Postdoc in conservation science (California, USA)

The UCLA La Kretz Center for California Conservation Science http://www.environment.ucla.edu/lakretz/) invites applications for its  Postdoctoral Fellowship in California Conservation Science. Consistent with our mission, we seek a postdoctoral scholar who simultaneously conducts innovative research and interfaces with the conservation and management agencies that direct and lead California conservation. Our emphasis is on biological conservation, and the successful candidate could work in any discipline that provides the scientific underpinnings for the preservation, protection, management, or restoration of at-risk species, environments, or ecological communities. We will consider candidates who have recently completed their PhD, or will have completed it by the start date for this position. We envision hiring one Fellow each year, building a team of conservation scientists with a passion for California and its biodiversity. Applicants may also seek collaborative funding opportunities with their on or off-campus mentors, potentially allowing for additional projects to be funded.

The La Kretz Fellowship is for two years, subject to review after the first year. Our expected start date is late summer, 2016.  The successful applicant will be expected to conduct research that bridges the interests of at least one UCLA faculty member who is also a La Kretz affiliate (http://www.environment.ucla.edu/lakretz/people/affiliates.asp) with priority science concerns of resource management agencies in California. Our primary partners include the National Park Service, CA State Parks, Santa Monica Mountains Recreation and Conservation Agency, Natural History Museum of LA County and The Nature Conservancy, although partnerships with USGS, CDFW, USFWS, DoD and other federal, state and local resource management groups and NGOs are also appropriate. Successful applicants should contact their faculty mentor to develop a research and
agency collaboration plan, and describe that plan in their application. We also anticipate that the Fellow will also work with Brad Shaffer, Director of the La Kretz Center, to help develop collaborative research projects that further the mission of the Center. The position has an
annual salary of approximately $40,000 plus full benefits, and the Fellow will have the option to reside at the newly renovated La Kretz Field Station (http://www.environment.ucla.edu/lakretz/fieldstation/),
located in the Santa Monica Mountains about 25 miles from campus. Interested candidates should submit a cover letter, CV, 2 page description of research and management accomplishments, ~2 page (single spaced plus references) description of proposed research including faculty and agency
mentor(s), and copies of two publications, all as a single PDF file, to Mario Colon, Administrative Assistant, at mario.colon@ucla.edu. You should also have three letters of recommendation, including one from your Ph.D. advisor, sent under separate emails with the subject line La Kretz Postdoc letter for XXX (your last name). The deadline for completed applications is 15 December 2015. E-mail questions to Brad Shaffer (Director of the La Kretz Center) at brad.shaffer@ucla.edu or Mario Colon.

The University of California is an affirmative action/equal opportunity
employer with a strong institutional commitment to the development of a
climate that supports equality of opportunity and respect for
differences.

Best,

Mario
Mario Colon     I Administrative Assistant    I UCLA La Kretz Center
for California Conservation Science
818-519-7740  I mario.colon@ucla.edu
I http://www.environment.ucla.edu/lakretz/