Graduate Assistantship – Human dimensions of citizen science: North Carolina State University

School: NC State University

Job Category: Graduate Assistantships

Start Date: January or Fall 2017 (flexible)

Last Date to Apply: 11/07/2016

 

Description:

     Graduate opportunities in Fish and Wildlife Conservation within the Department of Forestry & Environmental Resources for self-motivated and hardworking student interested in the human dimensions of citizen science. The graduate student will conduct research via resources and tools available in collaboration with SciStarter.com, the largest repository of citizen science projects in the world and a comprehensive database detailing project design features and outcomes. Thanks to a NSF-AISL Pathways award, SciStarter will soon offer each member a dashboard to manage and display their citizen science activities, track their progress in projects, network with others, and consent to have their online behavior tracked across citizen science projects.
      Possible research directions include, but are not limited to:
• Linkages between pathway of initial recruitment and subsequent retention in citizen science.
• Explore practices for the co-management of citizen scientists with awareness of their enrollment in multiple projects.
• Linkages between citizen science project design and scientific, learning, and conservation outcomes
• Linkages between participation dynamics within and among projects and scientific, learning, and conservation outcomes.
• Design of recommender systems to enhance participant agency in navigating an ecosystem of highly varied projects.
• Project owner perceptions about project aggregation, competition, and collaboration.
     Students will be expected to engage with the activities of the university-wide cluster on Leadership in Public Science (https://facultyclusters.ncsu.edu/clusters/leadership-in-public-science/) which offers unique intellectual focus and professional development in the realm of citizen science, open science, and science communication. The students will spend time in the Biodiversity Research lab at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences (http://naturalsciences.org/research-collections/biodiversity-lab) where they will have ample opportunities to develop their science communication skills.  

Qualification

Minimum qualifications:
     BS (MS for PhD opening) degree in social sciences, information sciences, human dimensions or similar with some coursework in ecology, GPA of 3.4 or higher GRE scores near or above 160 in verbal and quantitative areas demonstrated research experience (data collection, analysis, and writing), interest in interdisciplinary (social and biological), research commitment to public science, excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Preferred qualifications:
     Experience with citizen science, experience with quantitative research and survey development, experience with google analytics and quantitative analysis skills. 

To apply:
    To apply, submit a pre-application to Dr. Cooper at cbcoope3@ncsu.edu by Nov 7. Submit pre-application as a single PDF file attached to an email introducing yourself with “Human dimensions of citizen science graduate application” in the email subject line:
1) Cover letter summarizing interest in the position, qualifications, and experience, as well as research and career goals.
2) Curriculum Vitae.
3) Academic transcripts (can be unofficial).
4) GRE scores (can be unofficial).
5) Names, contact information, and short description of relationship for three professional references.
    Selected applicants will also need to apply to the Dept of Forestry & Environmental Resources at North Carolina State University before acceptance. 

Graduate Research Assistants: USGS Mississippi Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit.

School: Mississippi State University (USGS Mississippi Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit)

Location: Mississippi State, fieldwork in Puerto Rico

Job Category: Graduate Assistantships

Salary: Nationally competitive

Start Date: 01/06/2017

Last Date to Apply: 12/15/2016

 

Description:

    I am currently seeking three graduate students at the M.S. (two) and PhD (1) level for a funded research project on coastal wetlands in Puerto Rico. Students interested in avian population and community ecology, movement ecology and species-habitat modeling are encouraged to apply. This project will address ecological and management questions on conservation and restoration of coastal wetland ecosystems in tropical oceanic islands at local, island and regional scales.
    Master’s students will address wetland bird community and nesting ecology. Results will highlight wetland restoration needs and habitat conditions for wetlands birds. Doctoral student will address movements, resource selection and survival of the West Indian Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna arborea) using GPS telemetry. Results will highlight the functional role of this species as indicator of coastal wetlands at multiple spatial scales.
    The Master's program in Wildlife Ecology at Mississippi State University will provide 3-years of graduate research assistantship funding, including tuition and insurance. PhD program will provide up to 4 years of support in the form of graduate research assistantship with full tuition and insurance covered. Stipend amounts are competitive on a national level. For more information on the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture at Mississippi State University visit: http://www.cfr.msstate.edu/wildlife/. 

Qualifications:

     Candidates interested in applying for either MS or PhD positions are encouraged to email Dr. Francisco J. Vilella (fv1@msstate.edu, fvilella@usgs.gov) with the following information: 

1) An unofficial transcript (undergraduate and/or MS, as appropriate).

2) Curriculum vitae including contact information for three professional references.

3) A brief personal statement describing research and career goals, and how this degree would help the student achieve these goals.

MS and PhD Positions in Ecology and Environmental Science at Washington State University Vancouver.

School: Washington State University Vancouver

Location: Vancouver, WA

Job Category: Graduate Assistantships

Website: https://cas.vancouver.wsu.edu/science-graduate-programs/

Salary: **

Start Date: 08/16/2017

Last Date to Apply: 01/10/2017

 

Description:

    Graduate student positions are currently available for the MS and PhD programs in Biology, Plant Biology, Environmental Science, and Mathematics at Washington State University's Vancouver campus. Positions are funded with teaching and/or research assistantships that include tuition waivers. Faculty research areas in biology, environmental science and math include:

• Animal Behavior
• Aquatic Ecology
• Biological Oceanography
• Butterfly Ecology
• Community Ecology
• Conservation Biology
• Disease Ecology
• Disturbance Ecology
• Ecosystem Ecology
• Environmental Chemistry
• Environmental Hydrology
• Environmental Physics
• Evolutionary Ecology
• Global Change Biology
• Landscape Ecology
• Marine & Freshwater Plankton Ecology
• Microbial Ecology
• Mathematical Biology
• Neuroscience
• Physical Oceanography
• Plant-insect interactions
• Plant-herbivore interactions
• Plant Ecology
• Restoration Ecology
• Statistical Ecology
• Successional Dynamics
• Watershed Biogeochemistry

     Please see our website for more information about our graduate programs: https://cas.vancouver.wsu.edu/science-graduate-programs/ .

 

Qualifications:

     Because graduate students work closely with faculty in pursuing their research, you must contact a mentor before applying. Explore our Faculty Research pages to find someone whose research interests fit with your own, then contact that person to discuss applying to graduate school at WSU Vancouver: https://cas.vancouver.wsu.edu/science-graduate-programs/faculty-research-directory. Faculty members can be most helpful if they know a little about you. At a minimum, please provide a resume or CV, educational transcripts and information about your research background and interests.
    WSU Vancouver is just across the Columbia River from Portland, Oregon, and is close to the Cascade Mountains, Puget Sound and the Pacific Ocean. In addition to its celebrated quality of life, the Pacific Northwest boasts a fruitful climate for scientific collaboration, with opportunities at numerous medical, environmental, research and teaching institutions throughout the region.
      Priority applications are due January 10, 2017, please contact Cheryl Schultz (schultzc@wsu.edu) for additional information.