PhD position – Population dynamics of white-tailed deer in south Florida: implications for management of the endangered Florida panther: Virginia Tech.

School: Virginia Tech

Location: Blacksburg, Virginia

Job Category: Graduate Assistantships

Website: http://myfwc.com/hunting/by-species/deer/project/

Salary: Competitive stipend

Start Date: 01/02/2017

Last Date to Apply: 11/01/2016

 

Description:

    We are seeking a PhD candidate to participate in a study of white-tailed deer population dynamics within the range of the endangered Florida panther. Objectives of the research include determining the effects of changing hydrological conditions, predation pressure, and hunting regulations on deer populations, and developing a long-term deer monitoring program using camera traps. The monitoring program will be used to inform management actions aimed at maintaining the viability of both deer and panther populations. This research is a multifaceted project involving multiple universities, NGOs, and state and federal agencies. The successful applicant will interface with all these collaborating organizations as well as many passionate stakeholders.
     Responsibilities will include fieldwork, data management, and the integration of large scale hydrologic and fire history data sets with GPS collar data. Fieldwork will involve capturing, collaring, and monitoring white-tailed deer in Big Cypress National Preserve and the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge, as well as maintaining an extensive camera trapping array. Applicants must be prepared to work in remote, hot, and humid conditions where biting insects, venomous snakes, and large carnivores are common.

 

Qualifications:

    Applicants should have some background in population ecology, spatial ecology, ungulate ecology and management, and disturbance ecology. Preference will be given to candidates with experience analyzing telemetry data. A positive attitude, strong work ethic, and the ability to work independently and as a team member are required.
     The student will join the Dept. of Fish and Wildlife Conservation in the College of Natural Resource and Environment (CNRE) at Virginia Tech. The CNRE was ranked the best National Resource Program in the Nation for the last 2 years by USA Today.
     The student will be jointly advised by Dr. Michael Cherry at Virginia Tech, and Dr. Richard Chandler and Dr. Karl V. Miller at the University of Georgia's Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources. The start date is as soon as January 2, 2017. Send statement of interest, CV, unofficial transcripts, GRE scores, and contact information for three references as a single PDF to Dr. Michael Cherry: mjcherry@vt.edu. The application deadline is November 1, 2016.

M.S. – Wildlife Community Response to Native-Grassland Restoration: Texas A&M University-Kingsville

School: Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute / Texas A&M University

Location: Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Kingsville, Texas.

Job Category: Graduate Assistantships

Website: http://www.ckwri.tamuk.edu/fileadmin/user_upload/docs/Position_Announcements/Hernandez-Hixon_restoration_-M_S__Oct_2016.pdf

Salary: $1,500/month plus benefits (medical package has a 60-day waiting period) Nonresident tuition waived (resident tuition fees apply). Partial assistance for resident tuition and fees may also be available based on availability of funds.

Start Date: 01/01/2017

Last Date to Apply: 12/15/2016

 

Description:

     Invasion of non-native grasses has degraded wildlife habitat on vast areas of the southwestern United States. We are seeking a student to assist in a research project to document if landscape-scale restoration of native plants on rangeland dominated by buffelgrass and Old World Bluestems increases northern bobwhite, scaled quail, songbird, small mammal, and butterfly populations. The successful applicant for this assistantship will focus on the non-game wildlife community response but will work as part of a team of graduate students and undergraduate assistants involved in this large, collaborative research project. The successful applicant will be expected to present papers at scientific meetings and publish manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals.

 

Qualifications:

      B. S. in wildlife science, natural resources, range science, ecology, biology, or closely related fields. A strong work ethic, good verbal and written communication skills, ability to work independently and as a productive member of a research team, and ability to work under adverse field conditions (hot humid South Texas environment) are essential. Ability to operate 4-wheel drive vehicles and conduct field research. Students must have a minimum 3.0 GPA and competitive GRE scores (application package must include GRE scores). For more information please contact: Dr. Fidel Hernandez (fidel.hernandez@tamuk.edu)

Gamebirds on the Coastal Prairie: Texas A&M University-Kingsville

School: Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute / Texas A&M University

Location: Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Kingsville, Texas.

Job Category: Graduate Assistantships

Website: http://www.ckwri.tamuk.edu/fileadmin/user_upload/docs/Position_Announcements/Grahmann_Hernandez_Bobwhites_Coastal_Prairie_M_S__Oct_2016.pdf

Salary: $1,400/month plus benefits (medical package has a 60 day waiting period). Nonresident tuition waived (resident tuition fees apply). Partial resident tuition fee assistance may be provided based on availability of funds.

Start Date: 01/01/2017

Last Date to Apply: 12/15/2016

 

Description:

     We are seeking a student to conduct research as part of a collaborative study to determine if red imported fire ants impact nest success and site use of northern bobwhites and re-introduced Attwater’s prairie chicken on the coastal prairie of Texas. Research responsibilities will include:

1) Working with graduate advisors to design a research project as part of an overarching collaborative project.

2) Oversight of research technicians.

3) Sampling fire ant densities and vegetation.

4) Capture, radio-collaring, and tracking of northern bobwhites

5) Analysis of data. 

     The successful applicant will work as part of a team of natural resource professionals under the supervision of Drs. Eric Grahmann and Fidel Hernandez. Research data will be used by the successful applicant for their thesis. Successful applicants will be expected to publish manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals and present papers at scientific meetings. 

Qualifications:

     B. S. in ecology, wildlife science, range science, or closely related fields. A strong work ethic, good verbal and written communication skills, ability to work independently and as a productive member of a research team, and ability to work under adverse field conditions (hot humid South Texas environment). Training in plant taxonomy and plant identification skills are desirable. Ability to operate 4-wheel drive vehicles and conduct field research. Applicants must have a minimum 3.0 GPA and competitive GRE scores (application package must include GRE scores; applications with no GRE scores will not be considered). For more information please contact: Dr. Eric Grahmann (eric.grahmann@tamuk.edu).

Graduate Assistantship – Ecotoxicology: Oklahoma State University

School: Oklahoma State University

Location: Stillwater, OK

Job Category: Graduate Assistantships

Website: http://jbelden.wixsite.com/beldenlab

Salary: $22860 annual plus benefits and tuition

Start Date: 01/07/2017

Last Date to Apply: 11/01/2016

 

Description:

     PhD Research Assistantship studying the occurrence of trace metals-tolerant snail and amphipod populations as an indicator of historic and current trace metal toxicity. The successful applicant is encouraged and expected to be a significant contributor to the design and implementation of the study approach.

 

Qualifications:

     A strong work ethic, enthusiasm, and desire to be fully engaged in the design and implementation of the study. GPA and GRE scores meeting university minimums are required as well as three letters of recommendation, and other material as described by the university. Please visit our website (integrativebiology.okstate.edu) for application instructions to the department and university. Contact Jason Belden (jbelden@okstate.edu) or Scott McMurry (scott.mcmurry@okstate.edu) for more information.