PHD STUDENTS IN LANDSCAPE/CONSERVATION ECOLOGY
Highly motivated PhD students are sought to study the influences of habitat connectivity, landscape phenology, or land-cover transitions on North American bird populations and communities. Although effects of broad-scale ecological conditions will be a key focus, students also will integrate into their work one or more important human dimensions (e.g., social, economic, cultural, or demographic factors) that may interact with ecological conditions to influence avian biodiversity. In addition, students will address the conservation implications of their results. Statistical analyses involving national and regional databases will be expected, and opportunities will be available for incorporating field work into projects. Within these general guidelines, students will have considerable latitude and full responsibility for developing the specific directions of their research. Applications are invited for at least two positions that will start in the fall of 2014 at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. Depending on qualifications, teaching-assistantship funding at $19-25K/12 months will be available through the Baylor Department of Biology for 4-5 years, or fellowship funding at $20-25K/12 months will be available through the Baylor Institute for Ecological, Earth, and Environmental Sciences (TIE3S) for 4-5 years. For fellowship funding, there are no teaching responsibilities, but students are encouraged to gain some teaching experience during their doctoral program. For both types of funding, tuition for 20 semester hours/12 months will be waived, and health insurance at a discounted price will be available. Students must have a MS degree in a relevant field. Significant training and experience with GIS and statistical methods are required, as is a strong interest in developing additional expertise in GIS and quantitative methods. Preference will be given to those who have published quantitative ecological research, who have presented papers at major scientific meetings, and who have experience working with large databases. Students who have research experience with birds and landscape/conservation ecology, or with integrating human dimensions into ecological/conservation research, are preferred. Competitive applicants will have undergraduate and graduate GPAs > 3.4, verbal and quantitative GRE scores that average around the 70th percentile or higher, and a GRE analytical writing score > 4.0. Students must have or acquire a valid US driver’s license. To apply, create a single pdf that includes: a letter of interest that describes career goals and addresses position requirements and preferences; a resume; unofficial undergraduate and graduate transcripts; unofficial general GRE scores (no more than 5 years old by mid-February 2014); and a list of three references and their institution, email address, and phone number. Before submitting an application, carefully consider all of the requirements for a PhD degree by examining the student handbook and other on-line information for each program (Department of Biology, http://www.baylor.edu/biology; TIE3S, http://www.baylor.edu/tieees). Any preference for one of the programs should be expressed in the letter of interest. With PhD Student in the subject line, email the pdf to Professor Kevin Gutzwiller ([email protected]; http://bearspace.baylor.edu/Kevin_Gutzwiller/www/). Screening of applicants will begin immediately and continue through the deadline of 1 November 2013. After phone or on-site interviews, Professor Gutzwiller will invite the most qualified applicants to apply formally to the Ph.D. Program in Biology and/or to the PhD Program in TIE3S. Admission and an offer of an assistantship/fellowship will be decided by the Baylor Graduate School, the Biology Graduate Committee, and the TIE3S Graduate Committee.
