Subject: PhD position – invasive birds and land use change – Colorado State University

Job Title: Ph.D. Position – Invasive songbirds and land use/land cover in the United States

Location: Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado

Closing date:  July 9, 2018

RESPONSIBILITIES: The successful applicant will evaluate 1) how the abundance of introduced birds varies over space and time in the United States, and 2) how spatial and temporal patterns of abundance relate to changes in land use/cover, such as habitat fragmentation and agricultural intensification. This is an exciting opportunity to use long-term datasets on breeding birds to ask novel questions at large scales in close collaboration with ecologists at Colorado State University and the USGS Fort Collins Science Center. There is scope for the successful candidate to help shape the project based on their interests and experience. For example, there is potential for this project to shed new light on the land sparing/sharing debate, advance the theory and practice of landscape ecology, and/or explore the relationship between patterns of introduced bird abundance and impacts on ecological processes, such as pest control, crop damage, and disease transmission. We also anticipate opportunities to contribute to related projects on trans-boundary species conservation.

The successful applicant will complete her/his Ph.D. under the guidance of Dr. Liba Pejchar at Colorado State University. The preferred start date is August 21, 2018, but there is also flexibility to begin the position in January 2019.  The student will have the option of pursuing a PhD in the Graduate Degree Program in Ecology (GDPE;
http://www.ecology.colostate.edu/) or in the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology.

QUALIFICATIONS: Applicants should have both B.S. (required) and M.S.
(preferred) degrees in ecology, conservation biology, wildlife biology, environmental studies or a closely related field. Strong communication and interpersonal skills and an ability to work in a team situation are required. We seek candidates with strong quantitative skills, including proficiency in R, familiarity with a variety of statistical approaches, experience interacting with large data sets, and the ability to work with spatial data layers in ArcGIS. Relevant field experience, such as surveying for and observing passerine birds is also desirable. A demonstrated ability to publish in the peer-reviewed literature is strongly preferred. Academic qualifications include a minimum GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale). Reflecting departmental and institutional values, applicants are expected to have the ability to advance the department’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.

COMPENSATION: Salary and tuition for the duration of the project will be supported by graduate research and teaching assistantships. Funds are also available for supplies and travel.

TO APPLY: E-mail a single PDF document that includes: 1) a cover letter describing your interest in the position, 2) your curriculum vitae, 3) copies of transcripts and GRE scores (can be unofficial at this stage), and 4) the names and contact information for three references, by July 9, 2018. Please write “Ph.D. position – Introduced birds” in the subject line and e-mail to: liba.pejchar@colostate.edu.

For more information, contact:
Dr. Liba Pejchar
Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology
E-mail: liba.pejchar@colostate.edu
Website: https://sites.warnercnr.colostate.edu/liba/

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