POSTDOCTORAL BIOENERGETICS RESEARCH OPPORTUNITY – The USGS Alaska Science Center is looking for a highly qualified candidate to conduct postdoctoral research on walrus bioenergetics.  The successful candidate will work with a team of scientists developing a comprehensive model, integrating information on walrus bioenergetics, population dynamics,  and distribution and dynamics of benthic prey and sea ice, to predict walrus population responses to potential changes in their environment.  This candidate will have the lead for development of a stand-alone model of walrus bioenergetics, and for its incorporation as a component in the comprehensive model.  We anticipate the bioenergetics model will be based largely on parameter values that have been previously published for walruses or other marine mammals.  This work will also be used to identify the most potentially productive areas of new research on captive or free ranging walruses to develop information for testing and refining the model.  The successful candidate will have specific expertise in marine mammal physiology and quantitative bioenergetics modeling, and a Ph.D. in a related field.  There is some flexibility in funding mechanisms for this work.  We may advertise a term appointment for a GS-12 position to be filled at the Alaska Science Center (13 months minimum length of appointment), or depending on the candidate’s institutional affiliation, the work may be conducted under a contract or cooperative agreement. Work will begin as soon as possible, preferably within the next 3 – 4 months.  Interested candidates should email a curriculum vitae to Mark Udevitz at mudevitz@usgs.gov.

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Karen Oakley
U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center
Marine & Freshwater Ecology, Branch Chief
4210 University Dr.
Anchorage, AK 99508
907-786-7076
907-786-7150 fax
koakley@usgs.gov
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