Description

Graduate assistantship focused on space-use and movement ecology of large mammals- We are seeking a highly motivated person to pursue a PhD degree in the Environmental and Life Sciences Program at Trent University in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada. The graduate project will focus on using extensive existing GPS and VHF radio collar datasets from large mammals (wolves, coyotes, elk and white-tailed deer) to examine space-use and movement behaviour. The successful applicant will have considerable responsibility and freedom to formulate and address basic and applied research questions grounded in ecological theory. The student will have ample opportunity to assist in ongoing large mammal fieldwork, including capturing and collaring efforts, deployment and maintenance of remotely triggered trail cameras, aerial monitoring of collared animals, and conducting aerial population surveys. The study systems are all based in Ontario, Canada and the research will have direct applied relevance to the province. The student will be co-advised by Dr. Joe Northrup and Dr. Brent Patterson both of the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry & Trent University.

Requirements

M.S. degree in ecology, wildlife, biology or related field is required but exceptional past experience may be considered in place of a M.S. degree. Desired qualifications include a GPA >3.5 (4.0 scale) and strong GRE scores. A strong background in ecology, demonstrated analytical capabilities, and passion for wildlife research are required. Strong quantitative, writing, and oral communication skills are also required. The strongest applicants will have demonstrated experience with programming languages commonly used for statistical and scientific applications (e.g., R and Python), and familiarity with geospatial software (e.g., ArcMap, QGIS).

Application instructions

Please email a cover letter with an explicit statement of analytical/quantitative experience and abilities, current CV, unofficial transcripts, copy of GRE scores, scientific writing sample and contact info for ≥3 references as a single attachment to Joe Northrup at joseph.northrup@ontario.ca. At least one of these references must have direct knowledge of the applicant=92s analytical capabilities. The successful applicant is expected to begin in January, 2018. Application deadline is November 5, 2017 but review of applications will begin immediately.

To:  Prospective PhD Students

From:  Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB) Doctoral Program, Texas A&M

University

Re:  Travel Grants to visit EEB at Texas A&M

The Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Doctoral Program at Texas A&M is

pleased to announce the availability of travel grants for prospective PhD

students. These travel grants, which will be awarded on a competitive basis,

will cover the costs of a domestic flight to and from College Station, hotel

accommodations while in College Station, plus a per diem for meals. The aim

of the travel grant is to provide prospective PhD students the opportunity to:

=B7       Interview with faculty and meet current graduate students

=B7       Tour the department and campus to learn about available resources

and facilities

=B7       Explore College Station and its surrounding areas

Travel grants will be awarded in January with travel scheduled for February

11-13, 2017. Travel grant awardees will spend time together during their

visit, thus gaining immediate insights into their future cohort.

Why should you consider obtaining a PhD at Texas A&M University? The Ecology

and Evolutionary Biology (EEB) Program at Texas A&M is a relatively new

doctoral program at one of the largest and best-funded universities in the

United States. It has a strong mixture of nationally and internationally

recognized junior and senior faculty working across the globe on a diverse

range of basic and applied research, spanning physiological, population,

community, ecosystem and landscape ecology, genetics, genomics, behavior,

and systematics (to learn about our faculty visit:

http://eeb.tamu.edu/people/faculty/). Support for graduate study is

available through multiple sources, including teaching assistantships,

research fellowships, and internal merit fellowships. Texas A&M University

is positioned at the interface of the Neotropics and Nearctic, in Blackland

Prairie and Post Oak Savannah habitat, which supports great species

diversity and a wealth of research opportunities with great climate during

the academic year. Its location also provides a good base for access to a

broad range of habitats and research sites. Additionally, its proximity to

Austin, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio offers easy air travel and a

cultural component to a whole graduate experience.

How to apply? To be considered for a travel grant, prospective PhD students

first need to contact Jason Martina, the EEB Program Coordinator (email:

jpmartina@tamu.edu; phone: 979 845-2114). To receive a travel grant, an

official Graduate Application package must be submitted to the EEB Program.

For additional information about the EEB Program and the graduate

application process please visit: http://eeb.tamu.edu

For consideration for merit fellowships, your application needs to be

received by December 15, 2017

The Beaudrot Lab in the Department of BioSciences at Rice University has funding for 1-2 PhD students beginning Fall 2018 in the Graduate Program in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology.

We use observational data and quantitative approaches to investigate questions at the interface of ecological theory and conservation biology. Major aims of the lab are to identify the mechanisms that structure tropical vertebrate communities across spatial scales, to understand how tropical mammals and birds respond to global change, and to apply results to biodiversity conservation. More information about the lab is available at http://lydiabeaudrot.weebly.com

Prospective students should contact Dr. Lydia Beaudrot (beaudrot@umich.edu) with a description of your background, research interests and CV. The deadline for applications is December 31st and more information can be found at http://biosciences.rice.edu/EEB_GradAdmissions.aspx

The Fedy Lab of Wildlife and Molecular Ecology is recruiting a PhD student beginning in summer 2018.

We are seeking an excellent student for a PhD addressing important wildlife conservation issues for waterfowl in the Western Boreal Forest. The research will contribute to our on-

going research investigating wildlife responses to habitat disturbance and waterfowl nesting ecology in Alberta. The student will be a member of the Fedy Lab of Wildlife and Molecular Ecology at the University of Waterloo, Ontario. Research in the lab crosses scales, from genes to landscapes, and the PhD student=92s contributions will address questions related to large scale habitat use and waterfowl demography. Spring and summer field work will be based in and around Utikuma Lake, Alberta. The research will be conducted in close partnership with scientists from Ducks Unlimited Canada.

The successful applicant will have a strong background in ecology and field-based research, excellent grades, and a passion for wildlife ecology and conservation. Students should have a strong background in statistics and/or a keen interest and willingness to learn sophisticated quantitative approaches to data analysis. Previous experience with statistical software such as R is preferred. Students must have a strong work ethic, be able to thrive under physically challenging field situations, and must be comfortable supervising field crews in remote locations. Funding for PhD students is available for up to four years and students who have already completed a Master=92s degree will be given preference. The applicant should be competitive for scholarships such as NSERC, and will be expected to apply for such opportunities. We, of course, welcome students who have secured external funding. Guaranteed funding is only available for domestic students, at this time.

Students will be supervised by Dr. Brad Fedy (fedylab.uwaterloo.ca) and will be integrated into our active and engaging research environment. The admissions deadline at the University of Waterloo is February 1st for a September 2018 academic start, but students will be expected to begin field work in May 2018.

If interested, please email bfedy@uwaterloo.ca with subject line =93Waterfowl PhD=94 no later than November 30, 2017.  Please provide: (1) a cover letter detailing background and research interests; (2) CV including the names of 3 referees; and (3) unofficial transcripts from your previous degrees.

The Fedy Lab of Wildlife and Molecular ecology is recruiting a PhD student beginning in summer 2018.

We are seeking an excellent student for a PhD addressing important wildlife conservation issues for greater sage-grouse and sagebrush obligate passerine species. The research will contribute to our on-going research investigating wildlife responses to large scale habitat reclamation in northeastern Wyoming. The student will be a member of the Fedy Lab of Wildlife and Molecular Ecology at the University of Waterloo, Ontario. Research in the lab crosses scales, from genes to landscapes, and the PhD student=92s contributions will address the integration of habitat use, population demography, and landscape genetics. Spring and summer field work will be based out of Buffalo, Wyoming – at the foot of the Bighorn Mountains.

=09

The successful applicant will have a strong background in ecology and field-based research, excellent grades, and a passion for wildlife ecology and conservation. Students should have a strong background in statistics and/or a keen interest and willingness to learn sophisticated quantitative approaches to data analysis. Previous experience with statistical software such as R is preferred. Students must have a strong work ethic, be able to thrive under physically challenging field situations, and must be comfortable supervising field crews in remote locations. The research will occur on public and private lands, experience interacting and working with landowners and producers is a plus. Funding for PhD students is available for up to four years and students who have already completed a Master=92s degree will be given preference. The applicant should be competitive for scholarships such as NSERC, and will be expected to apply for such opportunities. We, of course, welcome students who have secured external funding. Guaranteed funding is only available for domestic students, at this time

Students will be supervised by Dr. Brad Fedy (fedylab.uwaterloo.ca) and will be integrated into our active and engaging research environment. The admissions deadline at the University of Waterloo is February 1st for a September 2018 academic start, but students will be expected to begin field work in May 2018.

If interested, please email bfedy@uwaterloo.ca with subject line =93Sagebrush PhD=94 no later than November 30, 2017.  Please provide: (1) a cover letter detailing background and research interests; (2) CV including the names of 3 referees; (3) unofficial transcripts from your previous degrees.

An awesome opportunity exists for a student interested in a Master’s or

Ph.D. degree in Forestry and Environmental Resources within the College of

Natural Resources at NC State University. The successful candidate would

focus on a project evaluating soil sustainability and productivity in a

natural and/or planted forested ecosystem. The position is fully funded with

opportunities to work with a forest industry partner and/or government

agency. For more information about this position please contact Dr. Zakiya

Leggett, zakiya_leggett@ncsu.edu <mailto:zakiya_leggett@ncsu.edu>  and to

apply please email CV and transcripts (unofficial).

Minimum qualifications for this position include a B.S. degree (if applying

for Master’s program) or Master’s degree (if applying for doctoral program)

in soil science, forestry, environmental science, ecology, or a related

discipline.

More information about NC State University can be found at www.ncsu.edu

<http://www.ncsu.edu>

Thanks!

Zakiya H. Leggett, Ph.D.

Asst. Professor, Dept. of Forestry and Environmental Resources

North Carolina State University

<mailto:zholmes@ncsu.edu> zakiya_leggett@ncsu.edu

Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU)

Warm-water Aquatic Ecology

Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, USA

Summer 2018: June 3 to August 12

http://wilsonlab.com/reu/

Overview: We are excited to invite applications from undergraduate students to participate in a National Science Foundation supported summer Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program focused on the ecology of southeastern ponds, rivers, reservoirs, and estuaries.  Ten undergraduate students will work closely with a team of Auburn University faculty to explore aquatic ecosystems, complete a student-driven research project, participate in a variety of professional development and social activities, develop and lead an outreach project, and share their research findings in a symposium at the conclusion of the program.  Participants will work closely with two or more mentors to develop an interdisciplinary project involving complementary fields, such as community ecology, limnology, evolution, fisheries management, statistics, hydrology, conservation, biogeochemistry, molecular biology, biodiversity, and microbiology.  The program will run from June 3 to August 12, 2018 (10 weeks).

Eligibility: All applicants who are interested in receiving NSF support must currently be a (1) U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or permanent resident and (2) an undergraduate freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior graduating no earlier than September 2018 or a high school senior that will start their undergraduate education the following fall semester after the REU program.  We are especially encouraging students from traditionally under-represented groups in biology (i.e., African-Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, other Pacific Islanders, students with disabilities, first generation college students, and U.S. veterans) as well as students from institutions with limited research opportunities (e.g., community colleges) or students in financial need to apply.

Support: Participants will receive a stipend ($5,500) plus housing and subsistence, financial assistance for travel to and from Auburn, and support for lab and field supplies.  For full consideration, on-line applications must be received by 15 January 2018.

International students: Although not financially supported by our REU Site, we are also open to including a few strongly motivated and self-funded international students in our REU Site research and professional development activities.

For more information about the REU Site, visit http://wilsonlab.com/reu/ or contact Dr. Alan Wilson (wilson@auburn.edu<mailto:wilson@auburn.edu>).

—

Alan Wilson

Associate Professor – Auburn University

School of Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Aquatic Sciences

[http://www.wilsonlab.com%3chttp:/www.wilsonlab.com/]www.wilsonlab.com<http://www.wilsonlab.com/> – 334.246.1120

We are seeking a Ph.D. student for a project on the evolution of
resistance to avian malaria in Hawaiian Honeycreepers. Collaborative
work will involve comparative genomics on three closely related
species of amakihi, honeycreepers that have apparent variation in
resistance/tolerance to Plasmodium relictum. The work will be part of
a collaboration funded by the NSF-Ecology and Evolution of Infectious
Disease program. This graduate position will be primarily a lab and
bioinformatics focused project, although there will be some fieldwork
catching amakihi and other birds in Hawaii. The genomics will be
done in concert with Rob Fleischer at the Smithsonian Institution
(https://nationalzoo.si.edu/conservation/robert-c-fleischer) and Loren
Sackett at the University of South Florida (http://secure-web.cisco.com/1CJF-gVv4kLTejKMyKtSA3W8DT_Whz_BkFxbY9nJWSGZkzQOatD6KpWQZdJ8zcR9YFF8EVKf8Gjh9-NbuEFfQnrSbR_pl1TLkiQj__K9Hy2oo_QzeRdQILnaT06oVpVsaXntPC3WQ-9PYWugZhOHZ4x9dsd6kaIU0JlMa2_AFMxK5elbha7VQjEQE7XBk154wnzrF6-hmXXYuPFuPbLaMpeVJpMwTgBzaJtdh2C-ifuVLOX_06CI-VON5tbq_19BJclaiwP3CgcHkdvTUJF4HJcfPoA7V7mBaixQFMFcG0GPzXxI4f9Fhfuj6OGQjY3N_RuWNjqkuGoxlxGvAt0amkIJZnMpBrzFH-6d_K_L8ufomOT6dYNWfktjYPDg20mJUU8ZAcijXhPc5UsytdIUCraOpS73Xv-Jo1yfdgrKUps5uIaG8S1jepVA5UfhLno0GEPkABrHxsxU8TFyZADzCCw/http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cassinsackett.com).

Desired Qualifications
– Master?s in Biology or related field (but MS not required for highly
qualified applicants)
– Skills in bioinformatic analyses of vertebrate genomes
– Experience in population genetics and molecular evolution
– Bird handling experience

Graduate program applications should be submitted to the
Graduate College via the Department of Biological Sciences
(https://nau.edu/cefns/natsci/biology/degrees-programs/graduate/),
due January 15, 2018 (but earlier applications are highly
encouraged). Candidates should first contact me at the email below
with a cover letter describing your background, research interests,
and qualifications, as well as a current CV.

Jeffrey Foster, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Pathogen and Microbiome Institute
Northern Arizona University
Flagstaff, AZ  86011
email: jeff.foster@nau.edu
website: fozlab.weebly.com

Jeff.Foster@unh.edu

Graduate Assistantships are available in Dr. Cheryl Schultz=92s Conservation Biology Lab. We use a population ecology lens to gain understanding of the ecology of at-risk species and develop conservation and restoration responses to global change. Our work largely focuses on rare butterflies and their habitats in the Pacific Northwest as a model system to address broad ecological questions as well as advance conservation on-the-ground.

We expect to recruit 1-2 new graduate students for Fall 2018 as part of newly funded projects.=20 Graduate students are supported on a combination of research and teaching assistantships during the academic year and grant funding during the summer.

One project is funded by SERDP (Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program) to increase our understanding of the effects of climate-mediated changes in phenology on butterfly population viability. The new student will have the opportunity to develop a project with Puget blue butterfly in the Western Washington Prairies that broadly advances project goals. This is part of a five-year multi-university project.  The new student will have the opportunity to collaborate with PIs, postdocs and graduate students across several institutions. We encourage potential PhD students interested in working on this project to get in touch to learn more and to apply.

A second project relates to non-target effects of herbicides on Oregon silverspot butterfly =96 a high priority project funded by USGS in collaboration with USFWS to assist in reintroduction and habitat restoration for this rapidly declining threatened species.  The research will largely involve greenhouse studies with surrogate butterfly species on butterfly behavior and demography of all life stages (egg, larva, adult). Because of the urgency in understanding these herbicide effects relative to the timing of reintroduction efforts, the new student will conduct initial experiments in Spring/Summer 2018 as a research assistant in the Conservation Biology lab, then formally matriculate as a graduate student for the Fall 2018 semester.  We encourage well-qualified potential MS or PhD students get in touch to learn more and to apply.

Washington State University Vancouver is a new campus in the WSU system located in Southwest Washington just across the Columbia River from Portland, Oregon and is close to Willamette Valley and South Puget Sound prairies.  Currently with ~3400 students, it is a new and rapidly growing campus in the WSU system.  Students benefit from outstanding faculty, world-class research, state-

of-the-art facilities and small class sizes. https://cas.vancouver.wsu.edu/science-graduate-programs

Interested students should look at the =93Join us=94 link and send requested information to Cheryl Schultz, schultzc@wsu.edu. https://labs.wsu.edu/conservation-biology/    In addition, Dr. Schultz will be at the Entomology Association of America annual meeting in November and would be happy to meet with potential students while at the meeting.

We are announcing a great opportunity for students interested in an
M.S. degree in tropical conservation biology and environmental
science. Our program at the University of Hawaii at Hilo provides
training in basic, applied, and socio-ecological research that is
relevant to careers in research and natural resource management in one
of the premier places in the world to study ecology, evolution, and
conservation. Based on Hawaii Island, students are immersed in the
extraordinary natural and social landscapes that allow for hands-on
research and training in a variety of marine and terrestrial
environments. The program consists of both thesis and internship
tracks.

Please visit us at:
http://tcbes.uhh.hawaii.edu/documents/TCBESMastersFlier2017.pdf or
http://tcbes.uhh.hawaii.edu/

We would appreciate it if you could pass on this information to
prospective students. Priority deadline for Fall 2018 is December 1.
Please share this with other faculty who advise students about graduate
school opportunities.

Matthew Knope <knope@hawaii.edu>