M.S. or Ph.D. Graduate Research Assistantship: Behavior of prairie grouse near wind turbines
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 M.S. or Ph.D. in Natural Resource Sciences and may specialize in Wildlife Ecology, Applied Ecology, or Adaptive Management. The students will be co-advised by Dr. Larkin Powell (UNL) and Dr. Mary Bomberger Brown (UNL) with support from Dr. Edward Walsh (Developmental Auditory Physiology Lab, Boys Town National Research Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska). Other team members include Dr. TJ Fontaine (USGS Coop Unit), Dr. Walter Schacht (UNL), Dr. LaReesa Wolfenbarger (University of Nebraska at Omaha; UNO), Dr. John McCarty (UNO), and Caroline Jezierski, M.S. 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). We seek a graduate student who will conduct a field study to identify effects of wind farm infrastructure on behavior of greater prairie-chickens and sharp-tailed grouse. Research may include patterns of female attendance, male signaling on leks, and auditory signal interference by wind and turbines. 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 for Ph.D program applicants, or B.S. degree for M.S. applicants), (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, M.S. annual stipend: $16,500. 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
