Month: September 2026

MSc and PhD Positions in Freshwater Science – Olden Lab (UBC)

Posted on by
MSc and PhD Positions in Freshwater Science, Management and Conservation at UBC – Olden Lab
Location: Department of Forest & Conservation Sciences, Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship, University of British Columbia, Vancouver (Grey Point campus)
Start date: September 2027
Deadline: Considering applications on a rolling basis until Jan 15, 2027 (UBC deadlines: Feb 1, 2027)
The Olden Lab at the University of British Columbia (UBC – Vancouver) invites applications for multiple graduate student positions at the MSc and PhD levels. Successful applicants will be supervised by Dr. Julian Olden (Eddie Goldenberg Research Chair of Canada in Freshwater Ecosystem Sustainability) in the Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences at UBC – Vancouver (Grey Point campus). At the Olden Lab, we advance creative, collaborative, and interdisciplinary science to address the intertwined challenges of securing water for people and nature. This is a unique opportunity to help shape the lab from the ground up — you’ll be joining the inaugural cohort of students and post-docs as we build our research program and culture together at UBC. 
Successful candidates will work on research that advances freshwater science, management, and conservation in Canada and beyond. Topics include those listed below as well as co-developed research of mutual interest.
·       Hydropower and ecologically sustainable water management
·       Climate change impacts and adaptation strategies
·       Nature-based solutions to restoration
·       Protection and recovery of species at risk
·       Ecology and management of invasive species
·       Community ecology, food-web dynamics, macroecology
·       Application of biotracers, eDNA biosurveillance, and other emerging approaches to conservation
·       Water security in an era of expanding AI infrastructure
·       iEcology, big data, conservation technology, and machine learning
·       Knowledge co-production and collaborative, community research
Graduate students will have opportunities to undertake priority research activities that directly advance the Olden Lab’s mission. Additionally, students may contribute to knowledge mobilization activities that engage directly with academic researchers, industry partners, policy practitioners, different levels of government, and Indigenous communities across British Columbia, Canada and beyond.
Visit here to learn more.

MS or PhD assistantship in scale insect ecology and biocontrol in urban trees

Posted on by
The Wilson lab in the Department of Entomology at the University of Kentucky is recruiting an MS or PhD student in Entomology to start in Spring 2027. This position will be located in Lexington, Kentucky on the main campus of the University of Kentucky. We study sustainable insect pest management and natural enemy conservation in urban trees, shrubs, and turfgrass. The selected student would be expected to study 1) how flowering lawn weeds influence biological control of scale insects in urban trees, and 2) the degree to which lawn-applied insecticides translocate into scale honeydew in nearby trees and resultant effects on natural enemy communities. The selected student will be encouraged to develop their own research projects under the general themes of the lab.
 Ideal applicants will possess a BS degree if applying to be a PhD student and an MS degree if applying to be a PhD student. Candidates should have a background in entomology, ecology, environmental sciences, biology, or a related field. Prior experience with field-based data collection, scientific writing, and statistical analysis are preferred. Successful applicants will start in January 2027. Students will receive an assistantship which fully covers tuition and provides a competitive stipend and health insurance. Prospective applicants are encouraged to contact Dr. Caleb Wilson with questions: c.wilson@uky.edu
The University of Kentucky is located in Lexington, Kentucky which contains a vibrant downtown along with many excellent options for dining, shopping, and outdoor recreation. The department of entomology is composed of 20 faculty with expertise in a wide array of disciplines. The department is consistently ranked as one of the most productive in the country and our students have moved on to successful careers in academia, industry, and government. Starting in December 2026, the department will be based in the newly constructed Agricultural Research Building which will contain state-of-the-art lab equipment for conducting research.
Additional information can be found at the Wilson lab website: https://caleb-j-wilson.com/, and the University of Kentucky Department of Entomology graduate program: https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/academics/graduate.
Prospective students should email application materials to Dr. Caleb Wilson at c.wilson@uky.edu by September 18th, 2026. Interviews will be conducted as applications are received. Applications received after September 18th may still be considered for an interview. The selected candidate will be required to apply to the graduate school at the University of Kentucky by December 1st 2026. Candidates who apply to the graduate school without interviewing with Dr. Wilson will not be considered for this position.
To apply, please email Dr. Caleb Wilson at c.wilson@uky.edu by September 18th, 2026, with “Scale insect grad student application: First name, Last name” in the subject line and attach the following documents:
1. A cover letter describing research experience, interests, and career goals
2. CV
3. Name and contact information for 3 professional references.
4. An unofficial transcript for all degrees received or in progress.

PhD Position in the effects of heat waves on insect pollinators

Posted on by
I am pleased to announce a PhD position in my lab at the University of Würzburg in Würzburg, Germany.
This fully funded PhD project will investigate how heat waves affect insect pollinators, from their ability to detect floral scents to their foraging behaviour. The project will also examine how heat stress influences pollination efficiency, including flower visitation and pollen transfer, providing insights into how climate change may impact pollination services.
We are looking for a highly motivated candidate with a Master’s degree (or equivalent) in biology, ecology, entomology, or related field, and a background in insect physiology, behavioural ecology, and/or pollination biology as well as experience in conducting experiments in the field and laboratory, good statistical skills in R, and fluency in written and spoken English language.
Position: PhD in the effects of heat waves on insect pollinators
Location: University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
Application deadline: 15. Oktober 2026
Starting date: 01. December 2026
Further details, including information on the project, requirements, and how to apply, can be found in the job advertisement:
Please feel free to forward this announcement to anyone who may be interested.

Recruiting MS/PhD students in behavioral ecology – Reichert Lab Oklahoma State

Posted on by
The Reichert Lab in the Department of Biology at Oklahoma State University is recruiting 1-2 graduate students (MS or PhD) for Fall 2027. Our lab does integrative research in animal communication and cognition. Our main study system is acoustic communication in gray treefrogs, but we also work on other taxa (other frog species, insects) and questions (social behavior, learning, aggression, visual communication). We are searching for students with strong interests in animal behavior to develop projects related to our main areas of interest. Students should be motivated to develop independent research projects, develop skills in experimental design, programming, data analysis and writing, and to contribute to our positive and supportive lab atmosphere.

Students will be primarily supported by teaching assistantships, with the possibility for RA and summer funding depending on overall funding support for the lab. The Department of Biology has a strong group of faculty and students working on organismal biology, and the university is in a biodiverse state with a very reasonable cost of living.

We are an inclusive and supportive lab environment and encourage applications from everyone interested.

To apply, please send an email to michael.reichert@okstate.edu and attach a document containing a statement of interest (describing your background and motivation for the position) and your current CV by October 31, 2026. Candidates will be evaluated on a rolling basis, and competitive candidates will be contacted at the latest by Mid-November for an interview. Finalists will be invited to submit a full application to the graduate program (application due date January 15 2027).

For more information, see:
https://reichertlab.com/
https://reichertlab.com/join-the-lab/graduate-students/
https://cas.okstate.edu/biology/graduate_studies

Michael Reichert
Associate Professor
Department of Integrative Biology
Oklahoma State University
524 Life Sciences West
Stillwater, OK 74078 USA
+1-405-744-5555

Graduate student assistants sought for project in Chile

Posted on by
Graduate student assistants sought for project in Chile

We seek TWO graduate students to assist with a National Science Foundation supported field study on Octodon degus social organization and social structure in Chile. The research is coordinated by faculty at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and Tennessee Technological University and involves collaborations with researchers in Chile (in person) and Colombia (remotely). We are particularly interested in applications from prospective students with (i) research interests in animal social interactions, (ii) geospatial aspects of social behavior, (iii) ability to translate research to general audiences via scientific writing and (iv) Spanish speaking skills.

The prospective student(s) will contribute to a long-term study of how climatic conditions influence the fitness consequences of spatiotemporal variation in social organization and social structure. Students will work in cohorts consisting of Biology, Geology, and Math students, facilitating integrative projects and mathematical modeling of data collected in the field. The field season in Chile extends between mid-May to late November, which covers the period of mating and offspring production and care. Funding will support two field seasons in Chile.

Prospective students will enroll in a Masters or PhD program at Tennessee Technological University. Professor Manual Jara (https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=MGx_WbMAAAAJ&view_op=list_works&sortby=pubdate) will serve as the student’s advisor at Tennessee Technological University. Professor Loren Hayes (https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=I35ih68AAAAJ) coordinates the projects in Chile and will serve on the students’ thesis/dissertation committees. The field site is located within a 5 min drive from Astrocamping Ovalle ([[https://astrocampingvientosur.cl<https://astrocampingvientosur.cl/]https://astrocampingvientosur.cl<https://astrocampingvientosur.cl/>]https://astrocampingvientosur.cl<https://astrocampingvientosur.cl/]https://astrocampingvientosur.cl<https://astrocampingvientosur.cl/>), where students live for the duration of the project.

Criteria for selection:

*   U.S. citizen or permanent resident, currently a full-time student or official commitment to become a full-time student by beginning of January or May 2027.

*   Academic major: Biology, Environmental Science or related disciplines,

*   Potential for future success, to bring unique perspectives to the program and to work effectively with a team,

*   Commitment for duration of project (July-Dec 2027 and 2028)

*   Ability to work long hours and live in a remote area (45 min drive from nearest city),

*   Relevant coursework,

*   GPA (3.0 or higher; students with GPAs lower than 3.0 may apply but need to address the issue in their statement of interest).

*   All things equal: ability to drive a standard vehicle and Spanish speaking skills are preferred.

Financial benefits:

*   stipend with tuition waiver

*   Summer salary

*   Round-trip flight on U.S. carrier

*   Housing in Chile

*   Travel costs in Chile (truck rental, gas, tolls)

*   Supply/Equipment support

Interested students should prepare a single PDF file containing (i) a 2-page statement highlighting their research interests (with an emphasis on how this relates to the degu study), personal/professional goals, and how they meet the criteria for selection, (ii) unofficial undergraduate and graduate transcripts, and (iii) a CV with contact information of two people with knowledge of the student’s potential for research and to enrich diversity of the program. Please email applications as a single PDF to both Professor Manual Jara (mjara@tntech.edu) and Professor Loren Hayes (loren-hayes@utc.edu) by 30 September 2026.

MSc opportunity – University of Alberta

Posted on by

We are recruiting an MSc student to build on recent work quantifying the links between fire regime, canopy type, and ecosystem nitrogen balance in boreal forests. This next phase of the research will focus on the role understory plants play in nitrogen accumulation in soils of aspen forests following wildfire. Justine Karst (University of Alberta) and I are recruiting a student to start summer/fall 2027 at the University of Alberta. The co-supervised candidate will be given freedom to develop their ideas on the topic. A two-year stipend ($25,000 per year) will be provided and there are opportunities for TAing in the Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta.

 

Please send your CV and a one-page cover letter explaining your interest in the position to Justine Karst karst@ualberta.ca by October 31, 2026. Feel free to inquire about the position beforehand to see if it’s right for you.

 

Information on the departmental MSc program can be found here. Please check your eligibility before you apply.

 

Technician position

Posted on by
The Sogin Lab at the University of California, Riverside is looking to hire a Jr. Specialist to work on projects centered in studying the metabolite interface between hosts and their microbial communities. The successful candidate is expected to make a significant contribution to the research within the lab by contributing and supporting research activities centered in studying host-microbe interactions in seagrasses and sea anemones.

To Apply: Send an email to Maggie Sogin at maggies@ucr.edu with a current CV, Cover letter and contact details for three reference writers. Initial review of the applications will begin September 24th and will remain open until filled.

Please share broadly!

 

    • Attachment:

 Job Advertisement – Jr Specialist.pdf 

    (application/pdf)

 

Ph.D. Opportunity:  COASTAL SCIENCES DOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP

Posted on by
Ph.D. Opportunity:
COASTAL SCIENCES DOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP

Division of Coastal Sciences, School of Ocean Science and Engineering

The University of Southern Mississippi

 

Description:

The Division of Coastal Sciences of the School of Ocean Science and Engineering at The University of Southern Mississippi is pleased to announce the availability of fellowships for prospective students seeking a Ph.D. These fellowships are awarded competitively and are intended to recruit graduate students in coastal and marine science who demonstrate exceptional scholarly promise. Fellows are supported to focus full-time on their research and coursework and receive dedicated research and travel funds to develop their own program of work. Additional information on the Division of Coastal Sciences and the Coastal Sciences graduate program is available at https://www.usm.edu/graduate-programs/coastal-sciences.php. Candidates must contact potential faculty advisors in the Division of Coastal Sciences to discuss their research and educational interests and must identify a faculty sponsor prior to submitting a fellowship application. The graduate school application fee will be waived for students applying to the Coastal Sciences Doctoral Fellowship.

Location:

The University of Southern Mississippi, Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, Ocean Springs, MS

Support:

Awardees receive a stipend of $28,500 per year, plus a tuition waiver and access to university-sponsored health insurance. Awardees additionally receive a total of $15,000 in research and travel funds.

Application deadline:

January 15, 2027 for Fall 2027 admission.

How to apply

Fellowship applications are submitted at the same time as the application for admission, at https://graduateadmissions.usm.edu/apply/. To be considered for the fellowship, applicants must submit the following by the application deadline:

CV. Official transcripts. A Statement of Purpose not to exceed 1,200 words, developed without AI assistance, addressing at a minimum: academic and career goals; why The University of Southern Mississippi’s Division of Coastal Sciences is well suited to help the applicant achieve those goals; how the applicant’s experiences and background have shaped their career path and influenced their decision to pursue graduate studies; and how the research the applicant is considering will produce impactful outcomes for their field of study, the state of Mississippi, and the Gulf region.

Three letters of recommendation addressing the applicant’s qualifications for the Fellowship. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure letters are submitted by the deadline.

Candidates will be evaluated on the completeness of their application, their academic record as evidenced through the CV and transcripts, and their potential to flourish in the COA program as evidenced through the Statement of Purpose and letters of recommendation. Finalists will be invited to a virtual interview with the Fellowship Selection Committee. Questions about the Coastal Sciences Doctoral Fellowship can be sent to Jordyn.Fletcher@usm.edu.

PhD Position in the effects of heat waves on insect pollinators – University of Würzburg, Germany

Posted on by
“PhD Position in the effects of heat waves on insect pollinators – University of Würzburg, Germany”
I am pleased to announce a PhD position in my lab at the University of Würzburg in Würzburg, Germany.
This fully funded PhD project will investigate how heat waves affect insect pollinators, from their ability to detect floral scents to their foraging behaviour. The project will also examine how heat stress influences pollination efficiency, including flower visitation and pollen transfer, providing insights into how climate change may impact pollination services.
We are looking for a highly motivated candidate with a Master’s degree (or equivalent) in biology, ecology, entomology, or related field, and a background in insect physiology, behavioural ecology, and/or pollination biology as well as experience in conducting experiments in the field and laboratory, and good statistical skills in R, and fluency in written and spoken English language.
Position: PhD in the effects of heat waves on insect pollinators
Location: University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
Application deadline: 15. Oktober 2026
Starting date: 01. December 2026
Further details, including information on the project, requirements, and how to apply, can be found in the job advertisement:
Please feel free to forward this announcement to anyone who may be interested.