Positions at a glance
| Position | Salary | Location | Start | Openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Project Manager / Postdoctoral Researcher | $70,000/yr plus benefits | Gainesville, with regular fieldwork at Cape Canaveral | By March 2027 | 1 |
| Field Research Lead (M.S. or Ph.D.) | $65,000/yr plus benefits | Titusville / Cape Canaveral | January 2027 | 1 |
| Wildlife Field Technician | $20.00/hr ($41,600/yr) plus benefits | Titusville / Cape Canaveral | January 2027 (anticipated) | 3 |
All positions are funded for two years. Applicants must currently be authorized to work in the United States and able to maintain that authorization for the initial two-year appointment without employer sponsorship. Visa sponsorship is not available. Employment is subject to applicable site-access requirements.
The project
What happens to wildlife when a rocket launches?
This University of Florida project investigates how rocket launches influence the behavior, movements, survival, and population dynamics of the federally threatened southeastern beach mouse (Peromyscus polionotus niveiventris) at Cape Canaveral, Florida, and identifies the coastal habitats most important for conserving the species.
The project is led by Dr. Robert McCleery (Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation) and Dr. Chris Dutton (Department of Biology).
We will deploy an extensive network of automated telemetry receivers to track individual mice at fine spatial and temporal scales before, during, and after rocket launches. Complementary capture-mark-recapture studies will assess population dynamics across gradients of launch exposure and coastal vegetation communities. Manual radio telemetry, camera monitoring, and vegetation surveys round out the field program.
Project Manager / Postdoctoral Researcher
Salary: $70,000 annually plus benefits
Location: Gainesville, Florida, with regular fieldwork at Cape Canaveral
Start date: By March 2027
The Project Manager will coordinate the scientific and operational components of the project: implement the study design, oversee personnel and procurement, coordinate with project partners, ensure data integrity, conduct statistical analyses, and lead the preparation of scientific reports and manuscripts. The position includes fieldwork and close coordination with the Field Research Lead.
Required: A Ph.D. in Wildlife Ecology, Ecology, Conservation Biology, or a related field; strong quantitative and statistical skills; demonstrated field research experience; excellent scientific writing and communication skills; and the ability to independently manage a complex research project and supervise personnel.
Preferred: Experience with small-mammal ecology, automated telemetry, movement analysis, capture-mark-recapture modeling, and managing large ecological datasets.
The successful applicant may reside in Gainesville but must be available for regular field trips to Cape Canaveral, including overnight stays and extended field sessions. Dormitory accommodations are provided during fieldwork.
Field Research Lead (M.S. or Ph.D.)
Salary: $65,000 annually plus benefits
Location: Titusville / Cape Canaveral, Florida
Start date: January 2027
The Field Research Lead will run day-to-day field operations: coordinate small-mammal trapping and radio telemetry, supervise three field technicians, oversee field logistics, install and maintain automated telemetry networks, and ensure the collection and management of high-quality ecological data. The position also maintains data pipelines for trapping and telemetry data and contributes to statistical analyses, scientific reports, and peer-reviewed manuscripts.
Required: An M.S. or Ph.D. in Wildlife Ecology, Ecology, Conservation Biology, or a related field; substantial field research experience with small mammals and radio telemetry; demonstrated leadership and organizational skills; and experience managing field personnel, equipment, and research data.
Preferred: Experience with automated telemetry networks, capture-mark-recapture studies, analysis of movement data, and statistical programming in R.
We strongly encourage applications from experienced M.S.-level field researchers as well as Ph.D. scientists. For M.S.-level applicants, extensive experience with small-mammal trapping, radio telemetry, and field research management is particularly important.
The successful applicant will be based in the Titusville/Cape Canaveral area, near the study sites. Dormitory-style accommodations are available if desired.
Wildlife Field Technicians
Pay: $20.00 per hour ($41,600 annually at 40 hours per week) plus applicable UF benefits
Location: Titusville / Cape Canaveral, Florida
Housing: Dormitory-style housing provided
Start date: January 2027 (anticipated)
Openings: 3 full-time hourly positions
Technicians will gain experience with traditional small-mammal field methods and emerging wildlife-tracking technologies.
Responsibilities
- Conduct small-mammal trapping surveys, including setting and checking traps, handling animals, recording measurements, and following established field protocols.
- Conduct vegetation surveys.
- Assist with conventional radio telemetry to locate and monitor tagged animals.
- Install, inspect, maintain, and troubleshoot automated radio-telemetry receivers and other field equipment.
- Sort, classify, and organize camera-trap photographs and associated records.
- Enter, review, and manage trapping, telemetry, and camera-trap data.
- Work as part of a field team to maintain trapping grids, organize equipment, and support day-to-day project logistics.
Schedule and conditions: Trapping requires starting before dawn to check traps and returning in the late afternoon to open and set traps. Fieldwork may involve split schedules, early mornings, occasional weekends, and adjustments around launch operations. Work is outdoors in warm, humid coastal conditions on sandy terrain.
Required: A bachelor’s degree in wildlife biology, ecology, environmental science, or a related field (or equivalent relevant field experience); careful data-recording skills; ability to work independently and collaboratively; and willingness to accommodate the field schedule and conditions above.
Preferred: Experience with small-mammal live trapping and handling, radio telemetry, automated monitoring equipment, camera-trap image processing, field equipment maintenance, or ecological data management. Training is provided in project-specific procedures.
Appointments are for two years, with continuation subject to satisfactory performance and project needs.
How to apply
Email a single message containing:
- A CV
- A brief letter describing your relevant experience, qualifications, and interests
- Contact information for three professional references
to Dr. Robert McCleery, Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, at mccleery.bm@ifas.ufl.edu.
Put the position you are applying for in the subject line.
| Position | Review of applications |
|---|---|
| Project Manager / Postdoctoral Researcher | Rolling until filled |
| Field Research Lead | Rolling until filled |
| Wildlife Field Technicians | Begins November 30, 2026; continues until all three positions are filled |