Montana State University · Montana · posted today
Position Details General Statement | As recreational use of public lands increases, managers need scientific guidance to balance recreation access with ecological protection. This project will synthesize and advance the state of recreation ecology science to better inform management decision-making, with a focus on federally designated Wilderness and similarly protected areas. Research themes include: Developing a contemporary conceptual framework to help managers address challenges associated with recreation ecology within areas of the National Wilderness Preservation System.Characterizing trade-offs between recreational use and ecological conditions at multiple spatial and temporal scales.Evaluating management concerns related to recreation impacts on natural resources (water quality, vegetation, soils, wildlife).Proposing novel adaptive approaches to recreation in wilderness areas. Duties and Responsibilities | Conduct a comprehensive literature review on the state of science in recreation ecology.Review management plans and guidance documents to evaluate how recreation ecology influences land management decisions.Engage with federal public land managers to understand decision-making processes and information needs.Identify and compile secondary datasets (monitoring records, visitor use data, trail locations) relevant to recreation impacts.Design and conduct novel analyses using existing data to generate insights into relationships between recreation and ecological responses.Lead writing of at least one peer-reviewed manuscript and one manager-oriented report.Archive project data in accordance with federal data management requirements.Present findings to managers, agency partners, and scientific audiences. Required Qualifications – Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills | PhD in ecology, conservation biology, environmental science, natural resource management, or a closely related field by start date.Experience with literature synthesis or systematic review methods.Strong quantitative skills and experience with statistical analysis or spatial data.Demonstrated experience or potential for translating scientific research and technical information into written and oral presentations for scientific and practitioner audiences. Preferred Qualifications – Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills | Background in recreation ecology, visitor use management, or protected area management.Experience working with or for federal land management agencies (USFS, BLM, NPS, or USFWS).Familiarity with wilderness policy and the National Wilderness Preservation System.Proficiency in R, Python, or GIS platforms. The Successful Candidate Will | Possess excellent written and oral communication skills, including writing for both scientific and practitioner audiences.Have the ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary research environment.Represent the department, college, and university to others in a professional and courteous manner.
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