M.S. Graduate Opportunity: Social Behavior of Gopher Tortoises Location: UGA (Athens, GA) / Archbold Biological Station (Venus, FL)
Start Date: Fall 2014, with option to conduct field research starting April 2014 as an intern based at Archbold Biological Station Last Date to Apply: 1 January 2014 Description: The University of Georgia’s Savannah River Ecology Lab (http://www.srel.uga.edu/) is seeking a highly motivated student with strong academic credentials and an avid interest in reptile and behavioral ecology to join a collaborative research team investigating the social behavior of gopher tortoises. Our team is/will be using a combination of approaches, including long-term mark-recapture data, behavioral observations via wildlife cameras and other remote monitoring devices, and genetic analyses. The successful applicant would be enrolled in UGA’s Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources (http://www.warnell.uga.edu/) and conduct their field research at Archbold Biological Station (http://www.archbold-station.org/), south-central Florida, where there is an ongoing long-term population study of gopher tortoises. We seek a candidate able to work independently with minimal supervision yet work collaboratively as part of a multi-organization research team. The candidate should be able to work in the field under adverse conditions and have excellent organizational skills. A strong interest in the research topic is essential; prior experience with mark-recapture and radio-telemetry of chelonians is also helpful. Acceptance is conditional on the applicant being selected for a teaching assistantship or graduate fellowship through UGA starting Fall 2014. The PIs have obtained funding for an initial season of field work via a graduate research internship, with preference given to candidates available to begin field work in April 2014, prior to beginning their graduate coursework. The student would have wide latitude in selecting a research project that overlapped with their research interests while still achieving the project’s long-term study goals. The student would be expected to take the lead on (preferred) or (alternatively) contribute to peer-reviewed manuscripts based on data collected as part of his/her project. Applicants should submit their CV (including GPA and GRE scores), contact information for at least three references, and a one-page letter describing their research interests as they relate to this position to Dr. Tracey D. Tuberville ([email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>). More information about Dr. Tuberville’s lab, including people and publications, can be found at: http://www.srel.uga.edu/facstaffpages/tuberville/index.html. The collaborating PIs are Dr. Betsie Rothermel (http://www.archbold-station.org/station/html/aboutus/staffpages/brothermel/brothermel.html) and Dr. Kelly Zamudio (http://www.eeb.cornell.edu/zamudio/KZ_Home/Welcome/Welcome.html). Application deadline to be considered for assistantship support in UGA’s Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources is 1 January 2014. Information about the application process can be found at: http://www.warnell.uga.edu/grad/application-process.php. Qualifications: Minimum qualifications include a B.S. degree in ecology, wildlife biology or related discipline. Warnell requires an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 and GRE scores of 1000 (or ~300 in new scoring system) for admission. Because higher scores will be necessary to be competitive for an assistantship, only applicants with a strong academic record should apply. Contact person: Dr. Tracey Tuberville ([email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>)
