Job Description: Post Doc
Title: Postdoctoral Research Associate
Working Title: eMammal Post Doc integrating real camera trap science into middle schools
Work Location: Biodiversity Lab, North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences (NCMNS)
Essential Job Duties: One postdoctoral position will be available to work in the lab of Roland
Kays in North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, and in collaboration with North Carolina
State University. The goal of this project is to bring citizen science to schools to allow students to
do projects in which the answers to the questions they ask are not known. This position will lead
efforts to ask questions about mammal ecology (including urban ecology) using camera traps run
by middle school students, and will parallel other efforts of our collaborators working in
entomology, genomics, and paleontology. This position will be involved in identifying the
scientific question to be addressed, coordinating training and equipment distribution to schools,
reviewing the quality of the data, and overseeing the analysis and publication in peer review and
popular outlets.
In collaboration with: The eMammal Team: led by Roland Kays at NCMNS, Bill McShea and
Robert Costello at the Smithsonian. The Your Wild Life team at NCSU led by Rob Dunn and
Holly Menninger. Scientists and educators at NCMNS including Michelle Trautwein, Meg
Lowman, David Kroll, Julie Horvath, Julie Urban, Lindsay Zanno, and Liz Baird. Education
professionals at NCSU’s The Science House and the Kenan Fellows Program.
Length of appointment: Position appointment will last for 3 years, with annual reviews, and the
possibility of extension to 5 years. Ideal start date is January 2014, but is flexible. Work location
(Raleigh) is not flexible.
Salary: $40,000, FTE: 1.0, Employer: This is an NSF grant funded position through the Friends
of the NC Museum of Natural Sciences, a nonprofit organization.
Minimum Experience Education: Ph.D. (awarded by start date) in ecology, evolution, biology,
or related field. The applicant’s CV should indicate evidence of strong scholarship, including
peer- reviewed publications in high ranked journals, and the ability and interest to communicate
science to a broader audience.
Preferred Experience, Skills, & Training: Expertise in ecology and/or education and in
addressing questions in a clear hypothesis-testing framework is desired. The applicant’s CV
should indicate evidence of strong scholarship, including peer-reviewed publications, particularly
in high ranked journals. The successful candidate must be able to interact with a diverse group of
researchers and students and benefit from new and established intra- and inter-institution
collaborations. The candidate should show strong evidence of the ability to finish projects. This
project integrates real science with education, and the applicant must have enthusiasm and
interest, if not experience and training, in both fields. They will be working as part of a large
team of ecologists and educators whom they can draw on for support in areas they lack expertise.
Science communication is big part of this project, and applicants should emphasize their
experience and interest in this regard. The position will be based in the museum’s Biodiversity
Lab, which is on exhibit to the public, with glass walls and weekly opportunities to share new
results with the public. This position will have professional development opportunities both at the
University and the Museum.
Departmental Required Skills: NC Driver’s license required within 60 days of hire.
Application Procedure: Submit your application (CV, cover letter, 3 reference names & contact
information) to roland.kays@ncsu.edu Application process opens immediately will continue until
a suitable candidate is found.
Friends of the Museum is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified
applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national
origin, religion, sex, age, veteran status, or disability. In addition, Friends of the Museum
welcomes all persons without regard to sexual orientation, and strongly encourages all qualified
applicants to apply. Individuals with disabilities desiring accommodations in the application
process should contact Roland Kays (roland.kays@ncsu.edu) or Rob Dunn
(rob_dunn@ncsu.edu).