Graduate School Opportunities
Graduate School Opportunities Listings will be kept for a month
after being posted or until their deadline (if listed). I do not
post positions that require a masters degree, as
this site is aimed at undergraduates. Please send any
opportunities not listed here by clicking on this link:
Email
Funded MS/PhD opportunity in the
Odum School of Ecology @ UGA
The Vahsen lab within the Odum School of Ecology at the
University of Georgia (Athens, GA) is seeking a MS or PhD
student for fall 2026 interested in eco-evolutionary dynamics,
quantitative ecology, and/or coastal ecology. Our lab
investigates the role of rapid evolution in mediating ecosystem
processes, using coastal marsh sedges as a model system. Our
research ranges from field-based experiments to computational
forecasting methods. More information about our research and
work can be found at https://mvahsen.weebly.com/.
Preferred qualifications for the position include: BS or MS
degree in ecology or statistics, research experience with
plants, and/or coding experience in R. Graduate students at the
Odum School are funded ~$35K/yr (including tuition coverage and
benefits). More information about the graduate program at the
Odum School can be accessed at: https://ecology.uga.edu/academics/graduate-school/.
Interested applicants should email Dr. Megan Vahsen (megan.vahsen@uga.edu)
(1) expressing why they are interested in the position and their
qualifications, (2) a copy of their resume/CV, (3) contact
information for two academic or professional references. Review
of applicants will occur on a rolling basis, with priority given
to those who reach out prior to September 1, 2025.
Megan Vahsen, PhD
Assistant Professor
Odum School of Ecology
University of Georgia
mvahsen.weebly.com
Posted 7/22/25
Four funded graduate student
positions (2 MS and 2 PhD) at Utah State University
Discipline Areas: Fire Ecology, Forest Ecology, Silviculture,
and Wildfire Social Science
Research Topic: Managing USDA wildfire crisis strategy
landscapes in the Intermountain West, Forest Service Region 4.
Start Date: as early as August 2025 and until the positions are
filled
Compensation: MS 2-years of $24,000 or PhD 3-years of $24,500
annual stipend plus benefits (tuition, fees, and insurance), and
travel allowance
Utah State University’s Quinney College of Natural Resources
seeks 2 MS students and 2 PhD students to join us as a cohort of
National Needs Fellows, in support of a United States Department
of Agriculture project funded to facilitate management of Forest
Service, Region 4 Wildfire Crisis Strategy Landscapes (https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/wildfire-crisis).
Up to four graduate students are sought to participate in a
graduate research project and to work as a cohort to navigate
structured activities designed to improve their understanding of
the scientific rationale underpinning forest resources
management. Mandatory student activities will include: 1)
teamwork skill development; 2) collective involvement in
extension and seminar-type activities focused on building
leadership skills; 3) development of mentoring skills, and; 4)
training in state-of-the-art tools and skills. These activities
will be delivered through mentoring from the project team of
faculty advisors. Ultimately, the goal is to advance training in
order to increase workforce development in the field of Forest
Resources.
Under the advisement of a primary faculty advisor, and in
collaboration with the other students, the faculty advisors, and
an advisory board composed of current forestry professionals,
each student will focus on one of the main topic areas:
1) Fire Ecology (Dr. Larissa Yocom, https://larissayocom.com/)
One student will study an important aspect of fire or fuels
management in Region 4, for example, examining fuel treatment
effectiveness, fire hazard, or potential fire behavior of
regional forest types.
2) Forest Ecology (Dr. Jim Lutz, http://jamesalutz.com/) One
student will explore possible ecological effects related to
forest management, for example, snag or coarse woody debris
dynamics, the importance of large trees, or fungal
relationships, etc. in forested ecosystems.
3) Silviculture (Dr. Justin DeRose, http://qcnr.usu.edu/labs/derose/)
One student will investigate silvicultural treatments in Region
4, for example, issues of natural or artificial
regeneration-including assisted migration, intermediate
treatment effects on fuels or fire dynamics, etc.
4) Wildfire Social Science (Dr. Catrin Edgeley, https://catrinedgeley.weebly.com/)
One student will conduct social science to better understand
public perceptions of fire in Region 4, for example, community
adaptation to fire, perceptions of smoke, and support for fuel
treatments, etc.
We will all work closely as a team. Students are expected to
maintain clean, organized databases, lead contributions to
collective projects and publish their work in peer-reviewed
scientific journals. They will have opportunities to present
their work to diverse audiences, including private landowners,
policymakers, and the scientific community. Candidates should
have earned a BS or MS related to the topic area(s) they are
interested in (e.g. forestry, ecology, anthropology, geography,
etc.); highly qualified candidates with degrees in other fields
will be considered. Preferred qualifications include qualitative
and quantitative skills and field experience. Review of
applications will start immediately and continue until the
positions are filled.
To apply, please email the following to Justin DeRose (justin.derose@usu.edu):
1) a cover letter describing your experience and interests
(including which project(s) you would be interested in), 2) a CV
or resume, 3) unofficial transcripts, 4) GRE scores if you have
them (not mandatory), and 5) a list of three professional
references and their contact information.
R. Justin DeRose, PhD, Certified Forester (he/him/his)
T.W. Daniel Endowed Professorship in Forestry
Associate Professor, Silviculture and Applied Forest Ecology
Department of Wildland Resources
Utah State University
5230 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322-5230
Phone: 435.797.0905
Email: justin.derose@usu.edu
Posted 7/15/25
Fire ecology: Funded MS student
position at Utah State University
Funded MS student position at Utah State University
Discipline Area: Fire and Forest Ecology
Research Topic: Fire severity
Start Date: August 2025 or January 2026
Compensation: 2 years of $24,000 annual stipend plus benefits
(tuition, fees, and insurance)
Utah State University’s Department of Wildland Resources seeks 1
MS student to work on a project focused on vegetation and soil
burn severity. We are interested in modeling burn severity in
different vegetation types, using different metrics of burn
severity, and developing a better understanding of burn severity
in recently burned areas that burn again. The project will
involve some field work as well as some modeling. The successful
candidate will work with a large interdisciplinary team with an
overall goal of predicting burn severity and runoff response for
pre-fire watershed assessment in California and Colorado.
The student will start in August 2025 or January 2026. The
student is expected to work with land managers, lead efforts in
the field, analyze data, and publish their work in peer-reviewed
scientific journals. They will have opportunities to present
their work to diverse audiences, including managers and the
scientific community. Candidates should have earned a BS in a
field related to forestry or ecology; highly-qualified
candidates with degrees in other fields will be considered.
Preferred qualifications include quantitative skills, writing
skills, and field experience. We are particularly interested in
recruiting students from under-represented groups.
To apply, please email the following to Larissa Yocom (larissa.yocom@usu.edu):
1) a cover letter describing your experience and interests, 2) a
CV or resume, 3) unofficial transcripts, and 4) a list of three
professional references and their contact information. Review of
applications will start immediately and continue until the
position is filled.
Posted 7/12/25
Graduate Opportunity in Desert
Amphibian Ecology
Starting Fall 2025, Applications are being reviewed as soon
as they are received
I am recruiting a highly motivated applicant interested in
earning either an MS or a PhD to work on amphibian ecology at
desert waters in the lab of Dr. Kerry Griffis-Kyle (Dept of
Natural Resources Mgt) and co-advised by Dr. Nancy McIntyre
(Dept of Biological Sciences).
Prospective students will be funded by Teaching Assistantship (3
years for M.S. students, 5 years for Ph.D. students (18K)) and
are eligible to apply for additional fellowships and
scholarships.
This is part of a larger cross-institutional project focused on
Sonoran desert tinaja ecology across gradients of temperature
and precipitation. Specific research questions are flexible.
Skills that will be acquired:
Acoustic data collection and analysis
Indices of biotic diversity
Statistics (Program R)
Scientific communication and publication
Desert field skills
Qualifications: This work will in part be conducted on military
lands, so applicants must be US citizens and be able to pass a
military background check. Applicants must have completed a BSc
(if applying for an MS) or MS (if applying for a PhD) in a
related field. Preference will be given to motivated candidates
with excellent writing skills, an interest in amphibian ecology,
and proven ability to work safely in desert environments.
This position requires hard work, problem solving, attention to
detail, and a tolerance for desert heat. This is a physically
demanding job which requires packing in to remote sites, driving
a 4WD safely on unmaintained roads, and coordinating with
military security. Because of the remoteness of the sites and
the extreme environment field work may require working odd hours
and extended hours, Applicants should expect to encounter
venomous snakes and invertebrates and large carnivores.
Experience in rock climbing or scrambling is helpful but not
required. There may be international travel to Mexico.
We encourage applications from everyone. Texas Tech University
is one of four major state supported universities in Texas and
is designated as a National Research University by the State of
Texas and as a Hispanic-Serving Institution from the U.S.
Department of Education. Texas Tech University requires a
background check of all new employees.
Interested applicants should email Dr. Griffis-Kyle (kerry.griffis-kyle@ttu.edu)
and have “Graduate opportunity” in the subject line. Please
include in the email:
How this position will help you fulfill your career goals and
why you are a good fit
Resume or CV including pertinent work experience, volunteer
activities, and contact information
Unofficial transcripts
GRE scores (not required, but encouraged)
Contact information for three references
For additional information:
Department of Natural Resources Management: http://www.depts.ttu.edu/nrm/
Dr. Griffis-Kyle: http://myweb.ttu.edu/kerrgrif/default.html
Pronouns: she, her, hers
Department of Natural Resources Management
Texas Tech University
Follow Dr. Griffis-Kyle:
https://www.instagram.com/drkgkttu/
https://www.facebook.com/GriffisKyle/
Posted 7/11/25
MS Teaching Assistantship -
Visual/Behavioral Ecology of Snake Camouflage
Research Focus
I am seeking applicants for one graduate student assistantship
(Master’s) to explore the effectiveness of snake camouflage. The
student will use interdisciplinary approaches (visual ecology,
behavioral ecology, etc) to address questions related to snake
camouflage across different environmental backgrounds. Through
lab work and short duration, high intensity observations in the
field, there is ample opportunity for the student to address
their own independent questions. Snakes are broadly
underrepresented in visual ecology thus far, and this project
will be foundational in the lab's work on a new system (Eastern
Copperheads (Agkistrodon contortrix), but additional
opportunities exist). To that end, individuals who are skilled
photographers, proficient in R, proficient with Photoshop,
Blender, Image J, or other photo editing software are especially
encouraged to apply.
The successful candidate will be enrolled as a Master’s student
in the Biology Department of the University of Louisiana at
Monroe, and tuition and most fees are waived. The teaching
assistantship pays an annual stipend of $10,000.
Desired Qualifications
By the start date, candidates must hold a Bachelor’s degree in
wildlife management, environmental biology, ecology,
conservation biology, forestry, or other relevant majors. The
ability to conduct rigorous fieldwork under extreme conditions
(e.g., heat, humidity, alligators, venomous snakes) will be
necessary. Excellent communication and time-management skills, a
strong work ethic, and attention to detail also are essential.
The candidate must also have a valid Louisiana driver’s license,
or be able to obtain a valid Louisiana driver’s license
immediately upon starting. A reliable vehicle is required for
field work.
Deadline
Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue
until the position is filled. Communications should be directed
to Dr. Ross Couvillon (rcouvillon@ulm.edu).
To apply, please send an email with the subject line “Snake
Camouflage MS Assistantship” that includes a single PDF file
containing a cover letter, resume or CV, unofficial transcripts,
unofficial GRE scores (if already taken), and contact
information for three references. A start date of January 2026
(possibly August 2026) is anticipated.
Posted 7/2/25
MS
position - climate change and fire effects on coastal vegetation
- Marshall U, Palmquist lab
The Palmquist Lab at Marshall University is recruiting for a
funded MS position at Marshall University in climate change and
fire effects on coastal vegetation. Our research focuses on
quantifying vegetation dynamics over space and time and
identifying how the relative importance of ecological processes
structuring plant communities changes with spatial and temporal
scale. In addition, a key goal of our research is to understand
how pattern and process in plant communities will be altered in
the face of global environmental change. An important motivation
for our work is to address ecological questions at large spatial
scales to inform landscape conservation. We collect field data,
use existing large observational data sets, and implement
simulation modeling to address these goals in temperate
shrublands, wetlands, woodlands, and forests. Additional
information about the lab can be found at http://www.kylepalmquist.org/.
RESEARCH FOCUS: The successful candidate will explore the
interacting effects of sea-level rise and increased storm surge on
coastal vegetation and the effects of prescribed fire on
pine-dominated vegetation on Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris
Island (MCRDPI), a sea-island in South Carolina. Coastal
vegetation provides important ecosystem services, including storm
protection, erosion control, and habitat for wildlife. These
complex, highly zoned plant communities are structured by multiple
environmental factors including salinity, elevation, soil texture,
soil moisture, exposure, and light availability. Sea-level rise
and intensification of the hydrologic cycle (i.e. more frequent
and intense storms) is expected to affect the distribution and
composition of coastal vegetation in the future, with important
implications. Prescribed fire has been implemented in pine
woodlands and forests on the island to enhance their resilience to
climate change and to restore their structure from closed forests
to open woodlands. The effects of prescribed fire have yet to be
assessed. The project will integrate remote sensing, plant
community sampling, and modeling to quantify how sea-level rise
and associated factors have impacted coastal vegetation up to
present and how climate change may influence vegetation in the
future. An additional goal is to assess how prescribed fire is
influencing pine-dominated vegetation on the island by installing
and re-sampling permanent vegetation plots.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: A background, including relevant course
work, in botany or plant ecology, and GIS or remote sensing,
strong communication skills, and strong quantitative skills.
Experience in remote sensing and GIS and knowledge of the
southeastern US flora is highly desirable.
EXPECTATIONS: The successful candidate will be expected to conduct
high-quality research, serve as a teaching assistant within the
Department of Biological Sciences, present their research to the
scientific community at regional and national meetings, and
publish in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
TIMELINE: The position is available starting January 2026 and
possibly before.
FUNDING: Funding will consist of a combination of research and
teaching assistantships for two years. A 12-month competitive
stipend ($20,000), and full tuition waiver will be provided. The
student is responsible for covering University fees.
HOW TO APPLY: Interested students should apply by submitting the
following to Dr. Kyle Palmquist (palmquist@marshall.edu):
1) short statement of research interests and career goals (no
longer than 1 page), 2) CV, 3) unofficial transcripts, and 4)
contact information for three professional references. Please
include: “MS position – coastal vegetation” and your name in the
email subject.
Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until a
candidate is selected. I will contact you to discuss your research
interests and goals for graduate school if I determine you would
be a good fit for the lab. If selected, a full application must be
submitted to the Department of Biological Sciences at Marshall
University, Huntington, WV. Faculty in the Department of
Biological Sciences have expertise in a variety of biological
fields, including but not limited to ecology, evolution,
herpetology, and physiology. More information about the Department
and its programs can be found here: https://www.marshall.edu/biology/.
Application requirements for admission to the DBS graduate program
can be found here: https://www.marshall.edu/biology/admission/.
Marshall University is located in Huntington, an affordable
college town located on the Ohio River in the beautiful state of
West Virginia. The town is small enough to get around on foot and
bike, but large enough to support a variety of restaurants and
other cultural activities. Huntington and the surrounding area
offer ample recreational opportunities (hiking, skiing, rafting),
along with proximity to larger cities, including Louisville, KY,
Cincinnati, OH, and Columbus, OH. In the Palmquist Lab, we highly
value and encourage work-life balance.
I strongly encourage students from diverse backgrounds and
experiences to apply. Feel free to contact me with questions at
any time.
Kyle Palmquist
Associate Professor
Department of Biological Sciences
Marshall University
Huntington, WV 25755
Posted 7/1/25
MS position - impacts of global
change drivers on dryland plant communities - Marshall U,
Palmquist lab
The Palmquist Lab at Marshall University is recruiting for an
NSF funded MS position focused on evaluating the impacts of
multiple global change drivers on dryland plant communities. Our
research focuses on quantifying vegetation dynamics over space
and time and identifying how the relative importance of
ecological processes structuring plant communities changes with
spatial and temporal scale. In addition, a key goal of our
research is to understand how pattern and process in plant
communities will be altered in the face of global environmental
change. An important motivation for our work is to address
ecological questions at large spatial scales to inform landscape
conservation. We collect field data, use existing large
observational data sets, and implement simulation modeling to
address these goals in temperate shrublands, wetlands,
woodlands, and forests. Additional information about the lab can
be found at http://www.kylepalmquist.org/.
RESEARCH FOCUS: The successful candidate will broadly explore
the interacting effects of climate change, wildfire, and
livestock grazing intensity on big sagebrush plant communities
throughout their spatial extent in the western US. These
water-limited ecosystems are undergoing rapid environmental
change due to multiple stressors (climate change, increases in
wildfire activity, species invasions) and represent some of the
most threatened systems in North America. This project is
supported by a five-year NSF grant and will leverage an
individual-based plant simulation model to quantify the impacts
of multiple global change drivers on big sagebrush plant
communities under future conditions. Potential focal projects
the MS student would lead include: the role of competition in
altering plant functional type responses to global change
drivers and the implications for shrub-grass coexistence or
leveraging livestock grazing as a tool to prevent the spread of
invasive species and decrease wildfire risk under a future
climate. This project will provide collaborative opportunities
with ecologists at Yale University, and with scientists and
managers from multiple federal agencies (BLM, USGS, USFWS, USFS,
USDA ARS).
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS: A background and relevant course work
in ecology and statistics, knowledge and experience in sagebrush
ecosystems of the western U.S., strong communication skills, and
strong quantitative skills. Experience in ecological modeling
and computer programming is highly desirable. An interest in
learning modeling is required.
EXPECTATIONS: The successful candidate will be expected to
conduct high-quality research, serve as a teaching assistant
within the Department of Biological Sciences for one year,
present their research to the scientific community at regional
and national meetings, and publish in peer-reviewed scientific
journals.
TIMELINE: The position is available starting August 2025 or
January 2026.
FUNDING: Funding will consist of a combination of research and
teaching assistantships for two years. A 12-month competitive
stipend ($24,000), and full tuition waiver will be provided. The
student is responsible for covering University fees.
HOW TO APPLY: Interested students should apply by submitting the
following to Dr. Kyle Palmquist (palmquist@marshall.edu):
1) short statement of research interests and career goals (no
longer than 1 page), 2) CV, 3) unofficial transcripts, and 4)
contact information for three professional references. Please
include: “MS position - dryland plant communities” and your name
in the email subject.
Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until
a candidate is selected. I will contact you to discuss your
research interests and goals for graduate school if I determine
you would be a good fit for the lab. If selected, a full
application must be submitted to the Department of Biological
Sciences at Marshall University, Huntington, WV. Faculty in the
Department of Biological Sciences have expertise in a variety of
biological fields, including but not limited to ecology,
evolution, herpetology, and physiology. More information about
the Department and its programs can be found here:
https://www.marshall.edu/biology/. Application requirements for
admission to the DBS graduate program can be found here: https://www.marshall.edu/biology/admission/.
Marshall University is located in Huntington, an affordable
college town located on the Ohio River in the beautiful state of
West Virginia. The town is small enough to get around on foot
and bike, but large enough to support a variety of restaurants
and other cultural activities. Huntington and the surrounding
area offer ample recreational opportunities (hiking, skiing,
rafting), along with proximity to larger cities, including
Louisville, KY, Cincinnati, OH, and Columbus, OH. In the
Palmquist Lab, we highly value and encourage work-life balance.
I strongly encourage students from diverse backgrounds and
experiences to apply. Feel free to contact me with questions at
any time.
Kyle Palmquist
Associate Professor
Department of Biological Sciences
Marshall University
Huntington, WV 25755
Posted 6/28/25
Postdoc
and master's position openings at USU - avian botulism modeling
The Wildlife Eco-Epidemiology Lab in the Veterinary and Clinical
Life Sciences Department at Utah State University is seeking a
highly motivated postdoctoral fellow and master’s student to join
a multidisciplinary research team working to describe causes of
avian mortality and risk factors for botulism outbreaks in the
Great Salt Lake ecosystem of Utah.
The MASTER'S STUDENT will lead a study examining historic patterns
and causes of mortality in birds (specifically waterfowl) in and
around the Great Salt Lake using existing data, including necropsy
findings. They will also assist in a postdoc-led study of avian
botulism.
The POSTDOC will design and lead the development of a surveillance
and response plan for botulism outbreaks, integrate several
historical datasets of avian populations and lake hydrology, and
generate epidemiologic models to identify risk factors for avian
botulism outbreaks and management actions to mitigate avian
mortality.
These are both primarily data management and analysis positions,
though some field work may be possible as needed. The position
will be based in Logan, Utah. Remote work will not be considered.
MS student: https://jobs.rwfm.tamu.edu/view-job/?id=107341
Postdoc: https://careers-usu.icims.com/jobs/9242/job
For further questions, you can contact Dr. Jessica Sanchez at jessica.sanchez@usu.edu
Posted 6/26/25
PhD
or MSc position in permafrost carbon cycling at McGill
University, Montréal, Canada
Research Topic: Boreal soils and lakes store a huge
reservoir of carbon that is sensitive to future climate change.
One of the big future changes affecting these environments under a
warmer climate is increasing plant and algal growth, which will
provide much larger inputs of fresh organic matter that is easily
decomposed by microbes. This project will carry out a set of
experiments with soils and lake waters from boreal permafrost
ecosystems in northern Quebec to better understand how inputs of
fresh organic matter affect the fate of existing carbon, and
whether they induce strong priming effects. This research will
improve our understanding of how increasing plant growth will
affect boreal carbon reservoirs, and whether these carbon
reservoirs will be a net source or sink of carbon to the
atmosphere in the future.
Description of Position
The student will sample boreal soils and lake waters in northern
Quebec and use these samples to carry out incubation experiments
that include 13C labeled plant
substrates. They will analyze the isotopic composition (carbon-13
and carbon-14) of respired gases and organic matter from the
experiments to understand how plant inputs stimulate respiration
of permafrost derived carbon. The student will be based in the
McGill Isotope Biogeochemistry Laboratory (http://www.isobiogeomcgill.ca/)
led by Dr. Peter Douglas in the Department of Earth and Planetary
Sciences, and will be co-supervised by Dr. Cynthia Kallenbach (https://kallenbachcm.wixsite.com/soils)
in the Department of Natural Resource Sciences. There will
be opportunities to collaborate with research groups from the
Université de Montreal and the Institut National de Recherche
Scientifique that specialize in limnology. The preferred start
date is January 2026.
Qualifications
Either an M.Sc. or B.Sc. in Earth sciences, soil science,
environmental science or a related field.
A strong background in environmental chemistry or geochemistry.
Previous laboratory and field-based research experience.
Experience with incubation experiments and/or microbiology is an
asset.
Ability to carry out field sampling in challenging environments.
English proficiency and strong oral and written communication
skills. French proficiency is an asset.
How to Apply
Prospective applicants should send a CV and cover letter to peter.douglas@mcgill.ca.
The departmental application deadline for January admission is August
1, 2025 and application instructions can be found at: https://www.mcgill.ca/eps/programs/graduate-programs/admissions.
Cynthia Kallenbach
Associate Professor
Natural Resource Science Department
McGill University, Québec Canada
Cynthia.kallenbach@mcgill.ca
https://kallenbachcm.wixsite.com/soils
Posted 6/6/25
Graduate
Student Position--seasonal bat health dynamics at Auburn
University
Open Position: Graduate student
Location: Auburn, Alabama
Organization: College of Forestry, Wildlife, and Environment at
Auburn University
Stipend: PhD student, $26,500 per year + benefits
MS student, $23,500 per year + benefits
Estimated Start Date: January 2026
Supervisor: Molly Simonis
Job Summary: The Simonis Lab at Auburn University is hiring a
graduate student(s) to perform research associated with seasonal
pathogen dynamics and bat health throughout various field sites
and/or highway culverts throughout Alabama. The graduate
student(s) would build their own project within broader lab
research to understand 1) year-round shifts in bat infections and
coinfections, and 2) seasonal fluctuations in bat immunity under
many stressors (e.g., infections, contaminant exposure, land use),
and 3) general ecological and conservation research regarding bat
health in the southeastern US. Research projects would include
field, laboratory and quantitative work. Interested applicants are
encouraged to apply. A PhD student is preferred, but highly
qualified MS students will also be seriously considered.
For more information regarding Wildlife Sciences PhD and MS
programs at the College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment at
Auburn University, please visit their website here: https://cfwe.auburn.edu/graduate-study/graduate-degrees/.
For more information about the Simonis Lab, please visit their
website here: https://simonislab.weebly.com/.
Responsibilities: The graduate student will be expected to carry
out the following responsibilities:
Conduct literature reviews
Organize and manage datasets
Collaboratively generate and analyze data, which will include the
following:
Collect field data and wildlife samples
Collect laboratory data via molecular assays and microscopy
Statistically analyze, and interpret quantitative data using R
Collaborate with professionals from other institutions and
interdisciplinary backgrounds
Supervising undergraduates necessary
Write and publish findings in peer reviewed scientific journals
Present findings at local, state, regional, national, and/or
international conferences
Meet program requirements and deadlines
Contribute to fostering a supportive, inclusive, and welcoming
atmosphere within the lab, classroom, and college as a whole.
Minimum Qualifications: Ideal candidates will have the following:
Bachelor’s degree in a biology or wildlife-related field
Motivation and Professionalism
Ability to work well with others
Ability to work independently
Ability to develop research questions
Meet admission standards for
AU Graduate School
(https://bulletin.auburn.edu/thegraduateschool/admissions/), and
AU College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment
(https://cfwe.auburn.edu/graduate-study/graduate-degrees/)
Valid driver's license (or ability to obtain one)
Desired Qualifications: Preference may be given to candidates with
any of the following:
MS degree in biology or wildlife-related field (only if applying
for PhD)
Wildlife and/or bat handling experience
Biological sampling experience
Bat survey experience
Bat identification experience
Laboratory technical skills
Quantitative skills
Previous field, technical, and/or research experience
To apply: Please email the following materials as a single PDF
document to Dr. Molly Simonis at molly.simonis@auburn.edu,
with the subject line “AU Potential Graduate Student.”
A cover letter (2 pages max) outlining the wildlife sciences
program of interest (PhD or MS), research interests, how your
previous experiences have prepared you for graduate
school/research, and professional goals
Resume or CV
Contact information for 2-3 professional references
Applications will be accepted through July 31, 2025, but
applicants are encouraged to apply sooner than later as materials
will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Molly Simonis, PhD
Pronouns: she/hers
Assistant Professor
Auburn University
College of Forestry, Wildlife, and Environment
College of Veterinary Medicine
molly.simonis@auburn.edu
simonislab.weebly.com
Posted 5/23/25
*Canada* PhD and MSc opportunties
Fully funded MSc and PhD positions with Dr. April Martinig at
the Université de Sherbrooke
Start date: May 2026 or September 2026 (negotiable)
The pay: minimum $20,000 per year for 2 years for MSc and
$25,000 per year for 4 years for PhD. In Quebec, tuition
fees vary depending on your province or country of
residence (net salary will be adjusted to cover tuition). Tuition
waivers are available for international students.
Students can tailor their research across three themes:
Tracking in the wild: Work with long-term datasets on red
squirrels in the Yukon, exploring the demographic consequences
of behaviour and movement. This project will involve fully
subsidized fieldwork and collaboration with an interdisciplinary
research team.
Meta-analyses: You will have the opportunity to conduct
large-scale syntheses on a topic of your choice - from dispersal
and behaviour to climate resilience, conservation interventions,
or any other ecological or evolutionary theme that sparks
curiosity. This project is ideal for those who enjoy identifying
patterns across studies, asking big-picture questions, and
working with data across systems.
Big data: Use cutting-edge movement datasets from global
wildlife tracking networks (over 14 billion locations from
1,500+ species) to develop predictive models of animal responses
to environmental change. Students will build skills in R,
spatial analysis, and ecological modelling.
Minimum qualifications: BSc and research experience in biology
(e.g., ecology, evolution, or environmental sciences),
statistics, math, computer science, natural resources, or
related fields. Applicants must be admissible to the Biology
Department for a masters
degree (minimum 3.0/4.3 GPA) or doctoral
degree (completed MSc OR 4.0/4.3 BSc GPA). Knowledge of French
is not mandatory (e.g., English theses are permitted).
Competitive applicants will also have:
🧠 Experience working with data in R, Python, or other coding
languages
✍️ Practice communicating science–whether through papers, blogs,
posters, or presentations
🎤 Comfort sharing research with a range of audiences, both
academic and beyond
🤝 Interest or experience in working alongside Indigenous
communities, government agencies, or other partners
Consideration of applications will begin immediately and will
continue until positions are filled. Applicants received by August
1, 2025 will receive full consideration.
I welcome all applicants, including those who identify as
belonging to equity-seeking groups, including (but not limited
to) women, non-binary individuals, persons with disabilities,
Indigenous/Aboriginal peoples, LGBTQIA+, visible minorities, and
first-generation or otherwise non-traditional students.
Qualified applicants should email the following materials, as a
single PDF file, with the subject line "Join@NORTH", to aprilmartinig@hotmail.com:
🌍 A cover letter (max 1 page) telling me which project area
excites you, what you hope to get out of your degree, and a bit
about your background. Please ensure you highlight your
strengths or lived experiences related to equity, diversity, and
inclusion; involvement in outreach, volunteering, or learned
societies; teaching or mentoring experience; or any other
extracurriculars that show what you bring to a research
environment
📄 Transcripts (unofficial)
📚 CV outlining your experience
📝 A writing sample – this could be a class paper, blog post,
report, or anything that shows how you communicate
📞 Contact information (phone number and email) for 3
references: two academic and one non-academic (like a coach,
employer, or community leader)
The advisor: Dr. April Martinig
(she/her) is a wildlife ecologist whose research explores how
animal movement and behaviour are shaped by changing
environments. She specializes in spatial ecology, conservation
biology, and behavioural ecology, with a particular focus on how
anthropogenic pressures influence dispersal and space use. April
is starting as an Assistant Professor at the University of
Sherbrooke in January 2026. Before moving to Sherbrooke, she was
a Banting Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of British
Columbia Okanagan (2024-2025), an NSERC Postdoctoral Fellow at
the University of New South Wales (2022-2024), and got her PhD
at the University of Alberta (2016-2021).
The university: These positions will be based in the Département de
biologie at the Université de Sherbrooke,
located on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded W8banaki
Ndakina Nation Territory (Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada). The
Université de Sherbrooke is a francophone university, but
knowledge of French is not mandatory. The ecology program at the
Université de Sherbrooke is anchored by the Centre de recherche
en écologie de l’Université de Sherbrooke, a dynamic
research hub of 13 investigators and over 50 graduate students
and postdocs. Graduate students contribute to cutting-edge
projects on population dynamics, behavioural ecology, and
ecosystem function, often working in collaborative,
multidisciplinary teams.
The location: Sherbrooke
is Quebec’s 6th largest metropolitan area (20th largest in
Canada). It's known for its rich
cultural diversity and is considered one
of the most affordable cities in Canada to live in.
Sherbrooke offers numerous opportunities for outdoor activities,
including skiing at Mont-Bellevue Park, hiking, and exploring
the surrounding natural areas. It is also 1.5 hours away from
Montreal, the largest city in Quebec and the 2nd largest city in
Canada.
Dr. April Martinig, Ph.D., M.Sc.
Banting postdoctoral fellow
Quantitive
Ecology Lab | Prof. Michael J. Noonan
University of British Columbia | Okanagan
Email: aprilmartinig@hotmail.com
Website: martinig.weebly.com
Google Scholar: April
Robin Martinig
Pronouns: she/her
Posted 5/22/25
PhD
and Postdoctoral Opportunities – Herbivore Ecology, Behavior,
and Immunology Lab, Virginia Tech
Application Deadline: 1 August 2025
Start date: November, 2025
Qualififcations
Applicants must have completed at least a Bachelor’s degree or
equivalent by the start date of the position and should have a
strong interest in entomology. Preference will be given to
students with prior research experience and/or a background in
entomology, physiology, behavior and chemical ecology. Competitive
candidates will have strong writing skills, substantial experiment
designing experience, and a strong work ethic.
Description
The HEBI Lab is seeking two graduate students (PhD applicants are
preferred although applicants for a MS degree may be considered)
and one postdoc to work on trophic interactions between
plant-caterpillar and their natural enemies. In particular, the
lab is interested in looking at how plant chemistry impacts
caterpillar physiology, immunology and behavior altering their
interactions with third trophic organisms. The lab uses
interdisciplinary perspectives, from behavior experiments and
eco-immunology assays to chemical ecology approaches. There’s a
lot of room for students and postdocs to carve out their own
projects based on what excites them the most.
Application materials
Interested candidates should send CV, letter describing relevant
research background and interests, and contact information for
three references to the lab PI, Enakshi Ghosh. Include “HEBI
Application 2025 - Your Name” in the subject line.
Contact person: Dr. Enakshi Ghosh. FRES
Email: enakshi@vt.edu
Posted 5/2/25
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