Western Washington University, with over 15,000 students in seven colleges and the graduate school, is nationally recognized for its educational programs, students and faculty. The campus is located in Bellingham, Washington, a coastal community of 90,000 overlooking Bellingham Bay, the San Juan Islands and the North Cascades Mountain range. The city lies 90 miles north of Seattle and 60 miles south of Vancouver, British Columbia. Western has additional sites in Anacortes, Bremerton, Everett, Port Angeles, and Poulsbo. Western is recognized nationally for its successes, such as being named one of the top public master's-granting institutions in the Pacific Northwest for 25 years in a row by U.S. News & World Report.

Western Washington University is committed to achieving excellence through advancing inclusive success, increasing our Washington impact, and focusing on transformational education grounded in the liberal arts and sciences and based on innovative scholarship, research, and creative activity. Western's greatest strength is the outstanding students, faculty, staff, and alumni/ae who make up its community. Western supports an inclusive governance structure for all and provides a learning and working environment in which everyone can thrive. In pursuit of this excellence, individual employees are expected to establish and maintain productive and effective inclusive working relationships amongst diverse populations including staff, faculty, administration, student, and external constituents. Further, individual employees are expected to have the ability to operationalize sustainability concepts (economic, societal, environmental) into all aspects of performing their job duties.

The Postdoctoral Research Associate will work on a NSF-funded project investigating the “Effects of Traffic Noise on Avian Cognition.”

The postdoc will work collaboratively with principal investigator Dr. Chris Templeton and graduate and undergraduate students at Western Washington University. The research integrates local field research and laboratory experiments investigating the effect of noise pollution on cognitive processing in songbirds.

The successful candidate will be a behavioral biologist with experience in experimental design and quantitative skills as well as knowledge of or interest in songbird cognition and anthropogenic effects.

For more information about the project and lab group, please see https://christempleton.github.io/

Project is grant funded, anticipated to end in 2026 (anticipated appointment length of 1.5 years).

• A PhD in focusing on organismal, ecology, or evolutionary processes in biology, psychology, environmental science, or related field by the position start date
• Significant research experience in behavioral biology
• Self-motivation and demonstrated ability to work independently and as part of a team that includes MS and undergraduate students
• Competent analytical skills including experience with statistical analysis and experimental design
• Record of peer-reviewed publications and presentations
• Strong skills in both written and oral scientific communication

• Research experience in designing and implementing animal cognitive tasks
• Research experience with songbirds
• Experience handling songbirds and working with mistnets
• Record of research collaboration, including with students, technicians, or other researchers
• Interest in learning about academic careers at a primarily undergraduate institutions

Salary

$60,000 - $65,000, commensurate with experience and qualifications

Bargaining Unit

 United Faculty of Western Washington

Application Instructions

A cover letter and curriculum vitae are required and should address your experience related to the position responsibilities and the required and preferred qualifications.

You will be asked to provide contact information of three references.

Application review begins April 11, 2025; position is open until filled.

Western Washington University (WWU) is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer committed to assembling a diverse, broadly trained faculty and staff. Women, minorities, people with disabilities and veterans are strongly encouraged to apply. In compliance with applicable laws and in furtherance of its commitment to fostering an environment that welcomes and embraces diversity, WWU does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy and parenting status), disability, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status or genetic information in its programs or activities, including employment, admissions, and educational programs. See WWU’s Policy on Ensuring Equal Opportunity and Prohibiting Discrimination and Retaliation. Inquiries may be directed to the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance, Title IX and ADA Coordinator, Western Washington University, Old Main 126 (MS 9021), 516 High Street, Bellingham, WA 98225; 360.650.3307 (voice) or 711 (Washington Relay); crtc@wwu.edu

WWU is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. To request this document in an alternate format or to request an accommodation, please contact Human Resources Disability Services, 360.650.3751 or 711 (Washington Relay).

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