We are seeking a PhD student to begin in Fall 2026.

The student will be supervised by

Dr. Paige Ferguson, Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Alabama

and co-advised by

Dr. Jonathon Valente, Assistant Unit Leader in the Alabama Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Research Unit, U.S. Geological Survey and Research Assistant Professor in the College of Forestry, Wildlife & Environment at Auburn University.

Research will focus on how interactions between bird behavior and point count survey design influence occupancy and/or abundance estimation. The PhD student’s research will build off previous work in Ferguson’s and Valente’s labs and will use existing datasets with the potential for field work to collect additional data. The PhD student will work with Dr. Ferguson and Dr. Valente to define the dissertation research questions, but potential directions could include optimal point count design considering variation in species behavior or the biological meaning of data collected under different point count designs. Also, there is potential to use social science methods to investigate how practitioners perceive and use point count methods.

Applicants should have a background in many of the following: fish and wildlife science, wildlife management, ecological modeling, statistics, computer programming, R, BUGS or JAG or stan, GIS, and clear written and oral communication. Applicants should be highly motivated, prepared to conduct independent research, and enthusiastic about writing scientific papers for publication.

To apply, please email Dr. Ferguson (pfferguson@ua.edu) the following:

1. a cover letter describing your interest in the project and prior experiences that have prepared you for graduate work with Dr. Ferguson and Dr. Valente

2. your transcript(s) (an unofficial copy is fine),

3. a sample of your scientific writing (for example, a manuscript or lab report), and

4. contact information for 3 references.

Application are due November 10. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.

The position comes with a full tuition waiver, a competitive stipend, and health insurance. Funding is available as a Graduate Teaching Assistant through the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Alabama. Highly qualified applicants may be considered for Graduate School Fellowships, which offer a Research Assistantship during the student’s first year and a Teaching Assistantship in subsequent years.

Additional information:

Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alabama: http://bsc.ua.edu/

University of Alabama Graduate School: http://graduate.ua.edu

University of Alabama: http://www.ua.edu

Tuscaloosa: http://www.tuscaloosa.com/visitor-services

Outdoor opportunities in Alabama: http://www.outdooralabama.com

Dr. Paige Ferguson

Associate Professor, Department of Biological Sciences

The University of Alabama
Shelby 2019A
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487
Phone 205-348-1807
pfferguson@ua.edu | https://bsc.ua.edu/paige-ferguson/