Application Deadline: 11/28/2025
LOCATION: USA
Oregon State University (State) seek an exceptional PhD student to develop spatially explicit decision models for conservation of at-risk species on Department of Defense (DoD) lands. The DoD manages 27 million acres supporting over 500 at-risk species, with military installations serving as critical refuges for imperiled taxa nationwide. The successful candidate will work with an interdisciplinary team to develop decision support tools integrating species distribution modeling, population dynamics, multi-criteria decision analysis, and cost-effectiveness optimization.
ELIGIBILITY:
The successful applicant should be highly motivated and have an M.S. degree in ecology, wildlife biology, conservation biology, environmental science, applied mathematics, or a related quantitative field; expertise in statistical programming (R, Python, or MATLAB); spatial analysis and GIS experience; strong quantitative skills; and excellent verbal and written communicative abilities.
Strong interpersonal skills and an ability to work in a team situation are required.
Applicants with experience in Bayesian modeling, spatial statistics, species distribution modeling, population dynamics modeling, and multi-objective optimization will be given special consideration. Additional graduate program information can be found at:
http://fw.oregonstate.edu/content/graduate
You’ll work directly with DoD scientists, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologists, and installation managers to translate quantitative models into actionable conservation strategies that maximize military training, land utilization, and species conservation outcomes. This research will directly influence million-dollar conservation investments and species recovery planning.
Closing Date: Until filled. Selection will be made by December 2025.
Contact: Submit a single PDF: cover letter (2 pages max), CV, unofficial transcripts, three references, and writing sample to:
Contact: James Peterson
jt.peterson@oregonstate.edu (preferred contact method)
BENEFIT:
Salary: Annual stipend of $32,500, full tuition waiver, and health insurance included.
YouthExpat 