Graduate Research Assistantship - bird migration and bird strikes

Master’s position in birdstrikes and Lights-at-Night

Project: Many bird species migrate at night. The increase in human-built infrastructure in the lower atmosphere and associated artificial lights at night pose a significant collision risk to nocturnally migrating birds. We are recruiting a master’s student to conduct research examining airspace on the prevalence of bird strikes in association with lights at night.  This project is part of a collaborative study that examines the role of ecological forecasting in decreasing lights at night during peak migration events. An abstract of the larger collaborative project can be found here: (https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2123404)

Position: M.S. graduate position (Ph.D. Considered depending on applicant) . The student will be supported by research assistantships for a minimum of two years at $24,000/y. This funded position includes full tuition waiver.

Institution: University of Oklahoma

Department: Corix Plains Institute and Biology

Start Date: January 2022

Qualifications: The candidate is expected to have completed a bachelor’s degree in a related field (Biology, Ecology, or Wildlife Ecology) prior to starting the position. The student should have experience in ornithology, bird banding, R coding, introductory statistics, and a record in disseminating research findings, including presentations and peer-reviewed publications.

To Apply: Please send your application to Jeff Kelly (jkelly@ou.edu) containing a Cover Letter, CV (including undergraduate GPA, ornithological experiences such as number of bird species and individuals banded),and contact information of three references.  Within your cover letter, please reflect on how your experiences relate to this project, why you are interested in this project, and how this degree helps fulfill your career aspirations. Send your materials with the email subject title “Master’s position in bird strikes”.

Deadline to Apply: December 1st, 2021.