Positions Available
MS | PhD | Postdoc
MS Positions
None at this time.
PhD Positions
Thermal imagery-based analyses of fish habitat – NEW 11/20/2025
Responsibilities: The incumbent will develop a research project aimed at understanding the thermal environments experienced by cold water species such as Atlantic salmon and brook trout in Maine. This may include areas of significant restoration importance, such as the Piscataquis River, and other regions with dams. There will be significant flexibility in developing study questions, and approaches using thermal imagery. Work may be collaboratively developed with national, international and tribal researchers. Experience in field ecology, GIS and database management, are desirable –a willingness to learn is a necessity. Good communication skills are essential. The incumbent will work with many partners (State of Maine, federal, tribal and NGOs), and be responsible for frequent reporting. The student will be advised by both Drs. Christina Murphy and Joe Zydlewski. One to two semesters of TA support are anticipated. All interested individuals, including non-traditional and underrepresented groups, are encouraged to apply.
Qualifications: M.S. in biology, ecology, GIS, or similar, quantitative skills, interest in landscape and aquatic science and excellent work ethics. Must have a desire to work in a collaborative and supportive graduate student community. GPA of 3.2+ is desired.
Salary: $30,000 per year, $3,157 health, and $7,241 tuition (estimated). Funding is renewed annually; 4.5 years is anticipated.
Closing date: Review will begin December 31, 2025, anticipated starting date of May 1, 2026, or as arranged.
Contact: Please send cover letter, CV, transcripts, three references (names and contact only) and GRE scores/percentiles (optional). Please direct questions and applications to Joe Zydlewski (email josephz@maine.edu) with heading “Thermal”.
Links: https://umaine.edu/mainecoopunit/; https://umaine.edu/graduate/
Atlantic Salmon Bioenergetics – NEW 11/20/2025
Responsibilities: The incumbent will develop a collaborative project aimed at understanding the costs of delays in migration for upstream migrating adult Atlantic salmon in Maine. The project will use respirometry, telemetry, physiological monitoring and thermal experience to construct a bioenergetic model characterizing migratory, reproductive, and survival costs of delays. This is a quantitatively intense study. While telemetry, fish culture, and modeling experience would be desirable, a willingness to learn is a necessity. Good communication skills are essential. The incumbent will work with many other partners (e.g., federal and NGOs), and be responsible for frequent reporting. The student will be advised by Joe Zydlewski. One to two semesters of TA support are anticipated. Individuals from underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply.
Qualifications: M.S. in biology or equivalent, quantitative skills, interest in fisheries science and excellent work ethics. Must have a desire to work in a collaborative and supportive graduate student community. GPA of 3.2+ is desired.
Salary: $30,000 per year, $3,157 health, and $7,241 tuition (estimated). Funding is renewed annually; 4.5 years is anticipated.
Closing date: Review will begin December 31, 2025; anticipated starting date of May 1, 2026 or as arranged.
Contact: Please send cover letter, CV, transcripts, three references (names and contact only) and GRE scores/percentiles (optional). Please direct questions and applications to Joe Zydlewski (email josephz@maine.edu) with heading “Atlantic Salmon”.
Links: https://umaine.edu/mainecoopunit/; https://umaine.edu/graduate/
Postdoc Positions
Thermal Mapping – NEW 12/16/2025
Purpose: The postdoctoral associate will conduct research collecting and/or using thermal imagery data to inform the movement ecology of aquatic species. Specific work will focus on the Piscataquis River through thermal mapping in conjunction with habitat availability and connectivity assessments, including ongoing research on Atlantic salmon and brook trout. The incumbent will work with the regional managers, Tribal partners, NGOs, and other researchers to continue technological exchange and develop collaborative research. The incumbent will also assist with other projects to provide research support for the PIs.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities: Specific responsibilities may include:
- Oversee and collect thermal imagery data using aerial (drone/helicopter or fixed wing) based equipment.
- Manage imagery data for use in collaborative studies and for research questions associated with aquatic species including Atlantic salmon and brook trout.
- Co-mentor graduate students working on congruent and complimentary projects within the PIs’ research group.
- Prepare manuscripts for peer review based on collected and collaborative data.
- Develop complimentary lines of research, depending on incumbent’s interest.
- Assist PIs with other research-related tasks as needed and time allows.
- Develop and maintain professional relationships that reflect courtesy, civility, and mutual respect.
- Build productive relationships with internal and external constituencies.
- Utilize coaching and mentoring methods which provide an environment that is anticipatory, supportive, and encourages constructive feedback on performance.
- Commit to organizational improvement by identifying opportunities to improve, and recommending possible alternatives for a situation.
- Perform other reasonably related duties as assigned.
Knowledge & Skill Qualifications
Required: PhD in an analytical field (Wildlife Ecology, Landscape Management, Forestry, Computer Science, etc.) conferred by date of hire; ability to conduct applied research on the landscape ecology of wildlife; proven success in seeing projects through from start to finish; Expertise in study design, data collection, and qualitative and quantitative analysis relevant to understanding the ecological processes; demonstrated ability to work as an effective part of a team; and excellent oral and written communication skills.
Preferred: Experience in thermal imagery and in aquatic systems; demonstrated experience in large-scale data management, which may include spatial modeling, expertise in R, Python, GIS, or other platforms; and expertise in study design, data collection, and qualitative and quantitative analysis relevant to understanding the ecological processes, particularly with thermal patterns.
Salary: Typical hiring salary for this soft-money funded position is $65,000 commensurate with qualifications and experience.
Work Environment: Work may be performed in an office on campus. Workload priorities may need to be shifted and schedules changed in order to meet multiple deadlines.
Position Type: Full-time, Soft Money Grant funded. Contingent on funding and successful performance. Twelve months of funding is currently available; a total of 36 months of funding is anticipated.
Closing date: Review will begin January 15, 2026.
How to Apply: More information about the position and how to apply can be found here.
Diadromy PFAS – NEW 12/22/2026
Purpose: The postdoctoral associate will conduct PFAS research on returning adult and out-migrating juvenile Alewife A. pseudoharengus and Blueback Herring A. Aestivalis, incorporating the measured burdens by constructing a linked mechanistic model framework using the to be collected data and the recently released ‘anadrofish’ life cycle modelling R package (Stich et al. 2025). The goal is to examine potential PFAS transport loads under different population scenarios in these and other lakes in Maine. The incumbent will also assist with other projects to provide research support for the PIs.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities: Specific responsibilities may include:
- Overseeing and collecting PFAS data using standard fish sampling methods and running the samples at a collaborating lab at Bigelow.
- Manage PFAS data for use in collaborative studies and for research questions associated with aquatic accumulation.
- Co-mentor graduate students working on congruent and complimentary projects within the PIs’ research group.
- Preparing manuscripts for peer review based on collected and collaborative data.
- Develop complimentary lines of research, depending on incumbent’s interest
- Assist PIs with other research-related tasks as needed and time allows.
Knowledge & Skill Qualifications
Required: PhD in an analytical field (Wildlife Ecology, Landscape Management, Forestry, Computer Science, etc.) conferred by date of hire, experience conducting research in a field setting in Maine or similar environments, ability to conduct applied research on the landscape ecology of wildlife, Proven success in seeing projects through from start to finish, demonstrated ability to work as an effective part of a team, excellent oral and written communication skills.
Preferred: Experience in ecological modelling; demonstrated experience in data management which may include expertise in r, Python, GIS, or other platforms; expertise in study design, data collection, and qualitative and quantitative analysis and modelling relevant to understanding ecological processes.
Salary: Typical hiring salary for this part-time, 32 hour position is $48,750 commensurate with qualifications and experience
Work Environment: Work is to be on-site and may be performed in an office on-campus, at lakes in Maine, and in a laboratory setting. Workload priorities may need to be shifted and schedules changed in order to meet multiple deadlines.
Position Type: Soft Money Grant funded. This is a 0.75 fixed length appointment with 7 months of funding currently available.
Closing date: Review will begin January 8, 2026.
How to Apply: More information about the position and how to apply can be found here.
Updated 12/22/2025
