Ph.D. Graduate Research Assistantships (2) at the USGS Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, University of Wyoming

Ph.D. Graduate Research Assistantships (2) at the USGS Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, University of Wyoming

https://www.uwyo.edu/zoology/index.html; https://wyocoopunit.org/labs/chalfoun-lab/; https://www.uwyo.edu/pie/index.html; https://wyobird.org/

Application Deadline:  Open until positions filled.

Starting date: Approximately 8/26/24

Stipend:  $26,400 ($2200/month), plus tuition, fees, health insurance

Location:  Laramie, WY USA

Description:

The Chalfoun lab within the USGS Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit and Department of Zoology and Physiology/Program in Ecology and Evolution has vacancies for two new doctoral Graduate Research Assistants for fall 2024 (or earlier). One will be focused on sagebrush-obligate songbirds, and the other on investigating the mechanisms underlying western forest songbird declines. The students will be part of the Coop Unit, campus-wide doctoral Program in Ecology and Evolution, and new WYOBIRD initiative (https://wyobird.org/).

The sagebrush songbird project has some flexibility in terms of specific foci, but the student could take advantage of a partially marked (color-banded) population of the three sagebrush-obligates (Brewer’s sparrow, sagebrush sparrow, sage thrasher) and on-going nest-monitoring (since 2008) and mark-recapture (since 2021) data collection within a landscape spanning a gradient of human disturbance (natural gas development). This long-term project is in collaboration with the USGS Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative (WLCI) and Wyoming Game and Fish Department.

The forest songbird project will focus on testing hypotheses for the factors underlying declines in many species of western forest songbirds. The first phase of the project will entail using existing data sources (BBS, IMBCR) to broadly test potential hypotheses, and the second phase can include a follow-up field component. The student selected for this project must have strong quantitative skills, and an interest in working with existing trend, spatial, and climatic data. This project is a collaboration with the U.S. Forest Service, Wyoming Game and Fish Department, and Greater Yellowstone Conservation Coalition.

Minimum Requirements/Qualifications:

1.      B.S. or B.A. in wildlife, biology, ecology, statistics, or a related field.

2.      Strong quantitative skills (especially forest songbird position).

3.      Some relevant field research experience.

4.      Commitment to maintaining an inclusive and respectful work environment.

5.      Commitment to dissemination of research results via publication in peer-reviewed journals and presentations at conferences and to project partners.

6.      Strong work ethic and ability to work well independently and collaboratively.

7.      Strong interest in research, avian ecology, and wildlife conservation.

8.      Ability and willingness to communicate respectfully with project partners and other colleagues/peers.

Highly Desirable Qualifications:

1.   M.S. degree in wildlife, biology, ecology, statistics, or a related field.

2.   Experience with trend and/or spatial analyses in R or similar and working with large datasets (forest songbird position).

3.   Record of at least one peer-reviewed scientific publication.

4.   Experience with capture, safe handling, and marking of small birds.

5.   Strong writing skills.

To Apply:

Please email (1) a cover letter outlining interests and qualifications, (2) an up-to-date CV, and (3) names and contact information (phone and email) for three potential professional references, aggregated in a single pdf document to: Dr. Anna Chalfoun, achalfou@uwyo.edu. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until qualified candidates are identified. Please address any questions to Dr. Anna Chalfoun at achalfou@uwyo.edu.