1) PH.D. ASSISTANTSHIP: Golden Eagles and Wind Energy Developments – The New Mexico Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit (NMCFWRU) and Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Ecology (FWCE) at New Mexico State University are seeking a highly motivated and talented Ph.D. student for a study on golden eagles in areas with a high potential for wind energy development in southern New Mexico. Specific research foci may include, but are not limited to population ecology, foraging ecology, and habitat and resource selection. The student will be given some discretion in the development of the focus of their dissertation research within the larger project goal of identifying areas where wind energy developments would likely have a high potential for negative impacts on golden eagles. The student will be co-advised by Drs. James Cain (NMCFWRU) and Gary Roemer (FWCE) but will apply to the Ph.D. program in the Department of Biology at New Mexico State University for the Jan 2011 semester and begin conducting field work in 2011. Candidates must have a M.S. degree in Wildlife, Ecology, or a related field, a GPA exceeding 3.0, and competitive GRE scores. Prior experience conducting field research on raptors is preferred as is experience modeling resource selection in a landscape context. Students will be expected to present research results at professional conferences, publish research results in peer-reviewed scientific outlets, and assist with preparation of agency reports. To apply, please email a single PDF file that includes a letter of interest describing your experience as it relates to this project, a CV; transcripts, GRE scores (unofficial copies are fine), and the name and contact information of 3 references to DR. JAMES CAIN (EM: jwcain@nmsu.edu).
Review of applications will begin 15 Dec 2010. Salary: $21,000 per year
+ out-of-state tuition waiver.
2) PHD POSITION studying conservation genetics of Prairie-Chickens. A Graduate Assistantship is available for a student to pursue a Ph.D.
degree with Drs. Peter Dunn and Linda Whittingham at the Department of Biological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. We are currently looking for a graduate student to study the introgression of genes following a translocation of prairie-chickens from Minnesota to Wisconsin. The Wisconsin population of prairie-chickens went through a population bottleneck during the late 1950’s causing a decrease in genetic variation (Bellinger et al. 2003. Con. Biol. 17:717-724).
Through a collaborative project with the WI Dept. of Nat. Resources, birds were moved to Wisconsin to restore genetic variation that was lost during the bottleneck. This project will determine the success of the translocation in restoring genetic variation at neutral and functional (eg, MHC) genes. Support during the academic year is provided by Teaching Assistantships, and in the summer by NSF grant support. More information about our research and graduate studies at UWM can be found
at: (URL: http://www.uwm.edu/People/pdunn/info.html). Qualifications:
B.S. in relevant field, strong work ethic and motivation, ability to work as part of an interdisciplinary team and strong interest in conservation genetics. Interested students should send an email detailing their interests, relevant background and GPA and GRE scores by
15 Dec 2010 (preferably asap) to: PETER DUNN (EM: pdunn@uwm.edu) or LINDA WHITTINGHAM (EM: whitting@uwm.edu), Department of Biological Sciences, P.O. Box 413, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53201.
3) M.S. ASSISTANTSHIP in Sensory Ecology: Boise State University, Idaho-- An M.S. level graduate student position is available in the lab of Jesse Barber in the Department of Biological Sciences at Boise State University. The position is funded by a Teaching Assistantship and includes a competitive stipend, benefits and a waiver of graduate tuition. We study the behavior, evolution and conservation of predator-prey systems. We employ bioacoustic and videographic techniques to quantify how animals process sensory input and act on the resulting information to capture prey or evade death. Understanding how anthropogenic noise alters the balance between predator and prey also drives our work. This approach combines intensive field research and rigorous experimental design with an emphasis on natural history.
Motivated students who are interested in exploring bat-insect and owl-rodent interactions are encouraged to apply. There are many possible questions to explore in these systems and the student will have the opportunity to determine the scope of the project. The lab is equipped with high-speed and high-definition cameras, ultrasonic and sonic microphones and outstanding indoor and outdoor animal imaging facilities. Please contact me by email (see web page: URL:
http://www.boisestate.edu/biology/Barber.shtml) and describe your background, interests and why you would be a good fit for our work.
Attach a CV that includes GPA and GRE scores and an unofficial copy of your transcripts. Letters of reference will be solicited from top candidates at a later date. I advise students in both the Biology M.S.
program and the Raptor Biology M.S. program. Do not apply directly to these programs until we have corresponded. Review of candidates will begin 15 Nov 2010. The deadline for formal application to the graduate program is 15 Jan 2011.
Review of applications will begin 15 Dec 2010. Salary: $21,000 per year
+ out-of-state tuition waiver.
2) PHD POSITION studying conservation genetics of Prairie-Chickens. A Graduate Assistantship is available for a student to pursue a Ph.D.
degree with Drs. Peter Dunn and Linda Whittingham at the Department of Biological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. We are currently looking for a graduate student to study the introgression of genes following a translocation of prairie-chickens from Minnesota to Wisconsin. The Wisconsin population of prairie-chickens went through a population bottleneck during the late 1950’s causing a decrease in genetic variation (Bellinger et al. 2003. Con. Biol. 17:717-724).
Through a collaborative project with the WI Dept. of Nat. Resources, birds were moved to Wisconsin to restore genetic variation that was lost during the bottleneck. This project will determine the success of the translocation in restoring genetic variation at neutral and functional (eg, MHC) genes. Support during the academic year is provided by Teaching Assistantships, and in the summer by NSF grant support. More information about our research and graduate studies at UWM can be found
at: (URL: http://www.uwm.edu/People/pdunn/info.html). Qualifications:
B.S. in relevant field, strong work ethic and motivation, ability to work as part of an interdisciplinary team and strong interest in conservation genetics. Interested students should send an email detailing their interests, relevant background and GPA and GRE scores by
15 Dec 2010 (preferably asap) to: PETER DUNN (EM: pdunn@uwm.edu) or LINDA WHITTINGHAM (EM: whitting@uwm.edu), Department of Biological Sciences, P.O. Box 413, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53201.
3) M.S. ASSISTANTSHIP in Sensory Ecology: Boise State University, Idaho-- An M.S. level graduate student position is available in the lab of Jesse Barber in the Department of Biological Sciences at Boise State University. The position is funded by a Teaching Assistantship and includes a competitive stipend, benefits and a waiver of graduate tuition. We study the behavior, evolution and conservation of predator-prey systems. We employ bioacoustic and videographic techniques to quantify how animals process sensory input and act on the resulting information to capture prey or evade death. Understanding how anthropogenic noise alters the balance between predator and prey also drives our work. This approach combines intensive field research and rigorous experimental design with an emphasis on natural history.
Motivated students who are interested in exploring bat-insect and owl-rodent interactions are encouraged to apply. There are many possible questions to explore in these systems and the student will have the opportunity to determine the scope of the project. The lab is equipped with high-speed and high-definition cameras, ultrasonic and sonic microphones and outstanding indoor and outdoor animal imaging facilities. Please contact me by email (see web page: URL:
http://www.boisestate.edu/biology/Barber.shtml) and describe your background, interests and why you would be a good fit for our work.
Attach a CV that includes GPA and GRE scores and an unofficial copy of your transcripts. Letters of reference will be solicited from top candidates at a later date. I advise students in both the Biology M.S.
program and the Raptor Biology M.S. program. Do not apply directly to these programs until we have corresponded. Review of candidates will begin 15 Nov 2010. The deadline for formal application to the graduate program is 15 Jan 2011.