The School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences at Auburn University is recruiting one Ph.D. student to start January, 2015 to study the effects of wild pigs on squirrel behavior, ecology, and demography in Alabama. The student will be working with Dr. Todd Steury and Dr. Robert Gitzen, but will also be a critical part of a large, comprehensive effort to understand the effects of wild pigs on the ecosystem. The study will include pig removals (and controls); monitoring of squirrels survival, reproduction, and behavior using telemetry; and examination of squirrel food habits in the presence and absence of pigs. Opportunities exist for the student to develop other research questions related to pig-squirrel interactions or squirrel ecology in general.
Students will be supported on a research assistantship ($19,140/year with full tuition waiver). Applicants must possess a masters degree in ecology, wildlife sciences, or related fields. A minimum GPA of 3.0 and GRE scores of 150 on each of the verbal and quantitative sections is required. Preference will be given to applicants who have a demonstrated ability to publish in peer- reviewed outlets. Interested applicants should send a cover letter outlining their interests, career goals, and qualifications for the project, CV or resume, copies of transcripts and GRE scores (unofficial copies are OK for application review), and contact information for at least 3 references to Dr. Robert Gitzen and Dr. Todd Steury via e-mail ([email protected] and [email protected]). We prefer e-mail submission of applications, but will accept regular mail (Todd Steury, School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, 3301 Forestry and Wildlife Sciences Building, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849). Review of applicants will begin immediately, but applications will be accepted until November 1st.
