Positions Available
Faculty Positions
Lecturer of Wildlife Ecology
The Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Conservation Biology at the University of Maine invites applications for a 2-year, fixed-term lecturer position in wildlife conservation. We seek candidates dedicated to teaching excellence and mentoring undergraduate students. This is a 100% teaching appointment.
The Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Conservation Biology houses one of the oldest programs in Wildlife Ecology in the United States. Our department excels at providing field-based learning experiences that take advantage of University of Maine’s proximity to a diverse array of natural areas, and these opportunities are cited by students as their single most important reason for choosing UMaine. We house a vibrant community of approximately 170 undergraduate majors, 30 graduate students, and 12 faculty and professional staff.
Essential position responsibilities include undergraduate teaching, undergraduate advising, and departmental service. Teaching responsibilities will include introductory courses in Fish and Wildlife Conservation and upper-division courses focused on Wildlife Population Dynamics and Wildlife Policy and Administration. The successful candidate will also advise undergraduate students and conduct departmental service, with course release allowances in accordance with department workload guidelines. The position carries an expectation to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion within the University and the discipline.
Required Qualifications:
- Ph.D. in wildlife ecology, natural resources, or closely-related field. The degree must be completed prior to the date of employment, but all but dissertation (ABD) candidates are encouraged to apply
- Strong potential for or an established record of teaching excellence
- Strong potential for or an established record of student mentorship
- Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills
- Commitment to enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusion within the discipline and institution
Preferred Qualifications:
- Strong interest in or demonstrated record of engaging undergraduate students in research
- Strong potential for or an established record of collaborative research, including publishing in peer-reviewed journals
- A record of professional experiences in the fields of wildlife management or related disciplines
- At least one year teaching experience
Other Information:
To be considered for this position you will need to “Apply” here and upload the documentation listed below:
1.) a cover letter which describes your experience, interests, and suitability for the position
2.) a resume/curriculum vitae
Candidates selected to proceed to the final stages of the search process will be requested to provide a list of names and contact information for references.
Incomplete application materials cannot be considered. Materials received after the initial review date will be reviewed at the discretion of the University.
For full consideration, materials must be submitted by 4:30 p.m. EST on February 7, 2025.
For questions about the search, please contact search committee chair Amber Roth at amber.roth@maine.edu.
The successful applicant is subject to appropriate background screening.
MS Positions
None at this time
PhD Positions
Predictive modeling and mapping of bat hibernacula across Maine
Location: University of Maine (Orono, ME) with fieldwork throughout Maine
Stipend: $32,000 per year (anticipated 4 years to degree completion) plus tuition and health insurance premium
Description: We are seeking qualified applicants for a PhD position that will focus better understanding the distribution of bat hibernacula in Maine. This research will follow a previous graduate student project that identified rock talus as a potentially important hibernacula resource for bats, whose populations in Maine and throughout eastern North America have declined precipitously following the introduction of the fungal pathogen responsible for White Nose Syndrome. The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW) is interested in better understanding the distribution of bat hibernacula in Maine to inform state policy and conservation of bat populations.
The successful candidate will work closely with MDIFW biologists on a collaborative field effort using acoustic detectors to sample for the presence of bats during winter at talus slopes throughout Maine. The student and MDIFW staff will conduct field sampling, and the student will have primary responsibility for data analysis and management, including curating bat call recordings and using classification software to identify calls to species. The student will work with existing geospatial layers, or develop new layers using remotely sensed data products, to identify the distribution of talus in Maine. The student will apply modelling techniques that evaluate predictors of bat site occupancy at talus, and will develop predictive maps of hibernacula distributions. In consultation with agency collaborators and their graduate committee, the student will also have the opportunity to explore additional questions related to bat ecology during winter as they develop their dissertation chapters.
The student will be a member of the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Conservation Biology at the University of Maine, with options for pursuing a PhD in Wildlife Ecology or Ecology and Environmental Sciences, depending on the student’s interests and background. They will be advised by Dr. Erik Blomberg, and will also work closely with Cory Stearns, Small Mammal Biologist for MDIFW.
Required Qualifications: We seek applicants with a keen interest in the natural world, a strong work ethic, and a desire to be an engaged member of a research group and department of like-minded colleagues. Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from a Wildlife Ecology, Biology, Natural Resource, or related program are required. Applicants should have a GPA >3.0, as well as strong oral and written communication skills and evidence of progress in publishing work from the M.S. degree. Inclusion of GRE scores in application materials is welcome, but not required. Previous field experience relevant to this position, demonstrated aptitude for quantitative analyses, including use of program R for data management, analysis, and presentation of results, a commitment to principles of equity and inclusion in wildlife science, strong recommendations, and ability to work collaboratively. Must possess a valid driver’s license and ability to operate a vehicle in the U.S.
Other Desired Qualifications: Preference will be given to applicants with prior experience or demonstrated potential in the following areas: bat ecology, including acoustic sampling of bat populations; conducting fieldwork in remote locations and challenging conditions; quantitative skills that may include GIS and remote sensing, occupancy modelling, spatial analysis, species distribution modeling. A record of effective communication, as evidenced by presentations at professional conferences and participation in collaborative research teams.
To apply please submit the following materials via this online application form: A cover letter describing your qualifications for the position, a current CV including graduate/undergraduate GPA, contact information for at least three professional references, and a writing sample (master’s thesis or published manuscript). A single merged pdf is preferred; the writing sample may be submitted separately. Please submit any questions about the position to Dr. Erik Blomberg (erik.blomberg@maine.edu).
Applications will be reviewed as they are received, and should be submitted by 15 February 2025 for full consideration. The successful candidate must be available to start in September 2025.
Contacts: Please address correspondence to Erik Blomberg (erik.blomberg@maine.edu)
PhD Assistantship – Migration Ecology of American Woodcock in the Eastern United States
Location – University of Maine (Orono, ME) with fieldwork throughout Eastern North America
Stipend: $26,667 per year (anticipated 4 years to degree completion) plus tuition and ½ health insurance
premium
Description – We are seeking qualified applicants for a PhD position that will focus on migration ecology
of American woodcock. As a component of their dissertation research, the student will coordinate a
large-scale collaborative research project that seeks to better understand woodcock migration throughout eastern North America. Our project uses GPS transmitters to collect data on individual woodcock during both fall and spring migratory periods, as well as during non-migratory periods, and involves working with a diverse array of project partners that include state and federal agencies, non-governmental organizations, and other universities. As a member of this collaborative team, the successful applicant will be responsible for capturing and tagging woodcock prior to migration, retrieving location data and managing large databases, regularly communicating progress with project partners and other stakeholder groups, analyzing data, presenting results at meetings and conferences, and publishing research findings. More information on the project, including examples of data collected so far, is available on the project web page, woodcockmigration.org.
Our project is currently in its seventh year of data collection, and the successful applicant will have access
to GPS location data collected from ~700 marked individuals, which have collected more than 40,000
locations from throughout North America to date. While the specific directions for dissertation research
are open to the student’s interests, we anticipate that topic areas will build on recent and ongoing research questions in this system (see publications and reports woodcockmigration.org/research). We anticipate a final dissertation comprised of 4 chapters suitable for submission to peer-reviewed journals, as well as the opportunity to contribute as a coauthor on other manuscripts completed as part of the research collaborative.
The student will be a member of the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Conservation Biology at the
University of Maine, with options for pursuing a PhD in Wildlife Ecology, Ecology and Environmental
Sciences, or Forest Resources, depending on the student’s interests and background. They will be co-advised by Dr. Erik Blomberg and Dr. Amber Roth. Support for the student will come in the form of both
teaching (~25%) and research assistantships (~75%).
Required Qualifications: We seek applicants with a keen interest in the natural world, a strong work ethic,
and a desire to be an engaged member of research labs with like-minded colleagues. Bachelor’s and
Master’s degrees from a Wildlife Ecology, Biology, Natural Resource, or related program are required.
Applicants should have a GPA >3.0, as well as strong oral and written communication skills and evidence
of progress in publishing work from prior degrees. Inclusion of GRE scores in application materials is
welcome, but not required. Previous relevant field experience, demonstrated an aptitude for quantitative
analyses, clear interest in teaching undergraduates, a commitment to principles of equity and inclusion in
wildlife science, and strong recommendations are required. Ability to work collaboratively and to
supervise field assistants is also required. Must possess a valid driver’s license.
Other Desired Qualifications: Preference will be given to applicants with experience or demonstrated
interest in avian migration, animal population ecology, and quantitative methods. Previous experience
with avian capture and handling is highly desired. Prior experience or exposure through coursework with
the following quantitative skills: GIS, capture-mark-recapture, spatial analysis, regression, population
modelling, maximum likelihood and/or Bayesian estimation methods, data simulation, and analysis of
animal movement data. Experience using R for data management, analysis, and presentation of results. A
record of effective communication, as evidenced by presentations at professional conferences and
participation in collaborative research teams.
To apply please submit the following materials: A cover letter describing your qualifications for the
position, a current CV including graduate/undergraduate GPA, contact information for at least three
professional references, and a writing sample (master’s thesis or published manuscript). A single merged
pdf is preferred; the writing sample may be submitted separately. Please submit application materials via
this Google Form. Any questions about the position may be directed to both Drs. Roth
(amber.roth@maine.edu) and Blomberg (erik.blomberg@maine.edu).
Applications will be reviewed as they are received and should be submitted by March 1, 2025, for full
consideration. The successful candidate must be available to start September 1, 2025.
Contacts: Please address correspondence to both Drs. Roth (amber.roth@maine.edu) and Blomberg
(erik.blomberg@maine.edu)
Postdoctoral Associates
None at this time
Updated 1/15/2025