Currently, we have two new graduate student positions available in the Fletcher Lab at the University of Florida (http://plaza.ufl.edu/robert.fletcher/), one starting Spring 2012 and a second starting Fall 2012.
One position will be a Ph.D. position, focused on spatial predator-prey interactions and conservation of the endangered Snail Kite. The Snail Kite is considered to be a key indicator of successful restoration of the Everglades and is a dietary specialist feeding almost exclusively on native and invasive apple snails. Desired qualifications for this position include proficiency with population and landscape ecology, quantitative modeling, demonstrated field experience on birds, wetlands, and/or invertebrates, and supervisory experience. The candidate will be expected to not only leverage nearly 20 years of rigorous demographic and movement data on kites across their geographic range but also develop their own field research themes regarding spatio-temporal population limitation in the kite. Preference will be given to students that can start field work in the spring (Jan 2012) before matriculation into the Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Department in Fall 2012. For those interested in this position, contact Dr. Fletcher at [email protected]. A second position will be at either the MS or Ph.D. level, with a preferable start date of Spring 2012. This position will focus on movement and habitat use of Florida manatees. Intensive telemetry data have been collected (and will continue to be collected) on this charismatic species, allowing for unprecedented approaches regarding fine-scale movements and resource selection in relation to anthropogenic stressors. For this position, Dr. Daniel Slone from the USGS (Southeast Ecological Science Center, Gainesville) will be the primary advisor and Dr. Fletcher will serve as a co-advisor. Desired qualifications for this position include demonstrated aptitude for technological and quantitative skills (e.g., statistical modeling, GIS, database management), and experience with related ecological research such as habitat or movement studies. For those interested in this position, contact Dr. Slone ([email protected]; 352-264- 3551) and Dr. Fletcher. If you are interested in pursuing one of these graduate positions we highly recommend pursuing the publications from our labs (http://plaza.ufl.edu/robert.fletcher/; https://profile.usgs.gov/dslone/) to determine if and how our work interests you. Please send a CV, GRE scores and GPA, and a brief statement of your research interests, career goals, and why you would like to pursue a graduate degree in our labs (email preferred). For admission to the department, general minimal requirements for GPA are 3.2 for upper division undergraduate coursework, 3.2 for any graduate coursework, and preferred GRE scores of at least 1200 (Q + V). If English is not your native language, a minimum TOEFL score of 550 (paper based; 213 computer based) is necessary. Yet we emphasize that these are minimum requirements and highly competitive students greatly exceed these minimum expectations.
