Highly motivated students wishing to earn an MS in Biology and interested in bat ecology are are invited to apply for a Graduate Research Assistantship in Dr. Christine Brodsky’s lab at Pittsburg State University (Pittsburg, KS) in a partnership with the Missouri Department of Conservation.
We are looking for an outstanding student to pursue an MS research project on the summer habitat use and roost ecology of tricolored, little brown, and northern long-eared bats in Missouri. Primary objectives include using mist-net surveys to place radio transmitters on reproductively active female bats to document maternity colony size, maternity roost locations, and summer habitat in the Current River Conservation Area (CA), Peck Ranch CA, and Mark Twain National Forest. The field season will be followed with a human dimensions survey for nearby residents' perception of bats, white-nose syndrome, and management practices. The MS student will be supervised by Dr. Christine Brodsky (Pittsburg State University) and Dr. Kathryn Womack (Missouri Department of Conservation). Master’s degree coursework will be completed at Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, KS. Summer field seasons (May 15 – August 15) will entail mist-net surveys at up to 5 sites and placing radio transmitters on reproducibly active female bats. Roost locations will be triangulated daily for the duration of the radio transmitter life (up to 21 days). The student is expected to begin the pilot field season in Summer 2018. Two additional field seasons will follow in 2019 and 2020, with graduation expected in December of 2020. Field season housing will be provided at Peck Ranch Conservation Area. Qualifications include a Bachelor's degree in the biological sciences, ecology, natural resource science, or other related fields with competitive GPA and GRE scores. Preference will be given to applicants who have or are able to obtain a federal permit for northern long-eared bats, experience working in field conditions, trapping and handling bats, telemetry, and those who have the rabies vaccination. To apply, please email the following materials to Christine Brodsky (cbrod...@pittstate.edu): 1) cover letter describing interest and professional goals; 2) curriculum vitae or resume; 3) contact information for three references; 4) copy of academic transcripts (unofficial); and 5) GRE scores. The application deadline is March 16, 2018. For more information and application instructions, please see the job posting: https://wfscjobs.tamu.edu/jobs/graduate-assistantship-ms-bat- ecology-missouri-kansas/
