PhD Assistantship in Urban forest ecosystem services: University of Northern British Columbia

School: University of Northern British Columbia

Location: Prince George, British Columbia, Canada

Job Category: Graduate Assistantships

Salary: 18000

Last Date to Apply; 12/15/2016

 

Description: 

    Dr. Oscar Venter and the Integrated Forest Decisions (IFD) Laboratory at the University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George are now inviting applications for fully funded Masters and PhD positions starting in 2017. Students will undertake thesis projects on the ecosystem services provided by urban forests. Urban forests provide crucial opportunities for people living in cities to experience nature on a daily basis, and receive the benefits from these natural environments, including air and water purification, climate mitigation, noise reduction and recreation. It is at the wildland urban interface that these ecosystem services are most important. Two students are sought to undertake thesis work to quantify and map ecosystem services from urban forest in Prince George, BC. It is anticipated that students will undertake projects to enhance our understanding of how urban forests provide benefits to people at local and global scales, and how these benefits are valued by urban residents.
    Located in north-central British Columbia, Prince George is proudly known as the ‘city in nature’, largely because of its extensive and varied forests. These forests, and the greater region, provide a wide range of recreational amenities including skiing, canoeing, kayaking, fly-fishing, hiking and mountain biking. Northern and central British Columbia offers an unparalleled natural environment in which to live and work. UNBC is one of Canada's best small universities and was ranked #1 by the 2015 Maclean's survey. We are also Canada's Green University TM (voted #1 for environmental commitment in the Globe and Mail survey). We are leading the way to a more sustainable future through our passion for discovery, people, the environment and the North.
     Prospective graduate students will be expected to develop their own research goals, and should have curiosity, motivation, and independence. Students should also be interested in coupling field surveys with remote sensing, GIS, and modeling. Students could have a background in ecology, geography, environmental science or ecological economics. Students with a strong quantitative background (remote sensing, GIS, statistics, modelling) are especially encouraged to apply. Full funding is available, but students will be expected to apply for additional funding. Prospective students will apply to the Natural Resources and Environmental Studies program (http://www.unbc.ca/nres-graduate-program). Prospective students should email a short summary of their research interests as well as a CV to Dr. Venter (oscar.venter@unbc.ca) before applying to the program. 

Qualifications:

    Prospective students should have completed a bachelor's degree in ecology, geography, forestry, environmental science or ecological economics. Students with a strong quantitative background (remote sensing, GIS, statistics, modelling) are especially encouraged to apply.

Two PhD Positions in Mule Deer Ecology: U Idaho and UBC-Okanagan.

School: UIdaho and UBC-Okanagan

Location: Idaho; Britiish Columbia

Job Category: Graduate Assistantships

Salary: TBD

Start Date: 09/01/2017

Last Date to Apply: 11/30/2016

 

Description:

    Mule deer ecology in the Boundary Region of British Columbia, Canada. We are seeking two PhD students to conduct dissertation research focused on how changing habitat conditions, predation, and competition affect mule deer demography in the Boundary Region of British Columbia. This region – located along the BC-WA state border – once supported British Columbia’s most productive mule deer population, but this population has not rebounded since declining in the 1970s. A recent, large-scale fire has provided the rare conditions needed to conduct a landscape-scale experiment on how habitat change affects mule deer population dynamics.
    Working closely with the BC Wildlife Federation (http://www.bcwf.net/) and the Okanagan Nation Alliance (http://www.syilx.org/), one student will be supervised by Dr. Sophie Gilbert (http://www.gilbertresearch.org/) at the University of Idaho and one student will be supervised by Dr. Adam Ford (http://atford.weebly.com/) at the University of British Columbia – Okanagan Campus. The Idaho-based student will examine how nutritional quality of the landscape impacts fawn and adult female fitness (body condition, survival, and reproductive performance) and use these individual responses to understand population-level consequences of landscape change. Approaches include GPS-collaring of adult females, VHF telemetry of fawns, and plant surveys to develop spatial-explicit, integrated population models. The UBC-based student will address how landscape and community context impact mule deer forage and exposure to predation. Approaches include herbivore-specific experimental exclosures, plant surveys, multi-species occupancy modelling with camera traps, and telemetry to assess predator-prey interactions, competition, and migratory connectivity.
    The PhD students are expected to work collaboratively on this team-based project and to engage with stakeholders, fish and game clubs, provincial range and wildlife agencies, industry, and First Nations.

 

Qualifications:

    Desired qualifications for both candidates include experience with or willingness to learn large mammal handling, VHF/GPS telemetry, plant identification, 4x4 vehicle operation, wilderness first aid, GIS analyses, habitat selection, population modeling, and occupancy analysis. Required qualifications include a MSc in ecology or related fields, proficiency in English, and valid driver’s licence and passport. To apply for these positions, please send a single pdf attachment (file name formatted as lastname_firstname_phd_date.pdf) to boundarydeerproject@gmail.com containing:

(1) A cover letter indicating: (a) preferred placement location, (b) past experiences in field ecology, and (c) approaches to stakeholder engagement

(2) A recent CV.

(3) Copies of undergraduate and graduate transcripts

(4) Copies of GRE scores for US applicants 

(5) Contact information for three references. 

Please use the subject header “Mule deer PhD application”. We expect the students will commence graduate studies in September 2017. Review of applications will begin November 30th. We anticipate confirmation of funding in March 2017. Prospective candidates are encouraged to apply to the respective graduate programs of their desired placement by January 31st, 2017.

Wildlife Responses to Cover Cropping: Purdue University

School: Purdue University

Location: West Lafayette, Indiana

Job Category: Graduate Assistantships

Website: https://ag.purdue.edu/fnr/Pages/Profile.aspx?strAlias=rswihart&intDirDeptID=15

Salary: 12-month stipend, full tuition, and insurance

Start Date: 08/15/2017

Last Date to Apply: 12/15/2016

 

Description:

    Graduate student (PhD and MS) assistantships available to participate in research projects exploring responses of mammals and birds to cover crops in corn and soybean agroecosystems. Projects will involve comparative field studies and experiments in conjunction with quantitative modeling and analysis. Possible foci include vole population dynamics and determinants of damage to soybeans, cover crop impacts on spatial distribution and density of upland game species, and cascading effects of cover crops on avian predators.

 

Qualifications:

    Minimum qualifications include a BS (for MS position) or MS (for PhD position) in Wildlife Biology, Ecology, or related field; GPA of 3.2 or greater; and above average GRE scores (at least 50th percentile for quantitative and verbal; at least 4.0 for analytical writing). For full consideration, please respond by 15-December-2016 and submit via email a cover letter, CV, GRE scores (unofficial is fine), transcript (unofficial is fine), and names and contact numbers of three references. For more information please contact: Robert K Swihart (rswihart@purdue.edu).

New Master of Science in Environmental Policy & Management at UC Davis

School: University of California - Davis

Location: Davis, CA

Job Category: Graduate Assistantships, Training

Website: http://epm.ucdavis.edu/

Salary: --

Start Date: 08/15/2017

Last Date to Apply: 01/15/2017

 

Description:

    The University of California, Davis is pleased to announce a new Master of Science in Environmental Policy and Management (EPM) (epm.ucdavis.edu) degree program at the John Muir Institute of the Environment. We are now accepting student applications or the Fall 2017 academic year. The EPM program focuses on the application of environmental sciences to real-world environmental policy and management issues. UC Davis provides an ideal setting for this pursuit as one of the world’s strongest campuses in environmental research and science. Individuals with scientific and engineering backgrounds who seek applied professional careers in environmental policy and management are especially encouraged to apply. The availability of an accelerated one-year program makes EPM an ideal option for early and mid-career professionals. EPM students will conduct policy analysis on projects proposed by partner agencies and institutions. We encourage environmental organizations to contact us with their pressing environmental policy analysis needs and become EPM program partners. Visit the EPM website (epm.ucdavis.edu) for details on applying to the program. The priority application deadline is January 15, 2017. For more information, contact us at: epminfo@ucdavis.edu.

Qualifications:

    See degree requirements: http://epm.ucdavis.edu/degree-requirements.html,