PhD assistantship in applied grassland bird ecology

The Boyle lab at Kanas State University is recruiting a PhD student interested in applied grassland bird ecology to join our Virtual Fence experiment, working in collaboration with colleagues at The Nature Conservancy, the National Parks, private ranchers, and the Dodds Lab at K-State. This is an experimental project designed to assess the effectiveness of GPS-collar-controlled “virtual fence” enclosures to address goals in grassland bird conservation while increasing cost-effectiveness of ranching activities. This project is in its second year. The PhD student would take a leadership role in the avian and vegetation portions of this project and oversee field efforts of the larger group. Additionally, the PhD student would be expected to develop other related projects as part of their dissertation at the interface of basic and applied questions in avian ecology.

The most competitive applicants will either have completed a MSc, or have developed their skills and interests via employment and other experiences, resulting in strong field skills (including bird ID) and an aptitude for independent critical thinking and good writing abilities. Additionally, this position requires strong organizational and project management skills and excellent inter-personal skills including ability to work successfully with ranchers, non-profit and parks professionals, as well as academics.

Facilities and expertise in the KSU Division of Biology will provide opportunities to develop a excellent skill sets ranging from various physiological and quantitative methods, the use of stable isotopes, GIS, genetic and genomic methods. The incoming student will join a very active, collegial group of graduate students, post-docs, and professors in the Ecology & Evolutionary Biology section. Learn more about our graduate program and application process here, and more about the Boyle lab here.  Prior to submitting a formal application, I encourage qualified applicants to email me, explaining their interest in this position, accompanied by a complete CV.