Description
PhD Student Position(s) Gray Wolf Population Ecology in Michigan Michigan State University and Michigan Department of Natural Resources This announcement is a re-advertisement as our program is transitioning from SUNY ESF to Michigan State University for fall semester 2022. Due to this change, we request that previous applicants who remain interested please reapply. In collaboration with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR), the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife at Michigan State University (MSU) is seeking 1–2 outstanding PhD students to conduct research on population ecology of gray wolves in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. In response to recent federal relisting under the US Endangered Species Act, and to inform future management, the MDNR and MSU are evaluating approaches to improve abundance estimation of wolves. The project will include developing and evaluating the effectiveness of snow track surveys and remote cameras to estimate wolf abundance across the Upper Peninsula. Students also will have access to long-term wolf data, including data from GPS-collared wolves, to inform estimation techniques. Field work will include establishing camera arrays, conducting winter track surveys, and may include live capture of wolves. Students will be expected to develop research proposals that include these approaches to population estimation as well as other aspects of population, movement, and spatial ecology. The academic home for these positions is in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife at MSU in East Lansing with field work across the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The positions are 4–5 years in duration, based on satisfactory job performance and funding availability.
Qualifications
Desired qualifications: • MS in Wildlife Ecology, Conservation Biology, or closely related field, with a strong academic record. • Strong quantitative skills and ecological knowledge related to the position. Proficiency in R and ArcGIS software is required. • Excellent written and oral communication skills including demonstrated ability to publish in peer-reviewed journals. • Strong ability to work in a team-oriented environment with external collaborators, excellent work ethic, and good sense of humor. • Ability to work in remote areas for extended periods during inclement weather. Compensation: $27,000 annual salary plus tuition and benefits. To apply: Submit a single pdf that includes a cover letter summarizing your qualifications and interest in the position, CV, and contact information for three references to Dr. Jerry Belant ([email protected]) with the subject line “Michigan Wolf Project”. Applications will be reviewed in order received, with anticipated start date 15 August 2022.
Contact Person
Dr. Jerry Belant
Contact eMail
Apply:
https://wfscjobs.tamu.edu/jobs/phd-student-positions-gray-wolf-population-ecology-in-michigan/
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