PhD Assistantship in Wildlife Biology at the University of Montana
I have an opening for Fall 2016 for 1 PhD project focused on long-term research on elk population dynamics in a partially migratory system, and wolf-elk predator-prey dynamics. See here for more information about ongoing projects in my lab. This is part of an NSF funded Long-term Research in Environmental Biology (LTREB) and the PhD student will work with long-term population and spatial data on wolves, elk, and habitat collected in the Ya Ha Tinda ecosystem, Banff National Park, from 2002 to the present. We have collected long-term data on over 250 individually marked adult female elk, elk survival, reproduction, migration, as well as over 30 GPS collared wolves since 2002.
See http://yahatinda.biology.ualberta.ca for more information about the study area and project.
The project is highly collaborative in nature, jointly lead by Dr. Mark Hebblewhite (University of Montana) and Dr. Evelyn Merrill (University of Alberta) together with Alberta Fish and Wildlife and Parks Canada, Banff National Park.
Qualifications: M.Sc./M.A. in wildlife biology, ecology, conservation biology, or related field; outstanding work ethic; exceptional quantitative skills and motivation; field experience in ungulate or predator ecology preferred; experience with analyses of GPS movement data from animals; demonstrated excellence in oral and written communication and interpersonal skills; demonstrated experience working with wildlife management agencies. Experience with statistical modeling, programming, R, GIS analyses, remote sensing, scientific writing, and spatial modeling an asset.
How to apply: Send cover letter summarizing interest and relevant experience, resume/CV, unofficial transcripts, GRE scores, and contact information (including phone and email - letters not required at initial screening stage) for 3 references to Dr. Mark Hebblewhite (mark.hebblewhite@umontana.edu), Wildlife Biology Program, College of Forestry and Conservation, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, USA, 59812. Position will start Fall 2016. University of Montana Wildlife Biology Program application deadline is Jan 15, 2016. Top candidates will be contacted by Dec 31st, 2015, and directed to apply for admission to the UM graduate school