Postdoctoral Scholar Human Dimensions of Chronic Wasting Disease Management

Position Overview

School / Campus / College: College of the Environment

Organization: Environmental and Forest Sciences

Title: Postdoctoral Scholar Human Dimensions of Chronic Wasting Disease Management

Position Details

Position Description

We are seeking a postdoctoral researcher to conduct research examining the human dimensions of chronic wasting disease (CWD) management in Washington state. The postdoctoral researcher will produce novel scholarly outputs, reports that will directly inform state CWD management strategies, and outreach and education materials. This position will be an initial 12-month appointment with a possible extension. The postdoctoral researcher will lead all aspects of the project while working closely with the entire interdisciplinary team and the principal investigator, Dr. Alex McInturff of the USGS Washington Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit at the University of Washington, and with scientists and managers at the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) has not yet been detected in the state of Washington, but it represents a potentially significant long-term threat to the state’s diverse native cervid species as well as to that state’s human communities who rely on them for food and recreation. To minimize the disease’s burden on the state’s people and wildlife, a proactive approach to CWD must be undertaken. While Washington has developed ecological strategies to identify and control the disease, experience in other states has shown that stakeholder behaviors and the public’s trust of agency management actions play a crucial role in effective CWD responses. Success in managing CWD will increase if a strong human dimensions component is developed and incorporated before an outbreak.

This position will support a year-long investigation to guide CWD-related outreach and decision-making in Washington. The postdoctoral researcher will interview key parties to understand in detail the range of CWD-related issues and contexts meaningful to stakeholders. The findings of these interviews will inform a quantitative survey that will offer specific insights into CWD knowledge and risk perceptions, incentives and disincentives for regulatory alternatives, and barriers of public and stakeholder support. Finally, these research findings will produce educational and outreach materials based on our findings that are tailored to specific stakeholder concerns.

This position offers the exciting opportunity to conduct groundbreaking social science research, produce findings that directly inform management action, and conduct outreach and education.

The University of Washington (Seattle campus), a leader in undergraduate and graduate education and one of the world's premiere research universities, offers rigorous academic programs, outstanding faculty, and diverse cultural and social opportunities in a stimulating intellectual environment. The College of the Environment, including its six Schools and Departments and multiple programs, institutes, and centers, connects educators, researchers, students and citizens, cultivating communities who work with and learn from each other while tackling critical environmental challenges. The School of Environmental and Forest Sciences is dedicated to generating and disseminating knowledge for the stewardship of natural and managed environments and the sustainable use of their products and services through teaching, research and outreach. Our Seattle location is ideal, with access to a multitude of collaboration opportunities in a vibrant urban location with the allure of the mountains, forests and islands within 45 minutes of campus.

The University of Washington (UW) is located in the greater Seattle metropolitan area, with a dynamic, multicultural community of 3.7 million people and a range of ecosystems from mountains to ocean. The UW serves a diverse population of 80,000 students, faculty and staff, including 25% first-generation college students, over 25% Pell Grant students, and faculty from over 70 countries. The UW is a recipient of a National Science Foundation ADVANCE Institutional Transformation Award to increase the advancement of women faculty in science, engineering, and math (see http://advance.washington.edu/).

The UW and School of Environmental and Forest Sciences promote diversity and inclusivity among our students, faculty, staff, and public. Thus, we are strongly seeking candidates whose experiences have prepared them to fulfill our commitment to inclusion and have given them the confidence to fully engage audiences from a wide spectrum of backgrounds.

Postdoctoral scholars at UW are represented by UAW 4121 and are subject to the collective bargaining agreement, unless agreed exclusion criteria apply. For more information, please visit the University of Washington Labor Relations website.

Qualifications

Candidates must hold a PhD and have no more than four years of total postdoctoral experience at the time of appointment. Minimum requirements include:

1. Experience conducting research with diverse stakeholder groups.
2. Demonstrated proficiency in both qualitative and quantitative social science methods.
3. Demonstrated desire and proven ability to publish in peer-reviewed journals.
4. Excellent written and personal communication skills.
5. The ability to work both independently and collaboratively, and the ability to meet deadlines.

Competitive candidates will have a strong background in environmental social science, especially in developing and conducting both focal interviews and large-scale digital, mail, and/or phone surveys. Experience in research on CWD, hunters and hunting, or wildlife management is preferred. Additional experience in science communication, outreach, and education will also be an asset for this research. We seek a motivated scholar who is interested in the unique opportunity to contribute to scholarship, management, and outreach and education.

Instructions

To apply for this position, please submit an application via Interfolio. Applicants must submit:

1. A statement of research interests and relevant skill set
2. A CV
3. A representative example of your scholarly work/s
4. Names, addresses, emails and telephone numbers of three references

Questions regarding potential disability accommodations during the application process can be directed to sefsjobs@uw.edu.

Position open until filled.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

University of Washington is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, gender identity or expression, age, disability, or protected veteran status.

Commitment to Diversity

The University of Washington is committed to building diversity among its faculty, librarian, staff, and student communities, and articulates that commitment in the UW Diversity Blueprint (http://www.washington.edu/diversity/diversity-blueprint/). Additionally, the University’s Faculty Code recognizes faculty efforts in research, teaching and/or service that address diversity and equal opportunity as important contributions to a faculty member’s academic profile and responsibilities (https://www.washington.edu/admin/rules/policies/FCG/FCCH24.html#2432).

COVID-19 Vaccine Requirements and Information

Under Washington State Governor Inslee’s Proclamation 21-14.1, University of Washington (UW) workers must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and provide proof thereof, or receive a UW-approved medical or religious exemption. This requirement will be a condition of any offer associated with this recruitment. For more information, please visit https://www.washington.edu/coronavirus/vaccination-requirement/.