*Description* The Middleton and Brashares Labs at UC Berkeley seek highly motivated and creative students to pursue Ph.Ds studying wildlife ecology and management in the Patagonian steppe. The student will be part of a research program that has previously focused on puma-camelid interactions at San Guillermo National Park in San Juan Province, Argentina, but will soon expand to several new sites in Neuquen and Santa Cruz provinces of southern Argentina. Pumas and camelids (i.e., guanacos and vicunas) are the dominant players at these sites, where they often come into conflict with domestic sheep across protected-area boundaries. The successful applicant(s) will be invited to help shape our broader program goals, while developing a research focus on predator-prey interactions, community ecology, human-wildlife conflict and coexistence, effects of land-use or global change on wildlife populations or communities, or a related topic. The work will be carried out in collaboration with federal and provincial agencies and several NGO partners in Argentina.
*Qualifications* Candidates must have a B.A. or B.S. with a strong GPA and competitive GRE scores. A M.S. degree in Ecology, Wildlife Biology, or a related field – OR equivalent post-undergraduate research and field experience – is also required. Applicants with Spanish language proficiency will be strongly preferred. Applicants with prior experience managing and analyzing datasets in program R (or similar) and a track record conducting and publishing research will be favored. The successful applicant(s) will be expected to participate in a team environment, present results at professional conferences, publish results in a timely manner in peer-reviewed scientific outlets, and assist with preparation of grant proposals. The successful applicant(s) will be admitted through the Ph.D. program in the Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management at the University of California, Berkeley. A competitive funding package will be provided, including annual stipend, tuition, and benefits for a minimum of 5 years. To apply, please email a single PDF file that includes 1) a cover letter outlining experience and specific interests related to this opportunity, 2) a CV, 3) unofficial GRE score sheet, 4) contact information for three references, and 5) transcripts to Drs. Arthur Middleton and Justin Brashares at berkeley.wildl...@gmail.com. Review of applicants will begin 12 November 2018. Official start date is August 2019, but successful applicant(s) may have the opportunity to join field work and project development before that time. -- Owen R. Bidder Post-Doctoral Researcher - Middleton Lab Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management University of California, Berkeley
