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Thank you for your interest in joining the University of Wyoming. Our community thrives on the contributions of talented and driven individuals who share in our mission, vision, and values. If your expertise and experience align with the goals of our institution, we would be thrilled to hear from you. We encourage you to apply and become a valued member of our vibrant campus community today!
Why Choose Us?
At the University of Wyoming, we value our employees and invest in their success. Our comprehensive benefits package is designed to support your health, financial security, and work-life balance. Benefits include:
- Generous Retirement Contributions: The State contributes over 15% of your gross salary. With your mandatory employee contribution, the total contribution toward your retirement plan exceeds 19%.
- Exceptional Health & Prescription Coverage: Enjoy access to medical, dental, and vision insurance with competitive employer contributions, that include 4 deductible options to suit your needs.
- Paid Time Off: Benefit from ample vacation, sick leave, paid holidays, and paid winter closure.
- Tuition Waiver: Employees and eligible dependents can take advantage of tuition waivers, supporting continuous education and professional growth.
- Wellness and Employee Assistance Programs: Stay healthy with wellness initiatives, counseling services, and mental health resources.
At the University of Wyoming, we are committed to creating a supportive and enriching workplace. To learn more about what we offer, please refer to UW’s Benefits Summary.
JOB TITLE:
Research Scientist, Asst.
JOB PURPOSE:
Research Scientists are academic professionals whose primary responsibilities are to conduct and support research. UW Regulation 2-7 describes the activities that fall into this set of responsibilities for faculty; the same definition of research applies to Academic Professionals.
The Holbrook Team and Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) are recruiting a Research Scientist to join them at the University of Wyoming (work location will be in Laramie, WY). The Research Scientist will primarily be working at the intersection of elk behavioral ecology and human recreation. We have deployed an extensive network of trail counters and cameras, as well as GPS units to recreationists, to sample human recreation. We have also acquired privatized human mobility data to add to our sample of humans recreating on our landscapes of interest. Additionally, over the last 6 years, our team has deployed GPS collars on 280 adult female elk in the two main study locations. The main objective for this position is to advance our understanding regarding human-elk interactions, and provide guidance on recreation development into the future. Recreation is multi-billion dollar economy, and generating insights that inform the development conversation for wildlife conservation is really our hope with this position.
See the following webpages for more information on the Holbrook Team (https://sites.google.com/site/josephdholbrook03/) at the University of Wyoming.
Candidates should have expertise in a suite of modeling approaches aimed at understanding animal-habitat relationships and animal movement. Candidates should show creativity and flexible thinking, be extremely self-motivated, and have an authentic desire to cultivate real-world insights from data analyses. Candidates should also be able to work exceptionally well with a team of collaborators.
The position is for one to three years, with appointment for the second year and beyond contingent on performance and project funding. Financial support for travel to attend at least one conference will also be available.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Lead research projects related to advancing our understanding of elk-human recreation relationships;
- Publish work in peer-reviewed journals and present at conferences;
- Mentor graduate students;
- Interact with faculty, research staff and students to contribute to a vibrant community within the Holbrook Team and Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
- Masters of Science degree is required for this position;
- MS in a related field (ecology, wildlife ecology);
- Experience collaborating and/or being part of a team;
- Strong written and oral communication skills (English)
- Valid driver's license with a motor vehicle record (MVR) compliant with the University Vehicle Use Policy.
Experience Evaluation
Minimum experience requirements are evaluated on a full-time equivalent (FTE) basis. Relevant part-time experience will be prorated based on hours worked. For example, two years working an average of 20 hours per week is equivalent to approximately one year of full-time experience.
Applicants must include the average hours worked per week for all current and previous positions. Failure to provide this information may affect the evaluation of qualifications.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Experience with models seeking to address animal-environment relationships using GPS-based data;
- Experience with animal movement modeling with the aim of informing animal-environment relationships;
- Experience with spatial data in R;
- Familiarity with Wyoming and/or the rural intermountain west
REQUIRED APPLICATION MATERIALS:
Complete the online application and upload the following for a complete application:
- Cover letter/narrative (max. 1 page) that explains your desire to pursue work in elk-human recreation ecology, your research interests, career goals, and highlights relevant experience;
- Resume or CV including degree(s) earned, GPA, and contact information for at least three references (references will not be contacted until after preliminary interviews); and
- A writing sample (for example, a first-authored manuscript you have written).
This position will remain open until filled. Complete applications received by 10/11/2026 will receive full consideration.
Questions can be directed to Search Committee Chair Joe Holbrook (Joe.Holbrook@uwyo.edu).
WORK LOCATION:
On-Campus: This position provides vital support to campus customers, and the successful candidate must be available to work and perform essential job functions on campus, understanding our location is at 7,220 feet above sea level
WORK AUTHORIZATION REQUIREMENTS:
The successful candidate must be eligible to work in the United States. Sponsorship for H-1B work authorization or work visa is not available for this position.
HIRING STATEMENT/EEO:
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. In compliance with the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation to apply for a position, please contact us at 307-766-2377 or email jobapps@uwyo.edu.
ABOUT LARAMIE:
The University of Wyoming is located in Laramie, a charming town of 30,000 residents nestled in the heart of the Rocky Mountain West. The state of Wyoming continues to invest in its only 4-year university, helping to make it a leader in academics, research, and outreach with state-of-the-art facilities and strong community ties. We invite you to learn more about Laramie by visiting the About Laramie website.
Located in a high mountain valley near the Colorado border, Laramie offers both outstanding recreational opportunities and close proximity to Colorado’s Front Range and the metropolitan Denver area. Laramie’s beautiful mountain landscape offers outdoor enjoyment in all seasons, with over 300 days of sunshine annually. For more information about the region, please visit http://visitlaramie.org/
