PhD opportunity: Position at Virginia Tech (US) with fieldwork in Florida.

This will be a study of non-breeding crested caracaras (Polyborus plancus) in south central Florida. This population is threatened because of conversion of native prairie and other grassland habitats to citrus, sugar cane and urban development. The goal of the study is to determine the habitat use and requirements of this component of the population (includes sub-adults, juveniles, and non-breeding adults), to investigate the adaptive value of gathering areas and to design conservation recommendations for this threatened species. This will be a cooperative effort between Virginia Tech, Trinity College, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and many private and public landowners.

Duties: Complete study design in consultation with co-major professors (Jim Fraser, VA Tech, Joan Morrison, Trinity College) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologists; collect behavioral and ecological data to test hypotheses and fit models; supervise technicians; operate trucks; coordinate with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, land owners land managers and other researchers; analyze data, write reports and publish research results in refereed journals with advisors. Fieldwork involves long hot days and nights. Incumbent will live at a field site. A major methodology will be radio telemetry. This will be an excellent project for someone wishing to make a research contribution to basic science and, simultaneously, to the solution of critical threatened species conservation problems. Position is subject to funding. Start date is negotiable; position will be available as soon as money is transferred, possibly in the next few weeks. Fall classes begin August 23.

Qualifications: B.S. and M.S. in Wildlife Science, Conservation Biology or closely allied field, with excellent grades, test scores and references. Excellent field experience. Experience with radio telemetry preferred. Coursework and experience applying statistics. Demonstrated writing skill and a commitment to scientific publication. Coursework or experience with population and/or behavioral ecology. Willingness to work long hours in the hot sun. Ability to get along with landowners and cooperators.

To apply: email C.V., 1 page letter of application, degree title and GPA for all degrees, GRE scores and names and contact information for 3 references including field supervisor. Finalists will be asked to participate in a phone interview and to send transcripts. Send information to Jim Fraser, Fraser@vt.edu.

For more info, contact:
Jim Fraser Fraser@vt.edu

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Cameron Ellis
Coordinador Neotropical Raptor Network