Funded M.S. Position in Lewis’s Woodpecker Ecology

We are seeking a Fall 2023 graduate (M.S.) student to join a project examining the drivers of varied migratory strategies of Lewis’s Woodpecker (Melanerpes lewis) in Oregon. The position will focus on improving our understanding of individual movement between populations and across seasons through telemetry data, and examining factors that correlate with this movement (including effects of wildfire and habitat connectivity). The graduate student will be supervised by Dr. Frank Fogarty and Dr. Ho Yi Wan in the Department of Wildlife at Cal Poly Humboldt.

The project will involve both field data collection in Oregon’s East Cascades and the use of remote sensing data for this priority conservation species. This project is a partnership between Cal Poly Humboldt, the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, and the East Cascades Audubon Society.

Cal Poly Humboldt is a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and the Department of Wildlife is committed to creating an inclusive learning environment that recruits, welcomes, and trains the diverse next generation of wildlife biologists. Funded position includes salary and field season expenses, with the option to fund tuition through teaching assistant positions and/or need-based financial aid for California residents.

Please submit application materials by October 31st 2022.

Required Qualifications:

·         Bachelor’s degree in wildlife, biology, environmental sciences, or a related field

·         Ability to work both independently and as part of a team to achieve research goals

·         Willingness to travel and collect data in remote, mountainous field sites in Oregon

·         Interest in developing advanced quantitative skills

Preferred Qualifications:

·         Experience mist-netting, handling, and deploying tags on woodpeckers or other land birds

·         Experience using GIS and R to manage and analyze wildlife data

·         Experience collecting field data, including conducting point counts and vegetation surveys

·         Strong background in wildlife ecology and/or natural history of Intermountain West ecosystems

·          

Interested candidates should submit the following to Dr. Frank Fogarty (faf7@humboldt.edu):

1.      A letter of research interests that includes relevant skills and experiences

2.      CV or resume, including contact information for at least two references

3.      Copy of unofficial transcripts