Description: The Department of Natural Resource Management at South Dakota State University (SDSU; http://www.sdstate.edu/nrm/index.cfm) invites applications for a Ph.D. Assistantship to evaluate the effects of landscape composition and habitat configuration on ring-necked pheasant ecology. The graduate research assistant will have the opportunity to collaborate with SDSU and BGSU faculty and South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks biologists to study the effects of landscape-scale habitat characteristics and other environmental factors pheasant population viability and space use patterns. This study is part of a broader, long-term research effort to understand the effect of ongoing land use and land cover changes on ring-necked pheasant populations in the region. The Ph.D. student will also have the flexibility to pursue independent research interests related to this topic.
Qualifications: Academic requirements include a Master's degree in a closely related field (except in exceptional circumstances), strong GRE scores, and GPA above 3.0. Candidates must have strong spatial analysis, and writing skills. The preferred candidate should have previous experience with radio telemetry and GPS tracking of wildlife, avian capture, working with a diverse team of collaborators, geographic information systems, and statistical modeling in R and MARK. Additionally, candidates must have a strong work ethic, with the ability to work independently and as part of a larger team, and must be willing and able to conduct field work in extreme weather conditions. Financial support: Approximately $21,000 for a 12-month stipend plus a full tuition waiver. Start Date: Expected start date is August 2017, with the possibility of participating in fieldwork starting in May 2017. To Apply: To be considered for this opportunity, please forward a cover letter, CV, a copy of transcripts (unofficial), and a list of three references with contact information to Dr. Michael Wimberly at [email protected] and Dr. Andy Gregory at [email protected]. Incomplete applications will not be considered. For full consideration, please submit your application materials by January 31, 2017. For additional information contact: Dr. Michael C. Wimberly Geospatial Sciences Center of Excellence Department of Natural Resource Management South Dakota State University Phone: 605-688-5350; Email: [email protected] Dr. Andrew J. Gregory School of Earth, Environment and Society Bowling Green State University Bowling Green, OH 43403-0001 Phone: 1-419-372-9369; Email: [email protected]
