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Montana State University

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Postdoctoral Researcher in Recreation Ecology and Public Lands Management Montana State University in United States

Degree Level

Postdoc

Field of study

Environmental Science

Funding

Postdoctoral researcher position funded through a Mutual Benefit Agreement between Montana State University and the USDA Forest Service Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute. Salary is $60,000–$65,000 annually, commensurate with experience, education, and qualifications. Funding is currently anticipated through December 31, 2029, contingent upon continued grant funding.

Deadline

Oct 30, 2026

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Country

United States

University

Montana State University

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Keywords

Environmental Science
Biology
Conservation Biology
Statistical Analysis
Geography
Python Programming
Natural Resource Management
Statistics

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About this position

Montana State University is advertising a Postdoctoral Researcher position in the Department of Ecology, based in Bozeman, Montana, United States. The project focuses on recreation ecology and its application to federal public lands management, with close collaboration with the USDA Forest Service Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute.

The postdoc will lead a research program that synthesizes and advances recreation ecology science to support management decisions in federally designated wilderness and other protected areas. Research themes include developing a conceptual framework for recreation ecology in the National Wilderness Preservation System, characterizing trade-offs between recreation use and ecological conditions, evaluating impacts on water quality, vegetation, soils, and wildlife, and proposing adaptive management approaches.

Responsibilities include conducting a comprehensive literature review, reviewing management plans and guidance documents, engaging with federal land managers, compiling secondary datasets, designing and running analyses using existing data, leading at least one peer-reviewed manuscript and one manager-oriented report, archiving data according to federal requirements, and presenting findings to scientific and practitioner audiences.

Required qualifications include a PhD in ecology, conservation biology, environmental science, natural resource management, or a closely related field by the start date. Applicants should have experience with literature synthesis or systematic review methods, strong quantitative and statistical skills, and the ability to communicate research clearly in written and oral formats. Preferred experience includes recreation ecology, visitor use management, protected area management, federal agency experience, wilderness policy, and proficiency in R, Python, or GIS.

The position is full-time and funded through a mutual benefit agreement, with salary listed at $60,000–$65,000 annually. Funding is currently anticipated through December 31, 2029, contingent on continued grant support.

Applications are being screened starting 2026-10-30 and will continue until an adequate applicant pool is established. To apply, submit a CV, a cover letter (max 2 pages), and one writing sample, and provide at least three references through the university jobs portal.

Funding details

Postdoctoral researcher position funded through a Mutual Benefit Agreement between Montana State University and the USDA Forest Service Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute. Salary is $60,000–$65,000 annually, commensurate with experience, education, and qualifications. Funding is currently anticipated through December 31, 2029, contingent upon continued grant funding.

What's required

PhD in ecology, conservation biology, environmental science, natural resource management, or a closely related field by the start date. Applicants should have experience with literature synthesis or systematic review methods, strong quantitative skills, and experience with statistical analysis or spatial data. Preferred qualifications include background in recreation ecology, visitor use management, or protected area management; experience with federal land management agencies; familiarity with wilderness policy and the National Wilderness Preservation System; and proficiency in R, Python, or GIS platforms. Applicants must provide a CV, cover letter, writing sample, and at least three references.

How to apply

Apply through the Montana State University jobs portal. Upload a CV, a cover letter describing your research background and interest, and one writing sample. Provide at least three references as part of the application process.

More information can be found here

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