Ph.D. Graduate Research Assistantship (2): Assessment of demographic and behavioral effects of wind turbines on prairie grouse
School of Natural Resources University of Nebraska-Lincoln The University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) is seeking applicants to begin a graduate program in August, 2012. The successful applicant will pursue a Ph.D. in Natural Resource Sciences and may specialize in Applied Ecology or Adaptive Management. The students will be advised by Dr. Larkin Powell (UNL) and may be co-advised or supported by a team that includes Dr. TJ Fontaine (USGS Coop Unit), Dr. Mary Bomberger Brown (UNL), Dr. Walter Schacht (UNL), Dr. LaReesa Wolfenbarger (University of Nebraska at Omaha; UNO), Dr. John McCarty (UNO), and Dr. Edward Walsh (Boys Town National Research Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska). Caroline Jezierski, M.S., will also support this project as the Program Coordinator for the Nebraska Wind and Wildlife Project. Description: The project's overall purpose is to provide information to guide wind energy development in areas of concern for species of prairie grouse (prairie-chickens and sharp-tailed grouse). Our team has been formed to conduct a field study to identify effects of wind farm infrastructure on reproductive ecology and behavior of greater prairie-chickens and sharp-tailed grouse, as well as to identify indirect effects of predator presence on prairie grouse. Requirements: Applicants should (1) be able to perform moderate physical tasks, (2) show evidence of excellent written and oral communication abilities, (3) have knowledge of basic quantitative methods in ecological research (transcripts should show good performance in quantitative courses), (4) have M.S. in a related field (or B.S. degree with extensive experience and aptitude to go directly to Ph.D.), (5) have a GPA of at least 3.25, and (6) have satisfactory GRE scores (verbal/quantitative: 1120 combined score, analytical writing: 4.0). International applications that meet requirements are encouraged; such applicants for whom English is not the primary language must have the following scores on the TOEFL exam (550 paper-based, 213 computer-based, 79 web-based). Other entrance requirements may be found at http://snr.unl.edu/gradstudent/entrancerequirements.asp . Preferred experience: Preference will be given to applicants with experience in research, animal handling, behavioral and/or auditory data, private land manager and stakeholder relationships, habitat measurements, or wildlife capture and/or surveys. Salary/Benefits: Ph.D. annual stipend: $18,000. Research assistantship includes substantial benefits including health insurance and full tuition waiver. Funding for this project includes research funds, travel funds, publication costs, and 4 years of stipend support, pending satisfactory progress of the student. Application: Position will be filled when suitable applicant is identified. Review of applications will begin immediately. To apply, please mail or email a letter of interest, CV or resume, unofficial copies of transcripts and unofficial GRE scores (or ranges provided for preliminary scores), and contact information for at least 3 references to: Dr. Larkin Powell, School of Natural Resources, 419 Hardin Hall, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68583-0974; e-mail applications preferred: [email protected] . The selected applicant will be asked to officially apply to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's graduate program. Web sites of interest: School of Natural Resources, UNL: http://snr.unl.edu Applied Ecology faculty group in SNR: http://snr.unl.edu/ecology/index.asp University of Nebraska-Lincoln: http://www.unl.edu Larkin Powell: http://snr.unl.edu/powell TJ Fontaine: https://sites.google.com/site/tjfontaineunl/ Mary Bomberger Brown: http://ternandplover.unl.edu/ Walter Schacht: http://agronomy.unl.edu/schacht John McCarty: http://www.unomaha.edu/environmental_studies/JPM_Home.html LaReesa Wolfenbarger: http://www.unomaha.edu/environmental_studies/LLWolfenbarger.html Edward Walsh: https://www.boystownhospital.org/research/Faculty/Pages/EdwardWalsh.aspx Larkin A. Powell Professor of Conservation Biology/Animal Ecology<http://snr.unl.edu/powell> | School of Natural Resources<http://snr.unl.edu/> Director, Great Plains Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit<http://snr.unl.edu/gpcesu> 3310 Holdrege | 419 Hardin Hall | University of Nebraska-Lincoln Lincoln, NE 68583-0974 | PHN: 402.472.6825 | FAX: 402.472.2946 Interim Associate Dean, Agricultural Research Division<http://ard.unl.edu/> Interim Assistant Director, Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station 207 Agricultural Hall | University of Nebraska-Lincoln Lincoln, NE 68583-0704 | PHN: 402.472.2045 | FAX: 402.472.9071 My blog: http://alandethic.blogspot.com<http://alandethic.blogspot.com/>
