Application Guide

How to Apply for Post-doctoral Researcher (Ecological Modeling Specialist) - 1-year term

at The Wilderness Society

🏢 About The Wilderness Society

The Wilderness Society is a national conservation organization that combines rigorous science with advocacy and community partnerships to protect America’s wild places. Their work is deeply collaborative, engaging with Indigenous communities, policymakers, and scientists to drive evidence-based policy. This role offers a unique opportunity to contribute to high-impact conservation research with real-world policy implications.

About This Role

This 1-year post-doc focuses on developing a spatial simulation model to understand how roads affect caribou movement, distribution, and fitness. You will work with an international team to analyze telemetry data and produce publishable research that directly informs conservation strategies and policy recommendations for caribou recovery.

💡 A Day in the Life

Your day might start with coding and debugging your IBM in R or Python, followed by a virtual meeting with collaborators from the Science team and external partners to discuss model assumptions. After lunch, you might analyze telemetry data to parameterize movement rules, and end the day drafting a figure for a manuscript or preparing a summary for a policy brief.

🚀 Application Tools

Generate Cover Letter

AI-powered, tailored for The Wilderness Society

Interview Prep

Practice questions for this role

🎯 Who The Wilderness Society Is Looking For

  • A Ph.D. in ecology, conservation biology, or geography with a strong publication record in individual-based modeling of animal movement.
  • Expertise in programming with R or Python for spatial simulation models, specifically IBMs, and experience handling large telemetry datasets.
  • Familiarity with caribou ecology or northern ecosystems is a plus, as is experience collaborating with Indigenous partners or government agencies.
  • Excellent communication skills for translating complex modeling results into actionable policy recommendations and interactive tools.

📝 Tips for Applying to The Wilderness Society

1

Tailor your cover letter to highlight your experience with individual-based models and telemetry data; mention specific species or systems you've worked on, especially if similar to caribou.

2

In your CV, emphasize publications or projects that involved spatial simulation modeling and collaboration with interdisciplinary teams.

3

Provide a link to a GitHub repository or code portfolio showcasing your modeling work in R or Python.

4

Mention any experience with stakeholder communication or policy-relevant science, as The Wilderness Society values actionable research.

5

Address how your work aligns with the organization's mission of protecting wild places and supporting Indigenous partnerships.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

["Your expertise in individual-based modeling and telemetry analysis, with concrete examples of models you've built.", 'Your ability to work collaboratively in a team with scientists, policymakers, and community partners.', 'Your commitment to conservation and translating science into policy, with specific interest in caribou or northern ecosystems.', 'Your proficiency in R or Python and any experience developing interactive tools for data visualization.']

Generate Cover Letter →

🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Read recent publications from The Wilderness Society’s Science team, especially on caribou or road ecology.
  • → Familiarize yourself with the organization’s Indigenous partnerships and their approach to collaborative conservation.
  • → Review the current state of caribou conservation in North America, including key threats like habitat fragmentation from roads.
  • → Explore any existing simulation models or tools The Wilderness Society has developed for wildlife management.
Visit The Wilderness Society's Website →

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Describe your experience with individual-based models: what species, what questions, and what programming language did you use?
2 How would you approach modeling road effects on caribou movement? What data would you prioritize?
3 Tell us about a time you communicated complex scientific results to a non-scientific audience (e.g., policymakers or community partners).
4 How do you handle collaboration with a diverse team including ecologists, modelers, and Indigenous partners?
5 What are your career goals after this post-doc, and how does this role fit into them?
Practice Interview Questions →

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Submitting a generic application without mentioning caribou, road ecology, or individual-based modeling.
  • Overlooking the 1-year term—do not express a desire for a permanent position without acknowledging the fixed-term nature.
  • Ignoring the policy and communication aspects; this role is not purely academic—emphasize your interest in applied conservation.

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to The Wilderness Society!

← Back to Job Listing Apply Now →