Senior Research Associate - Metropolitan Human-Wildlife Conflicts

Senior Research Associate - Metropolitan Human-Wildlife Conflicts

Below you will find the details for the position including any supplementary documentation and questions you should review before applying for the opening. To apply for the position, please click the Apply for this Job link/button.

This is a 12-month position and subject to availability of funds.

Posting Details

Posting Number: S06812P
Working Title: Senior Research Associate - Metropolitan Human-Wildlife Conflicts
Department: Warnell-Research
Location of Vacancy: Athens Area
Advertised Salary: $48,000
Proposed Starting Date: 10/01/2021
Full/Part time: Full Time

Minimum Qualifications

Requires at least a baccalaureate degree in the field. Please contact your Human Resources office for an evaluation of education/experience in lieu of the required minimum qualifications.

Preferred Qualifications

MS or PhD in human dimensions, social sciences or related discipline conferred by August 31, 2021. Applicants must have experience in survey design and quantitative analysis, including analysis of survey data (e.g. logistic regression). Applicants must be proficient in computer languages suitable for statistical analysis (e.g., R, STATA).

Position Summary

Managing human-wildlife interactions in urbanized environments is an increasing concern for wildlife management agencies. The successful candidate will conduct a human dimensions study in the metropolitan Atlanta (metro-Atlanta) region to determine the following:

1. Metro-Atlanta residents’ level of wildlife tolerance, and determinants of wildlife tolerance, e.g. attitudes, beliefs, risk concerns, pet ownership, socio-demographics;
2. Perceived positive and negative impacts of wildlife, and whether certain wildlife species tend to be liked or disliked;
3. Residents’ knowledge of appropriate actions to mitigate human-wildlife conflicts, and their willingness to engage in these actions;
4. Residents’ prior awareness of Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GADNR), and their level of trust in GADNR;
5. How residents would prefer to receive information about living with wildlife.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and/or Competencies

Applicants must have completed graduate level coursework in human dimensions theories and methods (or comparable social sciences methods) prior to the start date of this position. Applicants must demonstrate that they can apply human dimensions or other social sciences theories and methods in an applied research context.

Duties/Responsibilities

1. The applicant will design and pre-test online surveys to be administered to residents of the metro-Atlanta region. The applicant will ensure that all completed surveys meet data quality standards. The applicant will clean and analyze all data collected using appropriate regression analyses to identify determinants of wildlife tolerance.
2. The applicant will generate a final report for GADNR which provides descriptive statistics for all survey questions, the results of regression and other appropriate analyses, and recommendations on how GADNR may enhance their engagement with residents of the metropolitan Atlanta region.
3. The applicant will disseminate research findings at academic meetings and conferences.

Contact Information

Recruitment Contact Name: (Name)
Recruitment Contact Email: (Email)
Recruitment Contact Phone: (Phone)

Applicant Documents

• Resume/CV
• Cover Letter