Ph.D. student assistantship: Seagrass ecosystems and nekton communities in the Gulf Islands National Seashore by Zachary Darnell (07 Oct 2025 14:27 EDT)
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PH.D. STUDENT ASSISTANTSHIP

Understanding Drivers of Change in Seagrass Ecosystems to Inform Management of Critical Habitats in the Gulf Islands National Seashore

The University of Southern Mississippi

Ocean Springs, MS

We seek a highly motivated student to fill a funded Ph.D. assistantship at The University of Southern Mississippi’s Gulf Coast Research Laboratory in Ocean Springs, MS. The selected student will be co-advised by Dr. Zachary Darnell and Dr. Kelly Darnell. This assistantship will begin in either January or June 2026 depending on the availability of the selected student.

The assistantship will be centered on a recently funded project to identify and monitor long-term trends and variability in seagrass-dominated ecosystems in the Gulf Islands National Seashore and identify drivers of change in biodiversity and productivity of these systems to address knowledge gaps and uncertainties prioritized by resource managers. The project will involve substantial field sampling for seagrass and seagrass-associated nekton across the Gulf Islands National Seashore in Florida and Mississippi, as well as laboratory sample processing. Experience working in seagrass beds and familiarity with coastal nekton communities is preferred but not required. This is a collaborative project with researchers at multiple academic institutions and stakeholders from multiple agencies including the National Park Service.

The student selected for this position will pursue a Ph.D. degree in the Division of Coastal Sciences within the School of Ocean Science and Engineering (SOSE). The assistantship includes tuition and a stipend of $29,400 per year for a duration of 5 years. The student selected for the assistantship will be a fully integrated member of the project team and will contribute to study design, collection and analysis of data, and manuscript preparation. Applicants with an M.S. degree are preferred.

The Division of Coastal Sciences is a research and graduate education unit within SOSE, which offers graduate and undergraduate degree programs in Coastal Sciences, Hydrographic Science, Marine Biology, Marine Science, and Ocean Engineering, and a certificate program in Uncrewed Maritime Systems. The faculty and staff of SOSE leverage its location on the Gulf Coast and expertise in marine and coastal science and engineering to address challenges facing coastal and marine environments. SOSE has significant research infrastructure and facilities across four principal sites spanning the Mississippi Gulf Coast: the NASA Stennis Space Center, the Gulf Park Campus at Long Beach, the Roger F. Wicker Center for Ocean Enterprise at the Port of Gulfport, and the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory in Ocean Springs. This position will be located in Ocean Springs at the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, a marine laboratory featuring comprehensive research programs in coastal and marine biological sciences. Research program support includes state-of-the-art laboratory facilities and instrumentation; a fleet of small and large research vessels; the GCRL Museum collection; facilities at the Center for Fisheries Research and Development (CFRD) and Thad Cochran Marine Aquaculture Center (TCMAC); and the NSF I/UCRC Science Center for Marine Fisheries. Ocean Springs is a small, coastal town known for its beauty, natural resources, and vibrant arts community. It is home to galleries, restaurants, and schools that are ranked among the best in the state.

Interested students should contact Dr. Zachary Darnell (zachary.darnell@usm.edu). Please include a cover letter describing your interests and career goals, a copy of your CV, unofficial undergraduate and graduate transcripts, and contact information for three professional references. Review of applicants will begin on October 15, 2025 and continue until the position is filled.

Now Accepting Applications for the UTEP ROADS 2026-2027 Cohort! (Due March 1st 2026) by Schaeffer, Kathleen E 

Come join the Little Ecology Group (www.littleecologygroup.ca) at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia, Canada! We are hiring a PhD student to conduct aquatic biodiversity research as part of the Alpine Horizons research project, a joint effort of multiple B.C. universities, the Squamish Nation, and British Columbia Parks. You can learn more about Alpine Horizons here.

The project: A doctoral position is available for a student with a background in ecology and/or environmental science. British Columbia’s Coast Mountains feature unique alpine landscapes, webbed by glacial and snowmelt-driven streams. The biodiversity of these freshwater ecosystems is poorly documented in scientific literature, and as a result it is challenging to understand how climate change will impact stream biodiversity, or how biomonitoring could be used to evaluate impact of infrastructure development in the alpine zone. To address the needs of our project partners (Squamish Nation and B.C. Parks), this project aims to fill the knowledge gap on freshwater macroinvertebrate diversity in the Coast Mountains, as well as investigating stream ecosystem functioning.  This project will entail fieldwork in rugged areas, as well as conceptual work linking species traits to climate risk and environmental conditions.

Within these topics, the group leader Dr. Chelsea Little is excited to work with the student to develop research ideas that inspire them. The Little Ecology group focuses on community and landscape ecology, but across a wide array of ecosystem types, scales, and taxonomic groups. We seek group members who would thrive in this environment and who enjoy learning about the processes at work in the natural world.

Expectations: Doctoral students are expected to develop at least three research chapters for their dissertation. We expect that students will be increasingly independent as they advance through their doctoral career. Group members should conduct sound, reproducible research and uphold principles of open science. In this interdisciplinary project, we also expect that students consider input from project partners and help mobilize their knowledge to communities.

The Little Ecology Group values diversity and seeks to build an inclusive lab. Currently, our research group consists of mix of graduate students, undergraduate researchers, and one postdoc. Group members are expected to contribute to a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere. International students and those from groups that are under-represented in ecology are encouraged to apply. You can read our lab values statement below the “how to apply” section of this page.

Eligibility:  Candidates must have completed a masters degree in a relevant field. Competitive candidates will have experience working in field settings; strong statistical and modelling skills, including comfort in the R computing environment; and excellent interpersonal and writing abilities. Expertise in freshwater macroinvertebrate identification is an asset. Experience working outdoors in mountain environments is beneficial, but the only requirement is willingness to conduct multi-day research trips in a remote environment, hiking with considerable elevation gain and occasionally in adverse weather conditions.

The student will be enrolled in the PhD program in either the Biological Sciences department or the School of Environmental Science at Simon Fraser University, depending on student interest. Information about the program, including admission criteria, can be found here for Biological Sciences and here for Environmental Science.

Both Canadian and international students are eligible for these positions. Note that a Canadian student could start as early as May 2026, but due to study permit processing times, an international student could realistically not start until September 2026.

Compensation: PhD students receive $34,100 per year in compensation for at least four years. It is expected that a portion of this will come from teaching assistantships, and that students will apply for appropriate fellowships/scholarships. For example, Canadian applicants are expected to develop an NSERC CGS-D application in fall of 2026 or 2027, if they are selected for the position. The balance of the students’ compensation packages will come from grant funding. The Biological Sciences funding policy can be found here.

How to Apply: To express your interest, get more information, or ask questions about my mentorship approach, please email your CV, academic transcript(s), and a cover letter that includes a short description of your research interests and background and a note about your career goals to Chelsea_little AT sfu.ca. Review of applications will begin on October 25, 2025, and continue until the position is filled. If the position is still listed on this site, we are still accepting applications!

Our values:

As stated in its name, the Little Ecology Group values each little piece that makes up our collective group. Our lab members come from varying backgrounds, including in our positionality and understanding of the world, and we are dedicated to making this a safe place for people of all backgrounds and levels of experience. The Little Ecology Group celebrates these differences, for they enrich what we all share: our curiosity and love for science. We strive to create an environment where people can feel confident and supported in seeking higher learning, regardless of their background or experience, and where we practice kindness and respect for ourselves and others. We seek inspiration from other group members and aim to create a fun and collaborative environment where we can learn in an engaging and supportive way. Although our research is focused on ecology, our work is not limited to only the natural world and we must consider all aspects of natural and social science, including historical relevance, cultural importance, political influence, and scientific method. We recognize the importance of not only doing science, but of understanding it in the larger context of the world, and of communicating it effectively across communities. We are community participants who share our work with local policy and decision-makers to help protect nature. If you align with these values or if you have new views to challenge and improve who we are as a group, the Little Ecology Group welcomes you!

Ph.D. position in Dryland Ecosystem Dynamics at the University of Nevada Las Vegas by Matthew Petrie (01 Oct 2025 19:27 EDT)
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PhD Opportunity at Emory University’s Environmental Sciences and Society (ESS) program by Lonsdorf, Eric V. (01 Oct 2025 17:38 EDT)
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The Ecology, Evolution, Behavior, and Conservation faculty in the Department of Biological Sciences at Northern Illinois University are seeking applicants to the M.S. and Ph.D. graduate programs starting Fall 2026.

Research interests among the faculty are diverse and include community ecology, restoration ecology, conservation genetics, vertebrate and invertebrate evolution, behavioral ecology, and microbial ecology.

EEBC faculty that are taking graduate students for Fall 2026 are:

Michael W. Henson: Our lab is interested in how microbes shape, and are shaped by, changing aquatic environments. Right now, we’re tackling three big projects: The Mississippi River Microbiome, Diadama Mass Mortality (NSF Funded), and Microbial Thermal Stress tolerance: https://www.theaquaticmicrobiologylab.com/

Holly P. Jones, restoration ecology and conservation biology: https://hjones82.wixsite.com/website

Jennifer A.H. Koop, ecology and evolution of host-parasite interactions; invasion biology: https://jenniferkoop.weebly.com/

Karen E. Samonds, paleontology, skeletal biology and paleobiogeography: http://www.sadabe.org/Samonds/Index.html

Details of the graduate program and application process are available at https://www.niu.edu/clas/biology/academics/graduate-studies/index.shtml The department offers teaching assistantships including stipend and tuition waiver, on a competitive basis. The deadline for application materials is January 1, 2026. However, prospective students should contact potential faculty advisors well in advance of applying to discuss research interests and relevant qualifications. See faculty websites for how to get in touch.

Northern Illinois University is a ~15,000-student research university and Hispanic-Serving Institution situated an hour from downtown Chicago in DeKalb, Illinois. Dekalb is a diverse community of 50,000 with a low cost of living. Regional research resources include The Field Museum, Burpee Museum of Natural History, Nachusa Grasslands, Morton Arboretum, Fermilab, Argonne National Laboratory, and numerous local county forest preserves and state parks.

THIS WEEK’S OCEAN JOBS LIST

Highlights

1. Coral Reef Ecologist, National Geographic Society – Pristine Seas, Remote, United States
2. Executive Director, Golden State Salmon Association, California, Remote, United States
3. Executive Director, International Sea Turtle Society, Remote, United States
4. International Fisheries Conservation – Senior Program Associate, The Ocean Foundation (Fiscal Sponsorship Program), Remote, United States
5. Ocean Climate Diplomacy Initiative (OCDI) Director, Oceans 5, Remote, United States
6. Senior Litigation Lawyer, Ocean Vision Legal, Remote, United States

New Jobs

1. Aquatic Technician, Rentokil North America, Virginia Beach, Virginia, United States
2. Assistant or Associate Professor of Bioinformatics, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas, United States
3. Coastal Community Engagement Officer, Cornwall Wildlife Trust, Truro, Cornwall, United Kingdom
4. Coldwater Fisheries Biologist, New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States
5. Construction Safety Specialist, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Lacey, Washington, United States
6. Education and Outreach Specialist, National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, Newport News, Virginia, United States
7. Education and Outreach Specialist, National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, Sheboygan, Wisconsin, United States
8. Environmental Field Technician, Montrose Environmental Group, Carlsbad, New Mexico, United States
9. External Communications Officer (Freelance or Agency), Monk Seal Alliance (Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation), Remote; Cyprus; Türkiye; Greece
10. Field Biologist – Fisheries Management Section, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Maine, United States
11. Fish Production Facilities Operations Manager, Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, Auburn, Washington, United States
12. Fish Production Scientist 3, Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, Auburn, Washington, United States
13. Fisheries Biologist – NE Region, Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks, Tupelo, Mississippi, United States
14. Fisheries Technician 2 – Juvenile Salmon Survival, Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission, Clarkston, Washington, United States
15. Flood and Coastal Risk Officer – Grade III, Office of Public Works, Ireland
16. Hatchery Project Management Lead – Management Analyst 5, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Olympia, Washington, United States
17. Licensing Program Manager – WMS Band 3, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Olympia, Washington, United States
18. Manager, Conservation, National Audubon Society, Minnesota, United States
19. Marine Mammal System Assistant I, LBYD Federal, Silverdale, Washington, United States
20. Natural Resource Management and Monitoring Coordinator, Cardinal Point Captains, Inc., Galveston, Texas, United States
21. Ordinary Seaman (OS), Helix Energy Solutions Group, Louisiana, United States
22. PhD Research Assistantship in Fish Ecology/Population Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States
23. Population Sustainability Post Doctoral Associate, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, San Diego, California, United States
24. Postdoctoral Fellow, The University of Alabama — Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering Department, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States
25. Senior Attorney, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Multiple Locations, United States
26. Survey Technician, Bateman Civil Survey Company, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, United States

PhD and MS positions at Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi

The Lumibao Lab (https://candicelumibaolab.com) in the Department of Life Sciences, Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi is looking for a prospective PhD and MS students to begin in either in the Spring or Fall 2026. The student’s research focus will have flexibility but will primarily focus on either of these three themes (depending on students’ interests): eco-evo dynamics of plant-microbe interactions, microbial interactions and community dynamics and applications of emerging technologies against plant pathogens. Applicants should be highly self-motivated and have at least one year of research experience. Strong applicants will have some experience in molecular/microbial work, field experience, bioinformatics and in statistical computing (e.g., experience using R). For PhD applicants, preference will be given to those with MS degree. Positions are funded through combination of RAship (grants and fellowships) and TAship.

More information on the department and program can be found here: https://www.tamucc.edu/science/departments/life-sciences/marine-biology/.

Qualifications: Applicants should be highly self-motivated and have at least one year of research experience. For PhD applicants, preference will be given to those with MS degree. Strong applicants will have some experience in molecular/microbial work, fieldwork and in statistical computing (e.g. experience using R) or bioinformatics.

How to apply: Interested applicants should send via email a 1) brief statement of interest or cover letter describing experience, why your interest fits the Lumibao lab and general career goals, (2) CV (3) unofficial transcript, preferably by October 10, 2025, to Candice Lumibao: candice.lumibao@tamucc.edu