[Pollinator] Postdoc in Pollinator Landscape Ecology at Washington State University

[Rae Olsson]

*Title: Postdoctoral Research Associate in Pollinator Landscape Ecology*

*Location: *Washington State University, Pullman WA



*Position Details:*

The Hopkins Lab at Washington State University seeks a highly motivated
postdoctoral research associate to work on a three-year project focused on
developing tools to support beekeepers. Our team is using innovative sensor
technologies and large-scale field sampling to track thousands of beehives
as they are transported from California to Washington throughout crop
pollination seasons. As bees travel, they are exposed to pathogens and
pesticides that occur in specific places at specific points of time. Yet,
given that many beekeepers are often unable to identify where or when their
hives were exposed, it is difficult to mitigate damage and take steps to
protect related hives. The successful applicant will work alongside
beekeepers, industry members, and multidisciplinary researchers to gather
data on honey bee health metrics across diverse landscapes over space and
time. Using modern statistical and machine learning techniques, the
applicant will use data on environmental and landscape factors to predict
where and when beehives are exposed to pathogens and pesticides. Models
will be created and validated using data from tests on hundreds of
commercial beehives over a multiple year project. In many senses, just as
society attempts to use contact tracing to identify sources of human
pathogens like COVID-19, our project will use analytical tools to better
inform beekeepers of threats to their hives.



Along with their research, the postdoctoral associate will aid in the
mentorship of graduate and undergraduate students working in this lab. The
associate will have access to honey bee research facilities in Pullman, WA
and Othello, WA including approximately 200 research colonies. This
position will require frequent inter-state travel (3-4 days per month), and
one international trip to present at the Apimondia conference in 2023 in
Santiago (Chile). Outside the Hopkins lab, the candidate is expected to
collaborate with the landscape ecology research group at Washington State
University, and with programs such as the WSU Decision Aid System to
advance their research questions (www.decisionaid.systems;
www.potatoes.decisionaid.systems)



Required Qualifications: Applicants must hold a Ph.D. degree in a field of
ecology, entomology, biology, statistics, or a related field. The applicant
must both be willing to work in the field with honey bees and researchers
and have extremely strong statistical and analytical abilities. The
successful applicant will be required to collate, process, and analyze huge
spatial and temporal datasets and coordinate with many scientists
collecting these data. Advanced skills in R, GIS, Python, and other
appropriate software is required. This position is open to anyone with the
legal ability to begin working in the US by May 2021.



Preferred qualifications include a strong background in predictive modeling
techniques, landscape ecology, beekeeping experience, the ability to lift
and carry up to 50lbs, a valid driver’s license, and ability to obtain a
passport for international travel.



Annual salary: $45,510

Tenure Track: No

Position Term in Months: 12 with option to renew two further years



Department: Entomology

Lab website: http://labs.wsu.edu/hopkinslab

Position Start Date: May 2021 or sooner, depending on availability

Background Check: This position has been determined to require a background
check

Screening Begin Date: Immediately

Screening End Date: This post will remain open until filled



Required Documents, to be sent to Rachel.olsson at wsu.edu

·      Cover Letter including research interests, experience, future plans,
and commitment to diversity (2 pages maximum)

·      Curriculum vitae (including publication list)

·      Names of 3 references we can contact about your application

-- 
Rae Olsson, Ph.D.

they.them
Postdoctoral Researcher
Dept of Entomology, Washington State University
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