*** Please forward the following position description to programs and potential candidates who may be interested. Graduate Fellowships to Study Human-Elephant Coexistence in Botswana Ecoexist is a five-year program aimed at reducing human-elephant conflicts and fostering coexistence in the Okavango Delta of Botswana. In areas of heightened competition for access to water, food, and space, we seek and facilitate solutions that work for both species. Moving from conflict to coexistence requires a portfolio of management tools and strategies. The Ecoexist project focuses on applied research, land use planning, community-based conflict management, agricultural experiment and innovation, and tourism development (http://www.ecoexistproject.org). Posting Date: December 2013 Background: This year the Ecoexist project has funding for four PhD Fellows to conduct research on multidisciplinary facets of human-elephant conflicts: 1) Cultural, economic, and political factors influencing resource use; 2) Natural resource availability and use impacts; and, 3) Household agroeconomics and food security. A fourth Ecoexist Fellow will focus on Elephant Ecology and Resource Use, enrolled at the University of Oxford in England. Position: Selected students will begin studies in August 2014. Funding is available for each Ecoexist Fellow, totaling $64,000, to cover tuition, fees, insurance, stipends, international travel, and research. Students will apply to Texas A&M University and spend at least one year in Botswana. Responsibilities: Successful applicants will work with Ecoexist project directors to develop a research protocol, apply for grant funding, conduct field research, analyze data, and prepare publications and presentations. Qualifications: Minimum Master’s degree in relevant field; background in social or ecological field research related to conservation, wildlife management, and/or sustainable development, with a demonstrated interest in human-elephant conflicts. Applicants should be highly motivated and organized, with strong writing and communications skills. Ecoexist Fellows will be expected to conduct field research in Botswana and work collaboratively with project directors and other students, interns, and field staff. All research must be designed and carried out in a participatory manner, engaging actively with local communities, government officials, and other stakeholders in Botswana and the region. To apply: Interested applicants should submit the following materials: · Letter of interest (two pages maximum), describing interests, experience, and career plans in the relevant topics associated with human-elephant conflicts; · Three letters of reference; · Unofficial transcripts, and GRE and TOEFL scores (or plans for taking the tests); · Current CV Deadline: Letters of interest and supporting materials are due to Project Directors: Dr. Amanda Stronza ([email protected]), Dr. Anna Songhurst ([email protected]), and Dr. Graham McCulloch ([email protected]) by January 30, 2014. In addition, applicants will need to apply to the Texas A&M Graduate Office (http://ogs.tamu.edu/prospective-students/admissions/applying-to-graduate-schoo/) by March 1, 2014. Please email Amanda Stronza with questions at [email protected].
Amanda Stronza Associate Professor and Co-Director Applied Biodiversity Science NSF-IGERT Program Texas A&M University College Station, TX 77843-2261 [email protected] (979) 845-8931 http://biodiversity.tamu.edu
