Postdoctoral Researcher (Recreation Ecology)

Salary: $60,000–$65,000 annually, commensurate with experience, education, and qualifications.

Company

hirify.global is a public university conducting interdisciplinary research in ecology and natural resource management.

What you will do

• Conduct a comprehensive literature review and advance the scientific framework for recreation ecology.
• Review management plans and guidance documents to assess how recreation ecology informs land management decisions.
• Engage with federal public land managers to understand decision-making processes and information needs.
• Compile monitoring records, visitor-use data, trail locations, and other datasets related to recreation impacts.
• Design quantitative analyses of relationships between recreation and ecological responses, including effects on water quality, vegetation, soils, and wildlife.
• Lead peer-reviewed and manager-oriented publications, archive project data, and present findings to scientific and practitioner audiences.

Requirements

• PhD in ecology, conservation biology, environmental science, natural resource management, or a closely related field by the start date.
• Experience with literature synthesis or systematic review methods.
• Strong quantitative skills and experience with statistical analysis or spatial data.
• Ability to translate scientific and technical information into written and oral presentations for scientific and practitioner audiences.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary research environment.

Nice to have

• Background in recreation ecology, visitor-use management, or protected-area management.
• Experience with federal land management agencies such as USFS, BLM, NPS, or USFWS.
• Familiarity with wilderness policy and the National Wilderness Preservation System.
• Proficiency in R, Python, or GIS platforms.

Culture & Benefits

• Full-time professional appointment with benefits eligibility.
• Collaborative, multidisciplinary research environment involving hirify.global and the USDA Forest Service Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute in Missoula, Montana.
• Position funding is currently anticipated through December 31, 2029 and is contingent upon continued grant funding.
• Role includes collaboration with federal public land managers, agency partners, and scientific audiences.

Hiring process

• Screening begins October 30, 2026, with applications accepted until an adequate applicant pool is established.
• Applicants must submit a curriculum vitae, a cover letter describing research background and interest, and one writing sample.
• At least three references are required.