We seek two (2) motivated Ph.D. students for anticipated positions through a collaboration between Northern Illinois University and the Lake County Forest Preserve District in Illinois. The students will help carry out annual monitoring and develop dissertation projects involving analysis of wildlife and habitat management data to help LCFPD personnel assess outcomes and identify successful strategies for meeting restoration and management targets. The LCFPD has substantial data on wildlife populations (especially small mammals, reptiles, and amphibians), land cover, and management history, which will allow the students to pursue unique and important questions about restoration ecology and habitat management. Prospective students should be comfortable working in during inclement weather, possess a valid driver’s license, and be willing to oversee a small team of field technicians.
The students will join the Barber community ecology lab group (http://www.bios.niu.edu/barber/lab/Barber_Lab/Home.html) or the restoration ecology and conservation biology lab group of Dr. Holly Jones (http://www.bios.niu.edu/jones/lab/index.html). Collaboration may also include co-PI Dr. Rich King (http://www.bios.niu.edu/rking/lab/index.html). The position will include stipend and tuition remission, and we anticipate one position beginning June 15, 2016, and the second position beginning August 15, 2016. Northern Illinois University is a 20,000-student research university in DeKalb, Illinois, a diverse community of 50,000 with a low cost of living. The Department of Biological Sciences includes faculty with a wide range of research interests, including an active Ecology, Evolution, Behavior, and Conservation research concentration. Details of the graduate program are available at http://www.bios.niu.edu/graduate_studies. Interested students should email me (Nick Barber: [email protected]) by December 11, 2015, with a cover letter that explains your research background and interests and why you want to pursue a Ph.D. Please also include a CV with GPA and GRE scores.
