Ph.D. Assistantship – Spatial Ecology of Wild Turkeys in Nebraska

Agency: School of Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln

Location: Lincoln, NE and study areas in western Nebraska

Salary: $28,000 per year, with tuition waiver (student is responsible for fees) and health insurance

Start Date: Preferable start August 2024 but negotiable.

Last Date to Apply: March 31, 2024

Description: The Applied Wildlife Ecology & Spatial Movement Lab and the Nebraska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit (University of Nebraska- Lincoln [UNL]) are recruiting a Ph.D. student with a strong interest in wild turkey ecology and management. The successful candidate will generate large datasets to conduct analyses on spatial ecology, habitat selection, and population dynamics of wild turkeys in western Nebraska.  The successful candidate will work closely with a team of graduate students and technicians to evaluate various facets of wild turkey ecology: reproduction, harvest, gobbling chronology, predation risk, genetics, and spatial ecology. The expected results from this research project will be directly applicable to wild turkey management in Nebraska and will contribute critical information to the broader understanding of factors affecting wild turkey population declines across the United States. The successful candidate will be expected to assist with all aspects of fieldwork, which include capture and GPS monitoring of male and female wild turkeys, nest and brood monitoring, vegetation surveys, disease monitoring, mesopredator camera trap surveys, and acoustic monitor setup and maintenance. This is a collaborative project with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, faculty at University of Nebraska-Lincoln and University of Georgia, and the Nebraska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit. As such, the successful candidate will work with a team of graduate students, technicians, private landowners, university faculty, and Nebraska Game and Parks Commission biologists.

Qualifications: B.S. and M.S. in Ecology, Wildlife Ecology, Biology or a closely related discipline; GPA > 3.5 in graduate course work, valid driver’s license, and strong communication skills. Since the field season is several months long, the successful candidate must be committed to working long hours in conditions that range from extreme cold in the winter to high heat and humidity in the summer. A willingness to embrace collaborative research is required. Applicants also should have strong quantitative skills and organizational skills, attention to detail, and excellent oral and written communication skills. Preference will be given to applicants with prior experience or training in wild turkey capture and monitoring, telemetry, landscape ecology, remote sensing, ArcGIS, and R statistical software. Preferable start August 2024. Funding is available for 4 years.

To be considered for this position, please send a cover letter outlining your interests, research background, and career aspirations as they pertain to this position; a resume or curriculum vitae; copies of transcripts (unofficial); and contact information for 3 professional references (name, email, phone, address) combined in a single PDF file with the file name formatted as lastname_firstname.pdf (e.g., doe_john.pdf) to Dr. Andrew Little (alittle6@unl.edu). If possible, please include an analytical and/or writing sample from your previous work (e.g., published manuscript, thesis chapter, official report, etc.). Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Preference will be given to applications received by March 31, 2024.

The University of Nebraska is committed to a pluralistic campus community through affirmative action, equal opportunity, work-life balance, and dual careers. See http://www.unl.edu/equity/notice-nondiscrimination

Contact Information: Andrew R. Little, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Landscape Ecology and Habitat Management, and Wildlife Extension Specialist

University of Nebraska-Lincoln 3310 Holdrege Street

Lincoln, Nebraska 68583-0961 Email: alittle6@unl.edu

Work Cell: (402) 219-1913