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Posting Detail Information

Working TitlePostdoctoral Associate - Predictive Modeler

Position LocationFort Collins, CO

Work LocationPosition is fully in-office/in-person

Research Professional PositionNo

Posting Number202501275AP

Position TypeAdmin Professional/ Research Professional

Classification TitlePostdoctoral Fellows

Number of Vacancies

Work Hours/Week40

Proposed Annual Salary Range$65,000 - $70,000

Employee Benefits

Colorado State University is not just a workplace; it’s a thriving community that’s transforming lives and improving the human condition through world-class teaching, research, and service. With a robust benefits package, collaborative atmosphere, and focus on work-life balance, CSU is where you can thrive, grow, and make a lasting impact.

+ Review our detailed benefits information here. (https://hr.colostate.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/25/2021/01/benefits-summary-afap.pdf)

+ Explore the additional perks of working at CSU here.

+ For the total value of CSU benefits in addition to wages, use our compensation calculator (https://hr.colostate.edu/total-compensation-calculator/) .

+ Lastly, click here for more information about why Fort Collins is consistently ranked in the top cities to live in (https://hr.colostate.edu/prospective-employees/our-community/) !

Desired Start Date

Position End Date (if temporary)

To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by 11:59pm (MT) on10/06/2025

Description of Work Unit

The Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology Department expands the frontiers of knowledge through our broad-based expertise in applied ecology, quantitative methods, and human dimensions in the conservation and management of fish and wildlife. We teach students to think critically about environmental issues, and become ecologically literate citizens with the training to be successful in graduate school and in careers with natural resources agencies, firms, and non-government organizations. Our outreach efforts contribute significantly to life-long learning by assisting individuals and agencies to solve complex environmental problems and to be good stewards of our nation’s natural resources.

Position Summary

We are looking for a highly skilled postdoctoral scientist (postdoc) to lead the development of models for predicting wild bird strikes in and around an airport’s airspace in space and time. The objective of the work is to provide risk assessment tools for guiding aviation managers in protecting public safety. The postdoc will collate data and develop predictive statistical models to estimate strike probability, the frequency component of a strike risk metric. This work will eventually be combined with strike severity to compose a strike risk metric and, thereby, provide means to prioritize bird-strike management actions and decision making for civil and military airport managers and wildlife biologists. The postdoc will work at the forefront of human-wildlife interactions with quantitative ecologists and wildlife biologists from USDA - APHIS and Colorado State University ( CSU ) as well as aviation stakeholders and natural resource economists. They will also work closely with a data scientist to transfer their modeling workflows into a pipeline and dashboard system for real-time risk assessment. The position is co-located at CSU and the National Wildlife Research Center of USDA - APHIS -Wildlife Services in Fort Collins, CO.

Required Job Qualifications

+ Applicants must have defended their Ph.D. in ecology, wildlife biology, conservation, statistics, data science or related fields, and have a strong record of publishing in peer-reviewed journals using ecological statistics or ecological modeling.

+ The applicant must also have US Department of Defense security clearance, which requires the job candidate to be a U.S. citizen.

+ Must be legally authorized to work within the U.S.

Preferred Job Qualifications

+ Experience using hierarchical statistical models, spatio-temporal models, machine learning, and developing data pipelines for large datasets.

+ Experience with ecological forecasting, decision analysis, and working with natural resource management stakeholders.

Essential Duties

Job Duty CategoryData Management, Analysis, and Inference

Duty/Responsibility

+ Work with a data scientist on data management and data analysis, but be the primary person responsible for data analysis and scientific inference in collaboration with other project members.

Percentage Of Time40

Job Duty CategoryPublication in Peer-Rviewed Literature

Duty/Responsibility

+ Summarize research inference into writing for reports and peer-reviewed journal articles.

Percentage Of Time30

Job Duty CategoryInteraction with Stakeholder

Duty/Responsibility

+ Participate actively in video and in-person meeting with stakeholders from USDA , the DOD , and the FAA .

Percentage Of Time20

Job Duty CategoryMentoring and Career Development

Duty/Responsibility

+ Hold mentoring discussions with project PIs, and also help mentor junior members of the PI labs.

Percentage Of Time10

Application Details

Special Instructions to Applicants

To apply, please upload a cover letter that addresses the required and preferred job qualifications, a resume, and the contact information for three professional references. References will not be contacted without prior notification to candidates.

CSU is committed to full inclusion of qualified individuals. If you are needing assistance or accommodations with the search process, please reach out to the listed search contact.

Please note, applicants may redact information from their application materials that identifies their age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution.

Conditions of EmploymentPre-employment Criminal Background Check (required for new hires), Special Requirements/Other - Will be required to attain U.S. Department of Defense security clearance.

Search ContactDavid Koons, [email protected]

EEO

Colorado State University ( CSU ) provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

Background Check Policy Statement

Colorado State University strives to provide a safe study, work, and living environment for its faculty, staff, volunteers and students. To support this environment and comply with applicable laws and regulations, CSU conducts background checks for the finalist before a final offer. The type of background check conducted varies by position and can include, but is not limited to, criminal history, sex offender registry, motor vehicle history, financial history, and/or education verification. Background checks will also be conducted when required by law or contract and when, in the discretion of the University, it is reasonable and prudent to do so.

References Requested

References Requested

Minimum Requested3

Maximum Requested3

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

Applicant Documents

Required Documents

+ Cover Letter

+ Curriculum Vitae

+ Unofficial Transcripts

Optional Documents