Post-Doctoral Research Associate, Staff Associate (Grant Funded)
Department Summary:
The Department of Biological Sciences at Bridgewater State University is a dynamic community with over 400 undergraduate majors and a growing master’s program. We aim to provide our students with a broad background in the biological sciences while also supporting subdisciplines of interest (e.g., we have concentrations in Cellular and Molecular Biology, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Biomedical Science and Pre-medicine, and Secondary Education). Given the number of positions in biotechnology, research, education and health care in the area, the mission of the department is to train students and support their placement into the workforce and advanced degree programs. Students are the central focus and an integral part of the Department, working side-by-side with faculty who are enthusiastically committed to teaching and research. A strong sense of community is fostered through small class sizes and individualized research and career mentoring from faculty. Our department has a strong and well-supported undergraduate research program that supports student research projects and student travel to present their research at local, national, or international conferences. The candidate will join thirteen Full-Time Tenure-Track Faculty in the department and teach a diverse student population. In Fall 2025, 46% of our declared majors were students of color, 48% were first-generation, 38% were low-income, and 20% were LGBTQIA+. Within the College of Science and Mathematics, and in our department, we have an active Collective focused on Equity and Racial Justice, and this new faculty member is encouraged to participate in this work. Successful candidates will be faculty members who can work with their colleagues to help meet the mission of the department in serving and supporting our racially and ethnically diverse campus community.
Bridgewater State University is an inclusive community dedicated to the lifelong success of all students; focused on the continuous improvement of its people; and is responsible for leading innovation that benefits Southeastern Massachusetts, the commonwealth, and the world. Bridgewater’s accessible environment of teaching and learning stimulates critical thinking and the pursuit of new knowledge and deeper understanding. The teaching and learning environment at Bridgewater also cultivates meaningful and diverse interpersonal relationships and fosters an appreciation for global engagement aimed at transforming lives and improving the human condition.
Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is reflected in our institutional values, which ensure that all students are supported and succeed.
Position Summary:
The Post-Doctoral Associate will coordinate and participate in integrated field and analytical components of a multi-year project in southeastern Massachusetts (Greater Boston Area). The position will lead seasonal field implementation (automated trail cameras, small-mammal surveys, tick collections), manage and integrate multiple data streams (field, laboratory, and open biodiversity databases), and develop multi-species, dynamic occupancy and geospatial models to estimate distributions and drivers of white-tailed deer and other wildlife hosts. Multi-species occupancy modeling is commonly used to account for imperfect detection while estimating community- or multi-host occurrence patterns.
This position is an exempt, APA unit position and is subject to the terms of that union agreement.
Appointment Terms: This is a grant-funded APA position. The current grant is expected to support up to five years of work. Continuation or renewal beyond the initial appointment period may be possible, subject to continued funding, satisfactory performance, and the terms and conditions of the APA collective bargaining agreement.
Tour of Duty: Monday – Friday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM, some nights, and weekends. On-site and in the field as project needs dictate. The duty schedule will be field-intensive from May through July, with a more flexible schedule during the remainder of the year focused on data processing, modeling, writing, and mentoring.
Position Type: APA Professional
Essential Duties:
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Plan and conduct repeated field visits to multiple sites in southeastern Massachusetts
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Deploy and maintain automated trail cameras; conduct small-mammal surveys
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Collect ticks and small-mammal tissue samples following approved protocols
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Train and co-supervise graduate and undergraduate students in field methods and safety.
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Develop and implement multi-species dynamic occupancy models (including models estimating occupancy, colonization, and extinction processes through time), build complementary statistical and geospatial models of host distributions, and establish reproducible pipelines to ingest and harmonize open-source biodiversity data (e.g., via eBird and iNaturalist) with required attribution/terms compliance.
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Disseminate results through national conference presentations and will co-author peer-reviewed manuscripts with the project team.
Required Qualifications:
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PhD in ecology, wildlife biology, epidemiology, quantitative biology, biostatistics, or a closely related field
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Demonstrated experience with quantitative modeling (e.g., occupancy or hierarchical models), statistical programming (R, Python, Javascript, julia), and reproducible workflows (version control, documented code, and data management).
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Demonstrated ability to conduct field work in variable conditions, coordinate multi-site sampling, and train/supervise students safely and effectively.
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Evidence of independent research productivity (peer-reviewed publications), effective scientific writing, and oral communication skills.
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Experience conducting field research in wildlife ecology is required, including study design, data collection, and adherence to biosafety and animal handling protocols.
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Demonstrate strong organizational skills, meticulous data management practices, and the ability to coordinate multi-site research activities.
Preferred Qualifications:
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Experience in one or more of the following: camera-trap study design and analysis; small-mammal and bird live-trapping, handling, and biosafety; tick collection from life hosts, host blood draw, and identification workflows
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Spatial analysis and GIS (e.g., raster/vector processing, habitat covariates, spatial prediction) Bayesian hierarchical modeling and/or advanced occupancy modeling (multi-species and/or dynamic)
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Experience accessing biodiversity data via APIs and integrating heterogeneous open datasets while meeting attribution/terms requirements (e.g., eBird).
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Experience in mentoring graduate or undergraduate students in research
Work Environment:
Bridgewater State University complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified applicants and employee with disabilities. To request a reasonable accommodation for the application process, please complete and submit this electronic form: https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?BridgewaterStateUniv&layout_id=18
Special Conditions for Eligibility:
Please be aware that employment at Bridgewater State University is contingent upon completion of a successful background check. Bridgewater State University is an E-Verify employer.
This position is not eligible for H-1B sponsorship.
Salary Range: $65,000-$70,000
Posting Number: S01339P
Open Date: 07/07/2026
Close Date: 08/23/2026
Open Until Filled: No
Special Instructions to Applicants:
Please note the following information is required to complete your application for this position:
- A minimum of three (3) professional reference entries in space provided on the application form.
- Resume/CV
- Cover Letter – In the cover letter, applicants should explicitly address:
(1) their experience in wildlife biology,
(2) their proficiency in statistical and geospatial modeling, and
(3) their experience mentoring graduate (M.S.) and undergraduate students.
Bridgewater State University is an equal employment opportunity employer and considers all qualified candidates without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability status, veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, genetic information, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition or any other characteristic protected by law.
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