Research Associate-Fixed Term

Position Summary

Decision Analysis and Support (DAS) Lab in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife at Michigan State University invites applications for the position of Research Associate (Fixed-Term). As a member of the DAS Lab, the Research Associate will also become a member of the Quantitative Fisheries Center. This position is funded for at least two years, with potential for extensions pending funding. The preferred start date is 1 January 2026, but a later start date may be considered.

The successful candidate will co-lead the development of a structured decision making (SDM) process for an experimental Cisco reintroduction in Lake Erie, specifically in New York and Pennsylvania waters. The overarching goal is to work collaboratively with Lake Erie fisheries managers to identify and evaluate experimental Cisco stocking strategies and complementary restoration actions (e.g., spawning habitat construction or restoration) that align with agency objectives, account for uncertainty, and support long-term recovery of Cisco in Lake Erie. This work will operationalize the “Restore” phase of the Coregonine Restoration Framework (Bunnell et al., 2023) and, ideally, illustrate how this process could be transferable to other Great Lakes jurisdictions.

This position will also provide support for the Research Associate to contribute to other DAS Lab projects that align with the candidate’s research interests. Project in the DAS Lab occur in multiple Great Lakes systems and would provide opportunities to apply diverse decision analysis tools, including multi-criteria decision analysis, risk analysis, value of information, and optimization.

The position will be supervised by Dr. Marjorie ‘Mauri’ Liberati, while working closely with partners from the Greak Lakes Science Center, New York Department of Conservation, and Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. This position is an excellent opportunity to engage with agency professionals across the Great Lakes basin.

The preferred work location for this position is East Lansing, MI, with travel to in-person workshops in northern New York and Pennsylvania covered by project funding. While we would prefer candidates who are willing to be located in southern Michigan, we are willing to discuss remote work arrangements.

Responsibilities include:

1. Co-lead collaborative workshops with agency partners to iteratively develop and refine a decision prototype for Cisco restoration in Lake Erie.
2. Integrate research products from the Coregonine Restoration Framework to predict management outcomes and identify (or pursue) expanded analyses to support the decision analysis.
3. Develop predictive decision analysis to determine optimal allocation of management actions (e.g., stocking) and optimization analyses under various uncertainties.
4. Support the development of implementation and adaptive management plans for Cisco restoration in Lake Erie that also align with the Coregonine Restoration Framework.
5. Lead the development of manuscripts focused on decision analytic tools (e.g., multi-criteria decision analysis, risk analysis, value of information) and the Coregonine Restoration Framework.
6. Collaborate on other projects within the DAS Lab that align with research and professional development interests.

The Research Associate will be provided an annual salary ranging between $60,000 – $68,700 (depending on experience), plus benefits, a laptop computer, and travel funds to attend conferences and in-person meetings associated with the project. The selected candidate must have a valid operator's license as they will be required to drive university vehicles.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.

Required Degree

Doctorate -Ph.D. in Fisheries, Wildlife, Ecology, or related field by the anticipated start date.

Minimum Requirements

• Ph.D. degree in Fisheries, Wildlife, Ecology, or related field by the anticipated start date.
• Demonstrated desire and ability to publish peer-reviewed literature.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Excellent writing and personal communication skills.
• Experience working collaboratively with state and federal agencies to design and conduct studies that inform natural resources management.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience coordinating and facilitating collaborative meetings or workshops. 
• Experience facilitating decision analysis processes, ideally Structured Decision Making.
• Experience collaboratively with state and federal agencies to develop decision support tools for natural resources management; experience with fisheries topics is particularly desired.
• Strong quantitative skills, particularly in the areas of decision analysis and fisheries management.
• Ability to adapt mode and style of communications to connect with audiences.

*Note: These skills reflect ideal, but not required qualifications, and the selected applicant may learn these skills on the job. We do not expect a single candidate to possess all or most of these skills, as they will join a team that includes other researchers and mentors with experience in these areas.

Required Application Materials

1. Cover letter (2-page maximum) describing how your interests, background, and professional experience match the position description,
2. Curriculum Vitae
3. Names and contact information of 3 professional references.

Special Instructions

Remote work is an option, but in-person is preferred. If a remote work schedule is agreed upon, the candidate must be willing to travel to in-person workshops (travel supported will be provided by a grant).

Questions regarding this position can be sent to Dr. Mauri Liberati, the supervisor and project PI, at libera22@msu.edu.

Review of Applications Begins On

11/24/2025

Remote Work Statement

MSU strives to provide a flexible work environment and this position has been designated as remote-friendly. Remote-friendly means some or all of the duties can be performed remotely as mutually agreed upon.

Website

https://www.canr.msu.edu/fw/

Department Statement

The Quantitative Fisheries Center (QFC) was established in 2005 to provide a research, outreach, service, and teaching program that contributes to greater capacity within fishery management agencies. The QFC focuses on developing and applying quantitative methods for assessing fish stocks, assisting agencies that use model-based approaches in decision making, and improving understanding of fish community and population dynamics. The QFC is supported by Michigan State University, Great Lakes Fishery Commission (GLFC), Michigan Department of Natural Resources, and several state, provincial, and tribal agencies with fishery management jurisdiction over the Great Lakes. In 2018, the QFC received the Besadny Award from the GLFC for outstanding work to enhance understanding of Great Lakes fisheries, an understanding gained by emphasizing the use of quantitative tools in teaching, outreach, and research, and by serving as a trusted partner and recognized leader both within and outside the Great Lakes basin.

The Department of Fisheries and Wildlife is a vibrant community of scholars comprising >40 core faculty (tenure stream and fixed-term faculty, and academic specialists), 80 graduate and 240 undergraduate students, and >30 research associates. Our Mission is to build local, national, and international capacities to conserve ecosystems that support fish, wildlife, and society through integrated programs in research, education and engagement. We are committed to the integrative nature of natural resources conservation and management, with our expertise ranging from disciplinary areas with a long-standing history in the domain of fisheries and wildlife to those emerging more recently. For more information about the Department, please visit our website: https://www.canr.msu.edu/fw/

MSU Statement

Michigan State University has been advancing the common good with uncommon will for more than 160 years. One of the top research universities in the world, MSU pushes the boundaries of discovery and forges enduring partnerships to solve the most pressing global challenges while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community through more than 200 programs of study in 17 degree-granting colleges.