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University of California, Santa Barbara

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Postdoctoral Researcher in Wildlife Ecology at the Wildland-Urban Interface University of California, Santa Barbara in United States

Degree Level

Postdoc

Field of study

Computer Science

Funding

Fully funded for two years by the UCSB Schmidt Environmental Solutions Program. Additional funding is available to support related research questions. Salary estimate at 100% time is $71,491 to $85,736.

Deadline

Apr 30, 2027

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Country

United States

University

University of California, Santa Barbara

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Keywords

Computer Science
Ecology
Environmental Science
Biology
Conservation Biology
Geography
Wildlife Biology
Camera Trapping
Molecular Ecology
Statistics

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About this position

Postdoctoral Researcher in Wildlife Ecology at the Wildland-Urban Interface, University of California, Santa Barbara

This postdoctoral position is centered on wildlife ecology, conservation biology, community ecology, spatial ecology, and molecular ecology, with a strong emphasis on understanding how wildlife communities respond to the rapidly expanding wildland-urban interface. The project will be based at the University of California, Santa Barbara, with regular field work in the Santa Barbara foothills near Los Padres National Forest, and will involve collaboration with UCSB professors and project partners.

The successful candidate will lead a new research program examining questions such as how vertebrate species richness and community composition change across development gradients, which species tolerate or avoid edges, how wildlife behavior and diets shift near residences, and how protected lands at the boundary of development function as habitat, refuge, foraging areas, or movement corridors. The work may integrate camera trapping, scat surveys, environmental and scat DNA, non-invasive genetics, dietary DNA metabarcoding, passive acoustic monitoring, AI-assisted data classification, spatial analyses, and quantitative biodiversity analysis.

This is a fully funded two-year postdoctoral appointment supported by the UCSB Schmidt Environmental Solutions Program. Additional funding is available for related research questions. The salary estimate at 100% time is $71,491 to $85,736.

Applicants must have completed all Ph.D. requirements except the dissertation at the time of application in ecology, wildlife biology, conservation biology, environmental science, or a related field, and must hold the doctoral degree by the time of appointment. Preferred experience includes field ecology, wildlife camera trapping, vertebrate field ecology, eDNA, non-invasive genetics, DNA metabarcoding, acoustic biodiversity monitoring, GIS, occupancy modeling, movement ecology, spatial statistics, and reproducible analysis in R or Python.

To apply, submit a CV and cover letter through the UCSB Recruit portal and provide contact information for three references. The application window opened October 16, 2026, with a next review date of December 2, 2026, and a final deadline of April 30, 2027.

Funding details

Fully funded for two years by the UCSB Schmidt Environmental Solutions Program. Additional funding is available to support related research questions. Salary estimate at 100% time is $71,491 to $85,736.

What's required

Applicants must have completed all requirements for a Ph.D. program (or equivalent), except the dissertation, in ecology, wildlife biology, conservation biology, environmental science, or a related field at the time of application. A doctoral degree in ecology, wildlife biology, conservation biology, environmental science, or a related field is required by the time of appointment. Preferred experience includes field ecology, wildlife ecology, conservation biology, community ecology, spatial ecology, molecular ecology, wildlife camera trapping, vertebrate field ecology, eDNA, non-invasive genetics, DNA metabarcoding, acoustic biodiversity monitoring, GIS, occupancy modeling, movement ecology, spatial statistics, and analysis of large ecological datasets. Strong publication/presentation record, communication skills, organizational ability, and interest in collaborative and independent research are preferred.

How to apply

Prepare a CV and cover letter describing your research background, relevant experience, and interest in the position, including possible research questions. Submit the application through the UCSB Recruit portal and provide contact information for 3 references.

More information can be found here

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