both as
   a team and independently

<https://careers.umich.edu/job_detail/238571/east-africa-wildlife-research-fellow>Bilal
Butt, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
School for Environment and Sustainability
Department of Afroamerican and African Studies
University of Michigan
440 Church St.
Ann Arbor, MI 48109

Office: 3532 Dana
734-615-6149
bilalb at umich.edu
@enviro_conflict
Research Group Website
https://envgeopolitics.com
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