PhD Assistantship — Effectiveness of Habitat Incentives for Gopher Tortoises: University of Georgia

School: Georgia Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, University of Georgia

Location: Athens, GA, plus field locations

Job Category: Graduate Assistantships

Website: https://sites.google.com/site/ctmoorelab/opportunities

Salary: $21,132/yr

Last Date to Apply: 12/31/2016

 

Description:

     We are seeking a PhD student to study the effectiveness of a landowner incentive program for habitat and population objectives for the gopher tortoise, a species of concern in the longleaf pine ecosystem of the southeastern U.S. The NRCS Working Lands for Wildlife Program provides financial incentives to private landowners to manage their lands in ways that promote sustainability of the tortoise. We would like to know how that program is working. We are looking for a mature, self-starter who will: 

(1) Design an approach to sample parcels across the program (Florida, Georgia, Alabama) in a way that will yield representative and interpretable results. 

(2) Plan and conduct field work to collect habitat and population data in harsh environments.

(3) Use appropriate computational tools to organize, summarize, and analyze spatial and non-spatial data.

(4) Make use of incomplete data to build and test models of habitat and demographic response to incentive actions. (5) Write reports and peer-reviewed manuscripts to summarize findings. 

Qualifications:

     Candidates of best fit for this position will have excellent quantitative skills, particularly in areas of demographic modeling, spatial analysis, and GIS. The candidate will be expected to apply Bayesian population analysis methods to obtain inference, but training will be provided in this arena. The research involves a significant field component, most often in hot, buggy conditions. Minimum GPA and GRE requirements for enrollment in the Warnell Graduate Program are found at https://www.warnell.uga.edu/graduate/future-students.
     The assistantship provides $21,132 per year for 3 years and includes student health insurance coverage. Tuition is waived as a condition of assistantship support, but not mandatory fees; however, $500 per semester (Fall and Spring) is additionally provided to defray a portion of these fees. 

    Last Date to Apply: Open until filled; applications submitted by October 28, 2016 are guaranteed full consideration. Starting Date: January 5, 2017.

     Interested applicants should send a cover letter, a CV, and an example of your writing to Dr. Clint Moore (ctmoore@uga.edu) at the Georgia Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit.