Have you ever wondered how cutting-edge science moves from academic papers into real-world actions that protect mule deer, elk, and pronghorn as they travel across vast Western landscapes? A unique Research Scientist Associate position with the Merkle Research Group at the University of Wyoming offers exactly that chance. This role sits at the powerful intersection of data-driven ecology, partner outreach, and on-the-ground conservation of working lands. If you hold a master’s degree, have experience with GIS and conservation organizations, and feel driven to translate technical tools into lasting habitat protection, this opportunity in Laramie could shape the next chapter of your career.
The Merkle Research Group, led by Associate Professor and Knobloch Professor in Migration Ecology and Conservation Jerod Merkle, studies how animal movement responds to environmental change and human development. Their work scales individual behaviors into landscape-level processes that inform practical land-conservation decisions. You can explore the group’s focus and philosophy at the official lab site: https://merkleresearchgroup.org/. The new associate research scientist will help ensure those scientific insights and decision-support tools reach the people who manage private and public lands every day.
Summary
- Company: University of Wyoming’s Merkle Research Group
- Job Title: Research Scientist Associate
- Job Type: Full Time
- Qualification: BA/BSc/HND/MSC/PhD
- Location: USA
Job Title: Research Scientist Associate
A Role Built for Impact Across Five States
The position centers on promoting the application of Merkle Research Group science and tools. Core responsibilities include coordinating workshops, presentations, partner meetings, and outreach activities that highlight ongoing efforts in wildlife migration, habitat conservation, and working-lands stewardship. Much of this work supports the USDA Working Lands for Wildlife Migratory Big Game Initiative (MBGI). Learn more about MBGI and its focus on voluntary, incentive-based conservation on private lands at the Natural Resources Conservation Service page: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs-initiatives/working-lands-for-wildlife/usda-migratory-big-game-initiative.
Outreach will take place in Wyoming and the other MBGI states—Utah, Colorado, Idaho, and Montana. You will work closely with state and federal agencies, non-governmental organizations, and additional conservation partners. The role also requires gathering partner feedback on tools and workflows, then delivering clear recommendations for quarterly updates. In addition, you will help partners apply other USDA Working Lands for Wildlife decision-support tools and conduct original research that leads to peer-reviewed publications on private-lands conservation questions.
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Travel averages about one week per month, both within Wyoming and out of state. This mix of desk-based analysis and field-partner engagement keeps the work dynamic and grounded in real operational needs.
Technical Depth That Strengthens Conservation Decisions
Beyond outreach, the position includes important supplemental technical functions. You will develop specialized workflows for geospatial analysis, mapping, and applied ecological analyses that directly inform conservation choices. Specific tasks include georeferencing and refining fence datasets, performing spatial joins and other GIS analyses, conducting quality assurance and quality control on spatial layers (fences, habitat-improvement projects, conservation treatments), and building efficient spatial-data workflows. These products support the continuous improvement of Merkle Research Group land-conservation tools and deliver customized maps and analyses to partners.
This combination of science communication and hands-on geospatial work is rare. It allows the successful candidate to both teach others how to use advanced tools and refine those tools based on real-user experience.
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Qualifications That Match the Mission
Minimum requirements include a master’s degree in wildlife ecology, ecology, geography, environment and natural resources, or a related interdisciplinary field, plus at least two years of relevant experience. Candidates need demonstrated experience or a clear passion for translating science and technical information into conservation action. Familiarity with analyzing diverse GIS datasets—public records, environmental data, remotely sensed imagery, and watershed information—is essential, as is prior work with governmental and non-governmental conservation organizations.
Desired qualifications strengthen an already competitive application. Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills matter greatly. Experience presenting science or technical tools through workshops or webinars, the ability to simplify complex information for diverse audiences, knowledge of community-based or working-lands conservation, and familiarity with USDA Farm Bill programs all stand out. Advanced geospatial skills or cartography experience using Google Earth Engine, Python, R, or ESRI software packages will further distinguish applicants.
The University of Wyoming values on-campus presence for this role. The successful candidate will work from the Biological Sciences building at 165 N 9th St in Laramie, Wyoming. Funding is secured for two years with continued support anticipated. Salary starts at $67,000 per year for a 40-hour work week, with a start date after September 1, 2026. Full benefits accompany the position. Applications received by September 1, 2026, receive full consideration; review begins that day and continues until the position is filled. The posting remains open until filled.
Why This Position Stands Out in Today’s Conservation Landscape
Migratory big-game populations face increasing pressure from habitat fragmentation, fencing barriers, invasive species, and climate-driven shifts in forage. Private working lands form a critical part of the solution because so many migration corridors cross ranches and farms. The USDA MBGI and related Working Lands for Wildlife efforts deliberately keep those lands working while improving habitat connectivity and quality. Tools developed by groups like Merkle Research Group help landowners and agencies identify the highest-return conservation actions—fence modifications, wet-meadow restoration, invasive-grass control, and strategic easements.
By coordinating workshops and technical transfer, the research scientist associate becomes a vital bridge. Partners gain practical skills; the science itself improves through user feedback; and peer-reviewed research expands the evidence base for private-lands conservation. Few positions offer this balanced blend of outreach leadership, geospatial problem-solving, and publication opportunity while contributing directly to a multi-state federal initiative.
Laramie itself adds appeal. Nestled in the high plains of the Rocky Mountain West, the city provides easy access to outdoor recreation, a supportive university community, and proximity to iconic wildlife landscapes. The University of Wyoming’s Department of Zoology and Physiology and the broader College of Agriculture, Life Sciences and Natural Resources foster collaborative research environments. More information about the university is available at https://www.uwyo.edu/index.html. Details on Jerod Merkle’s research interests appear on his faculty page: https://www.uwyo.edu/zoology/people/merkle.html.
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How to Apply and Next Steps
Prepare a single PDF that contains three items: a detailed cover letter describing your fit and interest in the position, a resume or curriculum vitae, and contact information for three professional references (references are contacted only if you become a finalist). Submit these materials through the official University of Wyoming online application system. The current posting can be viewed and applied to via the Natural Resources Job Board link: https://jobs.rwfm.tamu.edu/view-job/?id=117777 or the university’s Oracle-based candidate portal (search for job ID associated with the Merkle Research Group research scientist associate role).
For questions, contact Vanessa Simoneau at 307-766-5495 or preferably by email at vsimonea@uwyo.edu.
This Research Scientist Associate role offers more than a job description. It provides a platform to turn rigorous movement-ecology research into tangible conservation outcomes across Wyoming and the broader Intermountain West. If you are ready to coordinate workshops that empower land managers, refine geospatial tools that guide fence and habitat decisions, publish findings that strengthen private-lands strategies, and travel the region in service of migratory wildlife, the Merkle Research Group at the University of Wyoming is looking for you. Applications that arrive by early September 2026 will receive the earliest and fullest review. Take the next step toward a career that connects science, partners, and the landscapes that sustain both people and wildlife.