Environmental drivers and spatial prediction of waterfowl breeding abundance, distribution, and population dynamics in the Prairie Pothole Region

Opportunity: Ph.D. Graduate Research Assistantship

Program: Department of Forestry and Environmental Conservation | Clemson University

Location: Georgetown, SC (James C. Kennedy Waterfowl and Wetlands Conservation Center) and/or Clemson, SC (Clemson’s main campus). The location is flexible and depends on the needs of the student and project.

Start Date: Spring 2027 (January)

Last Date to Apply: September 30 or open until filled

General Description: A Ph.D. graduate research assistantship is available through the James C. Kennedy Waterfowl and Wetlands Conservation Center, Clemson University, beginning January 2027 (flexible). This position will support a collaborative research project with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Region 6 & 3 Habitat and Population Evaluation Team (HAPET) to evaluate, refine, and expand spatially explicit models of breeding duck pair abundance, distribution, and recruitment across the U.S. Prairie Pothole Region (USPPR), the Northern Great Plains, and beyond.

Background: The USPPR supports 30–50% of North America’s breeding duck populations annually. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has collected long-term monitoring data of breeding duck abundance and remotely-sensed wetland habitat information through the Four-Square-Mile Breeding Waterfowl Survey (FSMS) for nearly 40 years. These data are used in spatially explicit models (i.e., decision-support tools) to prioritize where and what type of wetlands and grassland conservation efforts should occur within the USPPR. Amid ongoing efforts to modernize the FSMS and derived decision-support tools, HAPET scientists recently developed new models of breeding duck abundance and recruitment; however, these models must be rigorously evaluated, tested, and expanded to new geographies and across different species before they can be operationalized. Thus, this work has the potential to directly inform conservation and policy decisions for breeding waterfowl in the most important landscape in the Northern Hemisphere. Derived products will be used for conservation prioritization and outcome-based effects analyses by the National Wildlife Refuge System, the Prairie Pothole Joint Venture, state wildlife agencies, and other conservation partners, and will help guide ongoing redesign efforts of the FSMS.

Objectives: The student will work closely with HAPET scientists and other partners to develop reproducible workflows and spatially explicit population models for use in decision-support tools used for waterfowl conservation. Core objectives are to (1) evaluate, extend, and/or refine breeding waterfowl models and (2) quantify sensitivity to changes in survey design or sampling intensity. The student will have the freedom to develop additional objectives in collaboration with their advisor and HAPET staff (e.g., data integration, community models, dynamic detection probabilities).

Fieldwork: While the research is primarily a modeling and remote-sensing based project, the student will join HAPET staff for 1–3 months in the USPPR (Bismarck, ND) to assist with FSMS surveys, aerial photography and habitat mapping, pre-season banding, and other fieldwork and related activities. Fieldwork will give the student firsthand knowledge of the survey data used in models and provide the unique opportunity to interact with HAPET staff and partners in the USPPR that use these models to support conservation prioritization, outcome analyses, and policy decisions.

Qualifications: Ideal candidates will hold an M.S. degree in wildlife ecology, natural resources management, computational biology, statistics, geospatial information science, or a related field. Preference will be given to applicants with a strong quantitative background (e.g., GIS, Google Earth Engine, R, JAGS) and knowledge and experience with migratory bird ecology and management. The position will involve extensive interaction and communication with federal agencies and NGOs, so strong interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate effectively in virtual and in person settings is essential.

Expectations: (1) Willingness for summer fieldwork in the USPPR; (2) Publish results in peer-reviewed journals and present at scientific meetings; (3) A high standard of scientific and personal integrity.

Salary and Benefits: Student stipend will start at $32,500. A 3% cost-of-living increase can be negotiated annually, following satisfactory performance. Graduate tuition waiver and health benefits will be provided in accordance with Clemson University policies. Ample opportunities for professional development exist and can be strategically coordinated to align with the successful applicants career aspirations.

Application Instructions: To be considered, please send as a single .pdf (1) a cover letter, (2) curriculum vitae or resume, (3) unofficial university transcripts, (4) and contact information for three references to Dr. Nick Masto (nmasto@clemson.edu). To ensure your application is received, paste “Breeding Waterfowl PhD Application” into the subject line of your email. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled