Graduate Position: PhD/MS Positions in Waterfowl & Wildlife Conservation UTEP

The Lavretsky Population and Evolutionary Genetics Lab at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) is seeking highly motivated 2 graduate students at the PhD or MS levels start in the Winter or Fall of 2025. The student will join a vibrant and growing group in the lab and research body in the Department of Biological Sciences, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Program at UTEP, more generally.

The Lavretsky lab is recruiting students broadly interested in population genetics, evolutionary genetics, and/or conservation & wildlife genetics. Our lab works from the field to the gene, and with a variety of taxa (i.e., birds, mammals, and plants); although, our primary study system of the lab has been the mallard duck complex. Our teams are currently working in the southwest (Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico), as well as Hawaii, and with opportunities for international-based scientific collection. In short, students will have opportunities for field work, molecular work, and to contribute to UTEP’s Biodiversity Collections. Graduate students are covered by a mix of RAs and TAs.

Please visit the Lab website for more information: http://science.utep.edu/lavretskylab and follow @lavretskylab on Instagram and X.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

- B.S. Degree in evolutionary biology, molecular biology, conservation genetics, bioinformatics or a related field

- Highly self-motivated, independent, and creative thinkers that are enthusiastic about pursuing a career in population, conservation, and evolutionary genetics.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

- Knowledge of (and experience with) wild waterfowl systems

- Field Experience in capturing, banding, and auxiliary marker deployment among waterfowl or other birds.

- Experience in population genetics, evolutionary genetics, or molecular evolution and with molecular data

APPLICATION PROCESS:

To apply, please submit: a cover letter describing research interests, career goals, and experience related to, or interest in, a current CV; unofficial academic transcript; and, the name and full contact information for three references to Dr. Philip Lavretsky (plavretsky@utep.edu). Review of applications will begin as October 1, 2024 and continue until positions are filled.