MS position conducting Cerulean Warbler habitat research in Ohio

A MS position is available beginning early 2023 to work on a project aiming to advance understanding of critical cerulean warbler habitat across forested landscapes of Ohio. This project builds on existing research to expand the temporal and spatial domain to maximize landscape conservation opportunities for focal avian species. The MS student will integrate data syntheses and modeling of avian and forest inventory data as well as lead new field data collection (breeding bird and habitat surveys) to build and validate spatial models across focal landscapes. The successful applicant will have the support and be co-advised by Dr Stephen Matthews and Dr. Christopher Tonra (https://senr.osu.edu/programs/terrestrial-wildlife-ecology-lab) and will be expected to publish manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals and present findings to agency partners as well as at national or regional scientific conferences. The MS student will have the opportunity to engage with partners and collaborators from the Ohio Division of Wildlife, USDA Forest Service, and Ohio Bird Conservation Initiative to identify avian conservation opportunities. The incoming student will ideally begin in January 2023 with field data collection starting in May 2023.  Salary is $2,364 / month, plus medical benefits and tuition waiver.

Qualifications:

B.S. degree in ecology, wildlife science, natural resources, forestry, or closely related fields. Competitive applicants will have demonstrated experience in field avian ecological research. Experience and proficiency with geographic information systems and coding in R is required. A strong work ethic, good verbal and written communication skills, and the ability to work independently and as a productive member of a research team are essential. Desired start date is January 2023, but a later date may be considered for competitive applicants.

To Apply: 

Application packet must consist of 1) Cover letter 2) Resume or CV 3) Academic transcripts 4) 3 references with email and phone contact information. Unofficial transcripts will suffice for application review, but official transcripts will be required if selected. Send the application as 1 PDF file via e-mail with a subject line of “CERW habitat MS position” to: Dr. Stephen Matthews (matthews.204@osu.edu).