Ph.D. - Graduate Assistantship in Wild Turkey Ecology and Management
Department of Natural Resources Science, University of Rhode Island
Project title: Ecology of wild turkeys in southern New England.
A graduate assistantship is available at the Ph.D. level to study the ecology of wild turkeys in southern New England. This project will hinge on the capture and marking of individuals with GPS transmitters to investigate various aspects of wild turkey ecology including nesting ecology, survival, gobbling chronology, habitat selection and movement patterns, and potential differences between turkeys that utilize suburban vs rural areas. We expect results from this project to directly inform wild turkey management. This study will hopefully be the first of a long-term effort between the university and state agency to understand the population dynamics of wild turkeys in Rhode Island.
Qualifications: Only hard-working, motivated, intelligent, good-natured persons interested in upland gamebird ecology and movements need apply. Applicants must have completed an undergraduate degree in animal/wildlife biology or ecology, earned at least a 3.2 GPA, and must have excellent oral and written communication skills. Field experience with gamebird capture and handling, telemetry, and GIS is highly desirable. Experience with quantitative analysis and field research is required. Applicants who have successfully completed a relevant M.Sc. are strongly preferred. Those applicants with only a BSc degree must have exceptional field experience to be considered. Ability to work collaboratively and to supervise research assistants and undergraduates working in the field is also required. Stipends are approx. $25,000/academic year, tuition is paid, and an additional summer stipend of approx. $18,000 is provided. Starting date is either January 2025 or September 2025.
To apply submit the following: a letter stating your qualifications and research interests, a resume or CV, college transcripts, and 3 letters of reference by no later than 1 October 2024 (early application is encouraged) to:
Dr. Scott R. McWilliams
Dept. Natural Resources Science, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881
401-874-7531; srmcwilliams@uri.edu
Graduate students will choose to be trained in the Ecology & Ecosystem Science graduate program (https://web.uri.edu/cels/academics/bes/ecology-and-ecosystem-sciences/) or the Evolution & Marine Biology graduate program (https://web.uri.edu/cels/academics/bes/evolution-and-marine-biology/) at URI. These are interdepartmental graduate groups within our College of the Environment and Life Sciences (https://web.uri.edu/cels/academics/bes/) that are designed to provide students with a strong, interdisciplinary and integrative learning environment.
Selected candidates will be asked to apply to the Graduate School at the University of Rhode Island.
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