Graduate Assistantship (MS or PhD) – ecology of juvenile desert tortoises: University of Georgia

School: University of Georgia

Location: Athens, GA (coursework); Mojave National Preserve, CA, USA (field site)

Job Category: Graduate Assistantships

Website: http://www.srel.uga.edu/facstaffpages/tuberville/opportunities.html

Salary: commensurate with degree program

Start Date: 08/01/2017

Last Date to Apply: 12/01/2016

 

Description:

     We are seeking a motivated graduate student to join our research team in studying the ecology of juvenile desert tortoises. As part of a recently initiated long-term head-starting program, we are interested in an exceptionally qualified student who would study the ecology, survivorship, and habitat selection of wild and released head-started juvenile desert tortoises. The goal of the research project is to identify factors that promote juvenile recruitment and survivorship in the wild, guide the selection of release sites for head-started desert tortoises, and evaluate the effectiveness of head-starting as a species recovery tool in the Mojave Desert. The incumbent would be joining a team currently composed of three faculty researchers and two UC-Davis graduate students. The student’s research project will be developed in consultation with all PIs and significant portions of it must contribute to the overall project goals, although some portions may address broader ecological and management-related topics. In addition to conducting his/her own research project, the selected student would also be responsible for assisting with captive husbandry, outdoor tortoise pen maintenance, data management, and overall research facility care and management, and other duties necessary to achieve the overall project goals. Permitting requirements and project logistics require intensive field work and extended residency at research facility / field site.
    The successful applicant would be enrolled in UGA’s Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources (http://www.warnell.uga.edu/) starting Fall 2017, but conduct their field research at Mojave National Preserve, California. Preference will be given to those applicants who qualify for a teaching assistantship through Warnell while taking course work on campus. Preference will also be given to candidates available to participate in the Summer 2017 field season activities as a research technician prior to starting course work.
    Applicants should submit their CV (including GPA and GRE scores), contact information for at least three references, and a one or two-page letter describing their research interests as they relate to this position to:
Dr. Tracey D. Tuberville, tubervil@uga.edu. More information about Dr. Tuberville’s lab, including people and publications, can be found at: http://www.srel.uga.edu/facstaffpages/tuberville/index.html

Collaborators:
Dr. Kurt Buhlmann at UGA (http://www.srel.uga.edu/facstaffpages/buhlmann.html)
Dr. Brian Todd at UC-Davis (http://toddlab.ucdavis.edu/)

     Application deadline for being considered for assistantship support in UGA’s Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources is 31 January 2017. Information about the application process can be found at: https://www.warnell.uga.edu/graduate/future-students/application-process. 

 

Qualifications:
     Applicants can apply for either a PhD or MS assistantship. However, any applicants to the PhD program must already have their master’s (requirement of Warnell). Warnell also requires an undergraduate GPA of 3.0, a graduate GPA of 3.5 (if applicable), and GRE scores of 1200 (or ~305 in new scoring system) for admission, but higher scores will be necessary to be competitive for an assistantship.
    We seek a candidate able to think critically, solve logistical problems, and work independently with minimal supervision yet work collaboratively as part of a multi-organization research team. The candidate should be able to work in the field under adverse, remote conditions and have excellent organizational and data management skills. A strong interest in the research topic (and conservation in general) is essential, as is prior field, research and writing experience. Previous field research experience specifically with turtles and/or tortoises preferred. Both field experience and a record of peer-reviewed publications will factor strongly in the selection process. Applicants must have a reliable personal field vehicle (4WD not required but high clearance vehicle recommended). Experience with and willingness to perform general maintenance activities to help operate a remove field station, such as pen repairs, is desirable.

     Only applicants with a strong academic record should apply.