Description

The School of Natural Resources at West Virginia University is seeking candidates for a postdoctoral research associate position starting in Spring/Summer 2024. The successful candidate will focus on the topic of human dimensions associated with visitation in America's public lands and waters including National Forests in the Pacific Northwest and the NOAA National Marine Sanctuaries. The position includes a competitive salary over a 12 month period, renewable annually based upon performance and a full benefits package.

Electronic submission of application with supporting credentials (letter of interest addressing the requirements below and a current curriculum vitae) can be made at: https://careers.wvu.edu/career-opportunities/internal-and-external-faculty-portal. For more information on the program, please contact Dr. Robert Burns at robert.burns@mail.wvu.edu.

Qualifications

• Interest in natural resource and recreation resource management on public lands.
• Strong writing and communication skills, with developing record of scientific publication and presentation.
• A conferred Ph.D. degree in Natural Resources or closely related field (candidates that are ABD will be considered, and should indicate such in their initial application).
• Experience with project management, organization, and mentorship of students and project personnel.
• Data analysis experience with quantitative and qualitative methods, inferential design, and survey development

The Research Lab

Dr. Robert C. Burns has an expansive background in human dimensions of natural resources with over 20 years of partnerships with agencies including the USFS, USACE, NOAA, and other state and local entities. The research focuses on topics such as visitor use and perceptions on public lands/waters, socioeconomics of natural resources, and public outreach and education. Dr. Burns and his team aim to combine traditional surveying methodology with cutting edge techniques in the realm of visitor use. The research lab emphasizes equitable opportunities for underserved populations in outdoor recreation settings through a variety of funded research efforts.

West Virginia University

West Virginia University, designated as a Research University (High Research Activity), is a comprehensive, land-grant institution with an enrollment of over 29,000 students and includes a highly regarded Medical Center and Law school http://www.wvu.edu. The University is situated in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, 75 miles south of Pittsburgh, PA, within easy driving distance of major eastern metropolitan areas including NYC and Washington, DC. Morgantown. These high ratings resulted from its mix of intellectual, cultural, and social amenities; university services (including medical); year-round summer and winter outdoor recreational opportunities; small town warmth; and a public-school system that has been rated in the top two percentile in academic performance nationwide.

At West Virginia University, we leverage our talents and resources to create a better future for our state and the world. As West Virginia's land-grant university, WVU has three campuses that touch each corner of the state. The WVU System includes 518 buildings on 15,880 acres, Extension Service offices in all 55 counties, ten experimental farms and four forests.



From the groundbreaking R1 research of our flagship campus in Morgantown to the career-oriented programs of WVU Potomac State in Keyser to the technology-intensive programs at WVU Tech in Beckley - the contributions of WVU employees directly impact the 1.8 million people of West Virginia every day, no matter their role or position.

Service, curiosity, respect, accountability, and appreciation are the core values that unite Mountaineers, inspiring one another to work tirelessly and support others as they seek to reach new heights. After all, when you're a Mountaineer, impossible is just another mountain to climb.



Creating an inclusive, engaged, and dynamic learning environment is core to WVU's academic mission. We welcome candidates who can contribute a range of ideas, approaches and experiences.

West Virginia University is proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer and is the recipient of an NSF ADVANCE award for gender equity. The University values diversity among its faculty, staff, and students, and invites applications from all qualified applicants regardless of race, ethnicity, color, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, nationality, genetics, disability, or Veteran status.