PhD Graduate Assistantship available to work with Dr. Melanie Murphy
(Department of Ecosystem Science and Management/Program in Ecology), Dr. Annika
Walters (Department of Zoology and Physiology/Program in Ecology) and Dr. Anna
Chalfoun (Department of Zoology and Physiology/Program in Ecology) at
University of Wyoming in collaboration with Dr. Doug Keinath (Wyoming
Ecological Services, USFWS).
The Wyoming toad (Anaxyrus baxteri) is one of the most endangered amphibians in
North America, which rapidly declined in the 1970s due to unknown causes. This
narrow-range endemic was listed under the ESA in 1984 and is now considered
extinct in the wild. In the early 1990s, managers collected the remaining
individuals to establish a captive breeding program. A small population at
Mortenson Lake National Wildlife Refuge sustained by captive-release is now one
of the only known, non-captive populations of Wyoming toads. The U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service recently improved captive facilities to allow regular release
of adult Wyoming toads into the wild in order to foster increased reproduction
and survival. This resulted in notable increases in reproduction, as evidenced
by regular wild breeding, but changes in survival are questionable because the
released animals are being observed less frequently than expected. Since all
released toads are uniquely identified, tracking these animals offers a unique
opportunity to collect longitudinal information on: 1) individual survival, 2)
individual behavior and habitat selection, 3) individual health status (e.g.,
Chytrid fungus (Bd) infection rate), and 4) how survival, behavior and health
status relate to genotype.
Prospective students with a background in wildlife, natural resources,
ecology, and/or population genetics are encouraged to apply. Evidence of robust
analytical skills, ability to work independently under stochastic field
conditions, strong work ethic, scientific writing, passion for scientific
inquiry, and aptitude for collaborative research are expected. Additional
skills in radio-tracking anuran species and population genetics laboratory
skills (particularly using low quality/low quantity DNA) will be preferred.
Work will require animal care, hiking, working in harsh field conditions at
high elevation, working in wetlands and driving a 4WD vehicle. To apply,
please send a statement of interest, complete CV, unofficial transcripts,
unofficial GRE scores, and contact information for three professional
references as a single PDF file (LastName_WyomingToad.pdf) to
[email protected]. Application deadline is December 12, 2018, although
review of applicants will begin immediately. Start date could be as early as
January 28, 2019, but is flexible for the right candidate. However, candidate
must be available for field season preparations with field season to start
mid-May.
Area and Institution: University of Wyoming (www.uwyo.edu) is ideally located
in Laramie, Wyoming with easy access to varied field sites and outdoor
recreation opportunities. In addition, the campus is only 1 hour from Fort
Collins and ~2 hours from an international airport (Denver, CO). Applicants
are encouraged to investigate the Program in Ecology (www.uwyo.edu/pie), an
integrated, interdepartmental PhD program in ecological science.
