The Behavioral and Community Ecology, Conservation Biology Group at Guangxi University (Nanning, China; http://animal-ecology-guangxi.com/) is excited to offer opportunities to do three-year MSc or PhD projects in animal ecology and related fields. Our faculty (see summaries below) offer a variety of expertise and interests in animal behavior, breeding and nesting ecology, ecotoxicology, landscape ecology, natural resource management, socioeconomic influences on conservation, species interaction networks, and urban ecology. The degrees are granted through our International Training Program, and academic work is in English. Students apply with a March 31 2017 deadline to the China Government Scholarship (CGS) program, as well as to the College of Forestry; CGS provides waivers of tuition and housing fees, and a monthly stipend. In the first year, students take courses in basic Chinese language and in Chinese culture. In addition, courses in professional classes related to ecology and evolution are required to graduate (4 for PhD, 7 for MSc), as well as successful completion of the thesis project. Applicants are required to have their previous degree completely finished at the time of application. We are looking for students who have experience in fieldwork and species identification. Applicants with a proven track record of successful publication in peer-reviewed journals, or advanced quantitative or programming skills, will have an advantage. We hope that candidates will explore our faculties’ research interests, summarized below, and then begin to think about possible projects that match both student’s and advisor’s backgrounds. Applicants should contact the faculty member who is closest to their interests, attaching a CV and the e-mail addresses of three references. Review of applications will start immediately, and we will select only those who have contacted us and interactively discussed projects. Information on our research faculties’ expertise and interests:------------ Prof. Eben Goodale ([email protected]) has worked on a range of projects from the acoustic behavior of birds, to community ecology and species interactions, to issues of conservation biology. He is particularly seeking an international PhD student to do a project on the vocalizations of group-living birds. Associate Prof. Aiwu Jiang ([email protected]) has extensive experience studying the birds of Guangxi. He is working on projects involving the breeding ecology of birds in limestone regions, and also the effects of toxins on breeding. Research Scholar Myung-Bok Lee ([email protected]) has started in Guangxi a project that aims to understand relationships between biodiversity and environmental characteristics (e.g., human disturbance, urban land-use type, crop heterogeneity, natural/semi natural vegetation at landscape scale, etc) within urbanized and agricultural landscapes. Currently the project focuses on communities of birds and plants; however, it is expected to encompass socio-economic aspects and a broad range of taxa (e.g., insect) and biological levels (from individual to ecosystem) as the project grows. Associate Prof. Christos Mammides ([email protected]) is interested in examining the mechanisms by which anthropogenic activities affect biodiversity, and in exploring the socio-economic factors that drive those activities. Christos is also interested in quantifying the effectiveness of different types of protected areas, and in assessing the influence of those areas on local peoples’ livelihoods. Information about the College of Forestry at Guangxi University (GXU):----- The College of Forestry at GXU is one of China’s largest forestry schools. The International Training Program was started in 2015 as a cooperation among several labs with both Chinese national and international researchers. Guangxi University (>25,000 students) is located in the subtropical city of Nanning, is part of the National 211 University Scheme of China, and aims to become a major research hub in Southern China. Nanning forms the natural gateway between China and South-East Asia, with Vietnam a mere 300 kms away and direct international connecting flights available to most major cities in Asia. Housing is available on campus and campus life is bustling with many places to eat, good sporting and entertainment facilities, and varied student activities.
