Responses of an Arctic Songbird to City Life - Graduate Research Positions Available to Study Snow Buntings

Position: We are seeking graduate students (MSc or PhD) to join a fully funded project examining how and why snow buntings are adapting to urban life under the added stress of climate change. Graduate projects may involve a diversity of approaches based on current foci and experience/interest of individual candidates, including variation in life history traits, behaviour, physiology, transcriptomics, contaminants, etc.

Project Goal: To examine the interactive mechanisms underlying performance and fitness costs and benefits of city life in an Arctic-breeding cold-specialist bird facing rapid climate change.

Start Date: Fieldwork will take place in Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada. The first field season will run from late May to July 2024, with graduate enrollment officially beginning in September 2024.

Funding: These are fully-funded positions for the entirety of the graduate degree (all research, travel & personal stipend costs covered). Funding also includes 2024 summer salary & fieldwork support from experienced snow bunting researchers who have already worked in this system.

Supervision and Collaboration: Supervised by Dr. Oliver Love (Department of Integrative Biology, University of Windsor), with possible co-supervision from Drs. Emily McKinnon (University of Manitoba) or François Vézina (Université du Québec à Rimouski). Students will join a collective bunting team examining responses to climate change, cold adaptation, population responses to human-induced change and movement ecology, as well as community engagement and youth outreach centered on northern songbirds. As such, projects are highly integrative and collaborative, with opportunities to visit Drs. McKinnon’s and Dr. Vézina’s teams. The project is also supported by partnerships with Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), the Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS) and the Nunavut Research Institute (NRI).

Skills and Experience: Previous research experience in songbird field systems (Arctic work not necessary), a love of outdoor fieldwork, and analytical/writing experience via an honours BSc or MSc degree. Projects involve field research at a well-supported, but demanding, Arctic field site for 2-3 months/year. Wilderness First Aid training will be provided to work confidently and safely.

Approach: Our collective team is dedicated to a supportive, positive and safe environment for student mentorship and growth within an equitable, diverse and inclusive training environment that inspires and supports a diversity of enthusiastic scientists to explore and conserve the world.

Environment: Our Universities have strong Ecology and Evolution research groups and teams leading international Arctic research. We place a strong emphasis on high quality graduate training and research support, for a fun, high-achieving and yet balanced graduate experience.

Application: Please send: CV/resume, undergraduate/graduate transcripts and a statement of research interest to Dr. Oliver Love (olove@uwindsor.ca). All inquiries will be responded to, and short-listed candidates will first meet with Drs. Love, McKinnon, Vézina via video-conferencing to discuss projects and ask any questions, then with lab members without supervisors present.