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.

 

Ph.D. Assistantship in Environmental Education Research: North Carolina State University.

School: NC State University

Location: Raleigh, NC

Job Category: Graduate Assistantships

Salary: ~$17,000/yr, tuition, health insurance. Additional compensation, including student fees (~$1,200/semester) may be available.

Start Date: 08/15/2017

Last Date to Apply: 11/30/2016

 

Description:

    The Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management at North Carolina State University invites applications for a three to four-year doctoral research assistantship focused on the role of outdoor education in building connection to nature and interest and achievement in science, the development of conservation-minded adults, and the intersection of these areas with human health and well-being.
     The PhD student will assist with completing long-term evaluations of an outdoor education program designed for fifth grade students. We are currently measuring program impacts on science achievement, science efficacy and connection to nature. This phase will focus on long-term program impacts. One objective will be to conduct retrospective interviews of program graduates (e.g., interviewing eighth graders or high school seniors about their fifth grade experiences). A second objective will be to conduct a survey of students in grades 5, 6, 8, 10 and 12 in counties where the program is active to assess persistence of impacts measured at the fifth grade level. The third objective is to explore connections between currently measured impacts (e.g., science achievement) with other benefits of time outdoors such as decreased stress or increased physical activity through initiating and fostering collaborations with current and new partners. The PhD student will be expected to dedicate 20 hours a week to research activities as described above and departmental service (e.g., teaching) as directed by the advisor and/or department head. The remaining 20 hours week should be dedicated to coursework in service to a PhD in Parks, Recreation & Tourism Management. The student may have opportunity to work with several PRTM faculty, but will be directly supervised by Kathryn Stevenson.

 

Qualifications:

     Applicants should have an M.S. in parks, recreation & tourism management, education, sociology, conservation biology, or other related field, at least a 3.0 GPA, and a competitive GRE score. Preference will be given to applicants with:

(a) Research experience in environmental education, the human dimensions of natural resource management, or environmental sociology.

(b) Interest or demonstrated proficiency in statistics.

(c) Interest or experience in survey administration, conducting and analyzing interviews, or both. 

Students should also have excellent organizational and communication skills. Interested individuals should send a cover letter outlining experience and research interests, curriculum vitae, unofficial copies of university transcripts and GRE scores, contact information for three references, and writing sample if available. For more information please contact: Kathryn Stevenson (kathryn_stevenson@ncsu.edu).

 

MS position – Conservation Biology: North Dakota State University

School: North Dakota State University

Location: Fargo, ND

Job Category: Graduate Assistantships

Website: http://www.jillahamilton.com

Salary: $17,000/year and 100% tuition waiver

Start Date: 01/01/2017

Last Date to Apply: 12/14/2016

 

Description:

       A MSc position in evolutionary and ecological conservation genetics is available to study local adaptation of the perennial native prairie plant, Prairie Smoke with Jill Hamilton at North Dakota State University in Fargo, North Dakota.
    Identifying the appropriate seed sources for restoration efforts can be challenging, particularly for geographically isolated populations where historical isolation or contemporary fragmentation may have contributed to differentiation in adaptive traits across a species range. In this project we are investigating the genetic basis of adaptation in Prairie Smoke (Geum triflorum) plant populations. Prairie Smoke is an herbaceous perennial that has a wide geographic distribution spanning much of contemporarily fragmented midwestern prairies, but it is also common to disjunct alvar habitats around the Great Lakes region. Alvar habitats are characterized by thin layers of soil over limestone that harbor unique assemblages of plants that are largely isolated from the core of their continuous range.
      The ideal MS student will be prepared to conduct field-based research in a common garden experiment that has been established in Minnesota, with an opportunity to expand locations. There is plenty of room to pursue particular interests in adaptive trait variation depending on the interest and experience of the candidate. The student will also be involved in outreach activities associated with the project engaging local state and NGO stakeholders in applied research. Ability to work independently in the field and basic botany expertise and experience in quantitative analysis in R is preferred.
      For more information on the Hamilton Lab please visit the lab website at: http://www.jillahamilton.com and more information on the Department of Biological Sciences at NDSU at https://www.ndsu.edu/biology/. Fargo is the largest city in the northern Midwest and as ‘Gateway to the West’ is a vibrant, growing community that has access to numerous outdoor opportunities for all seasons. 

Qualifications:

      Requirements: Ability to work independently in the field and basic botany expertise, along with some experience in quantitative analysis in R is preferred. Interested students are encouraged to contact Dr. Hamilton (jill.hamilton@ndsu.edu). Please include a brief description of your research interests and experience and a CV in your email. Funding options are available for both US students and international students and include a full tuition waiver.