Postdoctoral Scholar - Columbia Basin Research

Aquatic and Fishery Sciences

Title:

Postdoctoral Scholar - Columbia Basin Research

The College of the Environment fosters existing and new collaborations between outstanding faculty, staff and students who are engaged in the study of: the solar system and Earth's dynamic land, water and atmosphere; the development and application of environmental engineering and technological advances; the impact of policy and human actions on the environment, and the management of natural resources.

The School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences (SAFS) is dedicated to sustaining healthy marine and freshwater environments. Our school comprises one of the largest and most diverse academic aquatic and fisheries sciences program in the United States. Our faculty conduct innovative research from the organism to the ecosystem scale, and are recognized leaders in aquatic biology, sustainable fisheries management, and aquatic resource conservation.

The School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences values the strengths and professional experience that students, faculty, and staff bring to our community. We are committed to providing excellent education to all of our students, regardless of their race, gender, class, nationality, physical ability, religion, age, or sexual orientation. We are proud of the different roles that our students, staff, and faculty play in the community of the School and in the College of the Environment. We recognize that science is richer and the SAFS community is more vibrant when a diverse group of people participate the SAFS community.

The postdoctoral scholar will play a central role in the study, "Effects of fish size and ocean conditions on the adult returns of Columbia River salmon.”  A prevailing theory of salmon marine survival is that the adult recruitment is largely determined by the juvenile growth rate in the first summer of marine residence. Other studies propose that within a cohort, large juveniles survive better than small ones, but the size differential does not explain interannual variations of cohort recruitment. Additionally, recent studies revealed significant predation on adult salmon by apex predators.  Thus, observations of marine survival do not support a single survival theory and further work is needed that includes properties of individuals within and across cohorts. This project will address this challenge using a unique multi-decade dataset of over 1 million individually tagged Columbia River salmon with known juvenile size and adult fates.  The project will use this database to refine and test models that characterize effects of fish size and growth on size selective predation and survival. A goal of the project is to partition contributions of gape-limited and apex predator, and ocean conditions on the interannual variations of adult recruitment. 

The position will be located at Columbia Basin Research, School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington in downtown Seattle. The post-doc will be supervised by Drs. James Anderson and Jennifer Gosselin. This is a 12-month initial appointment, with the possibility of renewal for a second year, with an anticipated start date in October 2021 or until position filled.

Postdoctoral scholars are represented by UAW 4121 and are subject to the collective bargaining agreement, unless agreed exclusion criteria apply. For more information, please visit the University of Washington Labor Relations website.

Responsibilities Include:

• Working with database manager to organize the fish (PIT tag )and ocean indicator data bases

• Developing and adapting existing models for salmonid ocean survival

• Developing appropriate statistical algorithms for estimating model parameters

• Analysis of data in collaboration with CBR collaborators.

• Preparing data products, visualizations, collaborating on, and leading writing efforts for peer-reviewed publications and presentations at scientific conferences.

• Engaging with project sponsor staff

Required:

• PhD or foreign equivalent in fisheries science, statistics fields or related fields

• Experience with Bayesian statistical methods

• Superior written and oral communication skills.

• Ability to work and write in a collaborative setting.

To apply please submit your application through Interfolio with the following: (1) A letter of interest detailing your skills and experience. (2) A curriculum-vitae including publications. (3) Names of three individuals willing to write letters of recommendation.

For questions about this position, please contact Jim Anderson, at [email protected].

University of Washington is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All
qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed,
religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information,
gender identity or expression, age, disability, or protected veteran status.

Commitment to Diversity

The University of Washington is committed to building diversity among its faculty, librarian,
staff, and student communities, and articulates that commitment in the UW Diversity Blueprint
(http://www.washington.edu/diversity/diversity-blueprint/). Additionally, the University’s Faculty Code
recognizes faculty efforts in research, teaching and/or service that address diversity and equal
opportunity as important contributions to a faculty member’s academic profile and
responsibilities (https://www.washington.edu/admin/rules/policies/FCG/FCCH24.html#2432).