Ph.D. position in Dryland Ecosystem Dynamics at the University of Nevada Las Vegas

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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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POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT: Ph.D. position in Dryland Ecosystem Dynamics at the University of Nevada Las Vegas

Are you interested in studying the environments of ecosystems in the southwestern United States? My lab has collected datasets capturing unique locations, vegetation attributes, and meteorological events in deserts, woodlands, and forests in Arizona and Nevada. I am recruiting a student who would like to use these datasets to design and carry out scientific studies focused on the meteorological, temperature, and water dynamics of dryland ecosystems. Our lab elucidates the mechanisms of ecosystem change using techniques and data sources from field sampling and experiments, remote sensing and instrumentation, and modeling. The selected student will have the opportunity to learn and assist with these techniques as part of their training.

The dryland ecology group in UNLV’s School of Life Sciences is small, friendly, and collaborative, with 5 faculty members, 10 graduate students, and 2 postdocs.

Applicants are welcome to visit the lab website (https://unlv-ecohydrology.mystrikingly.com/) and email me (matthew.petrie@unlv.edu). Please note that UNLV does not allow faculty to “pre-evaluate” applicants before they apply to the graduate program (https://www.unlv.edu/admissions/graduate/apply). This means that I cannot provide feedback on applicant qualifications, likelihood of being accepted, etc., until after they have applied. I can answer questions and provide more detail about projects and other items that can help determine if this position is a good fit. The anticipated start date is August, 2026.

The successful applicant will have most or all of the following:

– M.A. or M.S. degree in a STEM field

– Peer reviewed publication(s)

– Data analysis experience

– GIS experience

– Interest and creativity in ecological research

– Writing skills

This position will be housed within the School of Life Sciences at the University of Nevada Las Vegas (https://www.unlv.edu/lifesciences). UNLV is a Carnegie R1 research university, and is one of the most diverse campuses in the nation. In addition to nightlife, dining, and entertainment options, Las Vegas offers extensive year-round outdoor recreation, a ski area, and ten US National Parks and the Pacific Ocean within a day’s drive.

Thank you for your interest!

—

PhD Opportunity at Emory University’s Environmental Sciences and Society (ESS) program

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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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I (Eric Lonsdorf) am recruiting a PhD student to join a collaborative team working to integrate the contributions of nature to people into decisions aimed at supporting more sustainable cities and agricultural systems. The student would be supported by a graduate fellowship and join a cohort of other students as part of Emory University’s Environmental Sciences and Society (ESS) graduate program.

 

I study how ecosystems contribute to people’s well-being and how decisions shape those contributions over time. The collaborative projects I’m a part of blend ecological modeling, climate change science, and decision analysis to tackle applied problems—from pollinator services and conservation and sustainable agriculture to urban resilience and natural capital accounting – my published work can be found here.

 

I am looking for a student with strong quantitative skills and a passion for connecting science to sustainability challenges. Ideal candidates will have experience in one or more areas such as geospatial analysis, statistical or ecological modeling, environmental or ecological economics, or decision analysis, and some programming experience with tools like R, Python, or MATLAB. Evidence of clear writing or communication is important, as is an interest in collaborative, transdisciplinary research that bridges ecology, data science, and societal decision-making. This student will gain experience in integrative modeling (e.g., InVEST, custom Python/R/matlab workflows), work directly with decision-makers, and develop projects that connect fundamental ecology with applied solutions for sustainability. The student will also have the opportunity to work with the Natural Capital Project, where I am a senior fellow, and contribute to applied projects with Natural Capital Insights, a company I co-founded.

 

Rather than e-mailing me, please let me know of your interest by filling out this brief questionnaire.

 

Apply here by December 1st! Frequently asked questions are found here.

 

Graduate opportunities at Northern Illinois University

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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.

Graduate position: GeorgeWashingtonU.EvolutionaryBiology

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The Zhang Lab (visit https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fzhanglabgwu.weebly.com%2F&data=05%7C02%7Cmid14018%40ad.uconn.edu%7C89650eb1b4994a30209508ddfc21212b%7C17f1a87e2a254eaab9df9d439034b080%7C0%7C0%7C638943941449795356%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=%2FAK206JrwV8u5mFqSvcEljZNjWcMC1ImHR%2FWq%2F2Q61k%3D&reserved=0 for more information) is currently seeking a highly motivated PhD student to join our team in the Department of Biological Sciences at George Washington University, with the expected start date in the fall of 2026. The deadline for application is December 1 st, 2025.

The Zhang lab focuses on understanding two fundamental evolutionary
processes: adaptation and speciation.  Current research topics in the lab include, but are not limited to, understanding evolutionary responses to environmental change and the mechanisms of speciation. We are broadly interested in how populations adapt to shifting climates and novel habitats, and how these adaptive processes contribute to the origin and maintenance of biodiversity. Projects in the lab often integrate ecological fieldwork, genomic analyses, and experimental approaches to address questions such as: How do environmental gradients shape patterns of adaptation? What genetic and phenotypic mechanisms underlie reproductive isolation? And how do interactions between species (e.g., hosts, natural
enemies) influence evolutionary trajectories?

The successful applicant has the chance to develop their own projects that are within PI’s realm of interests in evolutionary biology. Experience in field work, programming language (e.g. R, python, unix), molecular biology skills (DNA-based lab work), and quantitative analysis are strongly preferred. This position is guaranteed for five years of funding including summer stipends. It consists of two years of TA and three years of fellowship. Detailed application documents can be found here (
https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fbulletin.gwu.edu%2Farts-sciences%2Fbiological-sciences%2Fphd%2F%23admissionstext&data=05%7C02%7Cmid14018%40ad.uconn.edu%7C89650eb1b4994a30209508ddfc21212b%7C17f1a87e2a254eaab9df9d439034b080%7C0%7C0%7C638943941449820171%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=w%2FSegpi0gXzGYxYYPAA1pVsRRrK2hoj2LPcE7CwYR4Y%3D&reserved=0
).

Prior to applying to the department of Biological Science at GWU, please contact Dr. Zhang at linyi.zhang@gwu.edu. In the email, please include (1) CV, (2) an unofficial transcript, (3) a brief statement describing your research interests, relevant research experience, and motivation for joining the lab, (4) your referees’ contact information, (5) a writing sample.

grad student positions in ecology at the University of British Columbia

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The Williams Lab at UBC is looking for 1 MSc and 1 – 2 PhD students to join our group in 2026. We study how evolution and ecology interact to change population dynamics and species interactions in space and time. We want to understand how fast populations of native species can expand their ranges with climate change and invasive plants can expand following introduction to a new region, and also how plants in the endangered Garry oak ecosystem will respond to climate change. To answer these questions, we combine experiments in the field and greenhouse with quantitative models. We are also participating in research to understand the effects of trampling by hikers on alpine plants.

 

Graduate students have the flexibility to develop a project that fits into ongoing lab research. Specifically, for MSc students, there is an opportunity to lead a project in the Coast Range mountains investigating how the alpine plant community is affected by trampling by hikers (led by Dr. Nina Hewitt, and co-supervised by the Williams lab). PhD students will have more flexibility in project development, with the goal of one student leading a project on Vancouver Island, and a second leading a project exploring range expansion of invasive plants into higher elevations in the Coast Range and/or Interior mountains. In the Garry oak ecosystem, we have a 10-year (and counting) dataset on demography and community composition of understory species that can be harnessed in combination with experiments and/or further data collection. For the mountain invasion project, we have scouted a suite of candidate species and potential field sites, with much opportunity to develop the scope and particular questions of the project.

 

We are looking for graduate students who are curious about population and community ecology, with at least some relevant undergraduate coursework and/or research experience. Students in the group will develop strong quantitative skills (statistical and/or modeling) and do reproducible research. Prospective students should be in interested in becoming more quantitative, and we will help them get there. Prospective students should have experience identifying plants, an introduction to R and statistics, and a valid driver’s license. For students who wish to work in the mountains, backcountry hiking and camping experience is advised, and the ability to carry a backpack.

 

The Williams Lab is committed to creating a safe and supportive lab environment. Our group interacts with a diverse group of geographers interested in the environment, and with ecologists and evolutionary biologists from across UBC, who are brought together by the Biodiversity Research Centre for classes, seminars and discussion groups. We have ties with the Nature Conservancy of Canada, the B.C. Ministry of Forests, Metro Vancouver, and land managers at native prairie sites across the Pacific Northwest.

 

Applications for MSc students are due in mid-December 2025 and for Ph.D. students in early January 2026, for a May or September 2026 start date. Curious if you might fit into the group? Send an email to jennifer.williams@geog.ubc.ca telling a little about your research interests. Already know you’d like to be considered, please fill out this webform. We will start reviewing responses in mid to late October.

 

For questions about the MSc position, email nina.hewitt@geog.ubc.ca. For more info, see the lab website: http://williamslabubc.weebly.com/; for more about the alpine trampling project: https://garibaldialpine.wixsite.com/garibaldialpine/copy-of-our-team-2024; learn about applying to UBC Geography here: http://www.geog.ubc.ca/graduate/.

    • — Jennifer Williams Professor, Department of Geography & Biodiversity Research Centre University of British Columbia office phone: +1 604 827-1592 email:

 jennifer.williams@geog.ubc.ca 

    • website:

 https://www.geog.ubc.ca/persons/jennifer-williams/

THIS WEEK’S OCEAN JOBS LIST

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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

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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

​​ Lakes Region Conservation Corps Full Year Members

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Are you looking to break into the field of conservation, but don’t know where to start? Consider spending 2026 in beautiful New Hampshire and joining the Lakes Region Conservation Corps (LRCC), an AmeriCorps service program that develops skills and experiences for the next generation of conservation professionals. LRCC members are the driving force behind many of the conservation efforts of New Hampshire’s Lakes Region.  The LRCC is seeking 15 full year AmeriCorps at Squam Lakes Association, Green Mountain Conservation Group, The Nature Conservancy, and Mount Washington Observatory. For more information on each host site please visit: https://www.lakesregionconservationcorps.org/lrcc-sites.
Key responsibilities may include:
-Engage both youth and adults in environmental education and outreach programs.
-Recruit and lead volunteer crews.
-Work toward the eradication of invasive species in the lakes and watersheds.
-Maintain and construct regional trail networks.
-And more!
If you have any questions, please email Elise Eifler at eeifler@squamlakes.org

PhD Assistantship on large mammal community ecology

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We are searching for a PhD student to lead a new experimental study investigating how coyotes and wild pigs influence the behavior of deer and other mammals in the southeastern United States. Coyotes have relatively recently colonized the southeast, taking on the role of the largest carnivore across much of the region and exerting top-down effects on the native large herbivore (white-tailed deer) and other trophic levels. At the same time, wild pigs have spread across much of the southeast, and our recent research suggests they are impacting predator-prey dynamics in this system. However, disentangling the relative effects of coyotes and wild pigs individually on ecosystem processes has heretofore been limited due to the fact that both species occur ubiquitously across any area where they co-occur, i.e., studying the effects of one species in isolation from the other has been impossible. Therefore, with state and federal partners, we will be using large (100 acre) exclosures that will selectively exclude each of these target species.
The student is expected to take part in this exciting new project (exclosures were just constructed) by developing research questions related specifically to deer and other mammalian responses to our experimental design. Within the study area we are placing GPS tracking collars on coyotes, deer and wild pigs, allowing the student to investigate questions regarding how removal of predation risk and/or risk of interacting with the dominant competitor (i.e., wild pigs) impact deer movement behavior, stress physiology, maternal care and fawn survival. We also have an extensive camera trap array and drift fences in place, making the system well suited to assess community-level responses by carnivores and other trophic levels.
Applicants are required to have an MS in wildlife ecology or a related field, previous experience in studying the ecology of wildlife in a field setting, be a US citizen and have a valid US driver’s license. Top applicants will have a strong interest in the ecology of large mammals and their impact on other trophic levels, as well as evidence of strong scientific writing and basic statistics.  Applicants should submit a cover letter, CV, contact information for 3 references, unofficial transcripts, and a scientific writing sample as a single PDF titled “LastName_PhDapplication” to djachow@clemson.edu prior to September 22, 2025.  The selected student would start at Clemson in January 2026.

Invasive Hornet Survey Specialist

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Invasive Hornet Survey Specialist
JOB SUMMARY
Join our team to protect South Carolina from invasive pests! We are looking for an Invasive Hornet Survey Specialist to support early detection and rapid response efforts for the Yellow-legged Hornet (YLH). You’ll conduct independent and team-based surveys, respond to public reports, and enforce plant pest and honeybee regulations. The role involves a mix of fieldwork, outreach, and regulatory enforcement in various environments including apiaries, farms, forests, and residential areas.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
• Conduct surveys and field inspections for invasive species
• Trap and monitor for Yellow-legged hornet (YLH) presence
• Assist in eradication and containment efforts
• Respond to public reports and educate stakeholders
• Maintain and responsibly operate state equipment
• Work throughout assigned region and other required areas

• Carry out additional duties as needed

DETAILS

Location: Beaufort, SC Area
• Application Deadline: 9/29/2025 (possibility of extension)
• Minimum Requirement: HS diploma & experience or BS
• Preferred: BS or MS
• Hours: 37.5–40 per week
• Salary: $47,588-54,000 per year (temporary with possibility of extension)
• Job ID #: 109916
• Job Title: Investigator IV Beaufort, SC