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MRes Studentship 18 months

“Trade-offs in sexual selection and cognition”

Why do individuals vary in their cognitive abilities? EVOECOCOG, an ERC funded project, takes the disciplines of cognition and evolutionary biology into a natural setting to answer this question. It aims to do this by investigating a variety of proximate causes and population-level consequences of individual cognitive variation using a great tit Parus major population.


This MRes position will explore potential trade-offs between traits involved in pre-copulatory and post-copulatory sexual selection and their relationships with mating success and cognitive ability. The student will perform laboratory analyses of sperm sampled from male great tits in the breeding season to measure sperm quality and viability, and then relate this to mating success by performing paternity analysis using a newly purchased state-of-the-art DNA sequencer. These measures will be compared to measures of signal quality and cognitive ability to detect potential trade-offs among these traits.

The chosen study system, the great tit Parus major, is one of the most widely used in Europe, and consists of 12 subpopulations across deciduous and conifer woodland fragments in Co. Cork, Ireland. A recent state of the art aviary is also available for experimental study at the School of BEES.


This advert is for an 18 month MRes studentship. The successful student will be based in the UCC Ornithology lab at the School of BEES http://ornithology.ucc.ie. They will join a research team led by Prof. John L. Quinn, consisting of 8 early career biologists working on this project (see http://ornithology.ucc.ie/current-projects/evolutionary-ecology-of-cognition/), a Research Support Officer, and a range of other students and postdocs working on a variety of different projects in behavioural and applied ecology. The studentships will be cosupervised by Prof. J. Quinn and Dr Michael Reichert.



Candidates should possess a 2.1 BSc (Hons) degree or higher in a relevant discipline (e.g. Ecology, Zoology, Evolution, Physiology, Psychology). Applicants must be self-motivated with good numerical, communication, organisational, experimental design, and writing skills. Students with experience working under difficult conditions in the field or with an MSc are likely to have a strong advantage. A full, clean driving license will be important early in the MRes, and experience working with birds in captivity or in the wild would also be advantageous. A willingness to spend long periods of time in the field in spring, and to travel and work across different research sites is important. This position covers EU fee rates (€5,750 p.a.; non-EU members may apply but would need to cover extra international rate fees themselves), plus a tax-free stipend of approx. €16,000 p.a.



Please direct informal inquiries to Prof. John L. Quinn at j.quinn@ucc.ie

Application: To apply please send by email to Prof. John Quinn, j.quinn@ucc.ie a CV, details of 2 referees, and an accompanying 1 page letter. The letter should outline of your relevant experience, explaining why you want the studentship.



Dates: Application deadline is 28 February 2018. Interviews will be held in person or by Skype within 1 weeks. Start dates are 1 April 2018 or sooner!

University College Cork is one of Ireland’s largest and most successful universities and the studentships will be based at the School of BEES. Currently there are 28 faculty, ca. 20 postdocs and 35 PhD students across Zoology, Ecology, Plant Sciences and Geology. Cork is situated on the south coast of Ireland, 2.5 hours from Dublin, is served by an international airport, has a population of about 200,000, and is on the doorstep of some of the most beautiful coastline in Europe.




John Quinn (Professor in Zoology & Head of Discipline), School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Science (BEES), UCC, North Mall, Cork, Ireland. T23 N73K

Tel (work): 00353-21-4904546 ; Tel (mobile): 00353-(0)852266122



Personal http://ornithology.ucc.ieSchool https://www.ucc.ie/en/bees/UCC http://www.ucc.ie/en/

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M.S. Research assistantship in mammal host ecology and tick borne diseases (USA)

I am currently accepting one graduate student interested in doing research on the ecology of mammalian hosts and their role to sustain tick populations and pathogens vectored by these ectoparasites.  Applicants should be highly independent and motivated.  Previous field experience trapping small and medium size mammals is highly preferred (familiar with the use of Sherman and Tomahawk traps).  The work will involve some intensive fieldwork with long hours in the field at sites in Texas.  Careful note taking and great organization skills to handle data gathering, sample organization, etc. are essential skills.  A current driver's license will be needed for use of lab vehicle.

Current research in my lab examines the relationship between mammal ecology and prevalence of disease agents (i.e., Hantavirus, Borrelia, Trypanosoma) in reservoir species and how this changes along environmental and disturbance gradients.  The ultimate goal of the research at my lab is to generate models of predictive value of zoonotic disease outbreaks and a main question imbedded within this goal is to determine the role of mammal diversity as a factor of disease spread.

The Biology Department (http://www.bio.txstate.edu/) of Texas State University (http://www.txstate.edu/) has a M.S. program in wildlife ecology with an emphasis on the application of ecological principles to studies in wildlife ecology and natural resource management.  The main campus is conveniently located in central Texas along the I-35 corridor and close to both Austin and San Antonio.  Details about the entry requirements for this graduate program can be found here (http://www.gradcollege.txstate.edu/  and http://www.bio.txstate.edu/graduate.html). Student salary will be through mostly by federal grant support and might involve also support as an instructional assistantship (TA).

Applicants need to meet the entrance requirement for the program, department and university.  The highly preferred start date is for Fall 2015 (university application deadline is June 15) but if no suitable student is found right away then the potential start date would be for spring 2016.  Given the close date for the university applications I encourage interested students to send their applications asap.  Position will be open until filled.

For more details about my lab you can visit my website (http://www.bio.txstate.edu/contacts/faculty/Ivan-Castro-Arellano--Ph-D-.html ) where I have a description of my research and past publications.  Interested individuals should email me, Dr. Ivan Castro-Arellano, to ic13(at)txstate.edu with the subject line: Prospective Student.  Please attach a single pdf document that includes a brief description of your research interests and why you would like to join the lab, a CV (including GPA and GRE scores), a scanned copy of your transcript (non-official is fine), and contact information for two references.

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M.S. graduate student assistantship in population dynamics/spatial analysis (USA)

Agency: Pennsylvania Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Location: Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA

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MS Research Assistantships in river restoration (USA)

MS Research Assistantships in Central California
San Joaquin River Restoration – Chinook Salmon Floodplain Production Study

Two MS-level research assistantships are available for highly qualified and motivated students starting in August 2015 at California State University-Fresno (Fresno State).  Students will participate in a multi-year federally-funded collaborative project under the larger scope of the San
Joaquin River Restoration (restoresjr.org), one of the largest river restoration projects undertaken in North America.  The specific project and assistantships will be in collaboration with Cramer Fish Sciences, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation,  the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and others.

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M.S. Graduate Research Assistantship: Prescribed fire and oak forest birds (USA)

The Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management at Oklahoma State
University announces a Graduate Research Assistantship beginning Jan. 2015.
The successful applicant will take the lead on a project to study the long-
term effects of prescribed fire on ground-dwelling birds in upland oak
forests of central Oklahoma. In this transition zone between eastern forests
and central grasslands, fire frequency can have dramatic effects on
vegetation, litter, and coarse woody debris.  We are interested in
vegetation structure and arthropod availability at the ground level as
mechanisms to explain avian community composition along a gradient of fire
frequency. The GRA will manage this project, overseeing all data collection
and taking the lead on analysis and manuscript preparation in partial
fulfillment of the requirements for a Master of Science degree in NREM. The
GRA will be co-advised by Drs. Steve Hallgren and Tim O’Connell.

Compensation: Full project support for two years including non-resident
tuition waiver, 30–36-hour tuition remission, field housing and travel
costs, OSU insurance, and annual stipend of $15,504.

Qualifications: B.S. in wildlife ecology or related discipline, GPA > 3.3,
combined GRE > 1100 (>300 for 2011 revised scores), English fluency, and a
valid U.S. driver’s license. Desired experience: Excellence in written and
oral communication; proven ability to identify eastern U.S. songbirds by
song and call; solid quantitative background and comfort in study design and
statistics; maturity, responsibility and dedication to meticulous field work
despite harsh conditions; leadership in supervision of 1–2 field
technicians.

For consideration, please send the following via email to
tim.oconnell@okstate.edu:  1) cover letter expressing interest in and
suitability for the position, 2) CV or resume, 3) names and contact
information for at least 3 references, 4) unofficial transcript and GPA, and
4) unofficial GRE scores. Documents should be attached as MS Word files or
pdfs. Please do not submit a formal application to the Department unless
requested to do so.  Applications will be accepted until 31 August 2014.

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MS Assistantship in Bison ecology South Dakota State University (USA)

*Bison Ecology: predator/prey dynamics and vegetation interactions*

*Description*:  The Department of Natural Resource Management at South
Dakota State University invites applications for a MS Assistantship focused
on Bison Ecology.  The student will spend substantial time in isolated
field locations collecting data as well as contributing to daily ranch
activities.  The project is funded for 3 years

*Qualifications*:  Academic requirements include a Bachelor’s degree in a
related field, strong GRE scores, and GPA above 3.0.  Candidates with
hands-on experience working with Bison or other livestock are
preferred.  Candidates
must have a strong work ethic and be able to physically endure the demands
of field work in extreme weather conditions that can range from very hot to
extreme cold.  Candidates must have the ability to work independently and
contribute to management, research, and academic teams.

*Financial Support*:  Approximately $18,000 stipend per year plus 2/3rds
tuition waiver.

*Start Date*:  Expected start date is *August 2014*.  The position will
remain open until filled.

*To Apply*:  Please forward a cover letter, CV, a copy of transcripts
(unofficial), and 2 letters of reference to Dr. Jonathan A. Jenks at
jonathan.jenks@sdstate.edu.

Information concerning the Department of Natural Resource Management at
SDSU can be found at:  http://www.sdstate.edu/nrm/index.cfm

 For additional information contact:

Dr. Jonathan A. Jenks

Department of Natural Resource Management

South Dakota State University

Box 2140B, SNP 138

Brookings, SD 57007

Phone: 605-688-4783

Email: jonathan.jenks@sdstate.edu

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Graduate (MS) Assistantship in Amphibian Ecology, John Carroll University (USA)

The Department of Biology at John Carroll University is accepting
applications for funded teaching assistantships in Biology at the master’s
level.

The Anthony/Hickerson research lab anticipates openings beginning in fall of
2014. Funding includes a full tuition waiver and competitive stipend.
Drs. Anthony and Hickerson have two distinct research areas:

1) We are interested in the ecology and evolution of color polymorphism in
red-backed salamanders, Plethodon cinereus.

2) We are also interested in how terrestrial amphibians interact with large
invertebrates (e.g. centipedes, spiders, earthworms) in temperate forest
floor food webs.

Recent publications from our lab can be found here
(https://sites.google.com/site/anthonylaboratory/home/publications) and here
(http://johncarroll.academia.edu/CariAnnHickerson).

If you are interested in applying, please contact Carl Anthony
(canthony@jcu.edu) or Cari Hickerson (chickerson@jcu.edu) directly by 15
February.

Please include your interests and relevant experience in your email. More
information can be found on the JCU Department of Biology webpage
(http://sites.jcu.edu/biology/) and on the Anthony/Hickerson research
website (https://sites.google.com/site/anthonylaboratory/).

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Graduate Assistantships at Washington State University Vancouver (USA)

Graduate student positions are currently available for the MS and PhD programs in
Botany, Zoology, Environmental Science, and Mathematics at Washington State University's
Vancouver campus.  Most positions are funded with teaching and/or research assistantships that
include tuition waivers. Faculty research areas in biology and environmental science include

•       Conservation Biology
•       Restoration Ecology
•       Disturbance Ecology
•       Successional Dynamics
•       Ecology of Aquatic Invasive Species
•       Global Change Biology
•       Watershed Biogeochemistry
•       Environmental Chemistry
•       Environmental Physics
•       Oceanography
•       Animal Behavior
•       Plant Ecology
•       Butterfly Ecology
•       Marine & Freshwater Plankton Ecology
•       Plant-insect interactions
•       Plant-herbivore interactions
•       Evolutionary Ecology
•       Ecosystem Ecology
•       Neuroscience
•       Mathematical Biology

Please see our website for more information about our graduate programs:

http://cas.vancouver.wsu.edu/science-graduate-programs

We do not accept students without a faculty advisor so please contact a
faculty member in an area of research similar to your own about the
potential for admission to graduate school:

http://cas.vancouver.wsu.edu/science-graduate-programs/faculty-research

WSU Vancouver is located in Washington across the Columbia River from
Portland, Oregon and is close to the Cascades, Puget Sound, and the ocean. It offers significant
opportunities for research, a variety of neighboring institutions and agencies for collaboration, and
an excellent quality of life. Degree programs are offered across all WSU campuses and students in
Vancouver may participate in activities in Pullman.

Priority applications are due January 10, 2014

Please contact Cheryl Schultz for additional information.



Cheryl Schultz
Associate Professor
Program Leader for Graduate Programs in Natural Sciences
Washington State University Vancouver
14202 NE Salmon Creek Ave.
Vancouver, WA 98686
360.546.9525
schultzc@vancouver.wsu.edu

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GRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANTSHIP (M.S.) in Wildlife Ecology (USA)

The School of Agricultural, Forest, and Environmental Sciences and the South Carolina Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit at Clemson University is seeking candidates for a graduate research assistantship (M.Sc) in Wildlife & Fisheries Biology to take the lead on a research project designed to better understand the ecological impacts and damage caused by invasive feral pigs in a variety of habitats throughout South Carolina.  The student will lead an effort to quantify feral pig habitat preferences and levels of habitat disturbance using a variety of tools such as camera traps, live trapping, habitat surveys, and habitat suitability modeling.  While a large deal of the research effort will involve fieldwork throughout the state, the student should also have strong quantitative and analytical research skills necessary for modeling disturbance over time and space. The ideal candidate will also have an inquisitive mind towards developing novel solutions for mitigating the habitat destruction caused by this invasive species. Experience with geospatial referencing tools and habitat suitability modeling is a plus.  The ultimate goals of this project will be to gain a broader understanding of the ecosystem damage invasive species such as hogs may have on different habitat types. This work will directly support the development of an adaptive management plan for feral hog harvest and population management in the state.  The project will focus on South Carolina populations but the results of this work will have far reaching impacts on invasive species management throughout the southeast.   The position will be available beginning in January or August of 2014.  Research stipends are approximately $14,000, and a full tuition waiver is available.

Applicants should possess an undergraduate degree in Biology, Wildlife Ecology, Biostatistics, or related field, a good work ethic, and strong quantitative or modeling skills. Experience with statistical analyses of ecological data, proficiency in ArcGIS, and/or population and occupancy modeling are desired, but not required. To be competitive, applicants must have undergraduate and graduate GPAs > 3.0 and GRE scores above the 60th percentile. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Applicants that are selected for a phone interview will be contacted directly by Dr. Kate McFadden. Interested applicants should send a cover letter outlining their qualifications for the project, copies of undergraduate transcripts and GRE scores, and contact information for at least 3 references.  Application materials can be sent by e-mail and should be saved as a single pdf in the following format: Last Name_FeralHogs MS.pdf

 Contact information is:

Dr. Kate McFaden, G20 Lehotsky Hall, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, 29634, 864-656-4141, kwm6@clemson.edu

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Graduate Student Assistantship in Comparative Genomics (USA)

I am seeking potential graduate students (M.S. or Ph.D.) interested in
studying comparative genomics of amoeboid protists.

Our lab is broadly interested in the evolution of sociality in microbes. We
are developing model systems to look at the commonalities among the
greatest examples of convergent evolution known to date. We have discovered
that a great diversity of single celled eukaryotic microbes (AKA protists)
are capable of working with one another to form a complex body made of
thousands of individual cells. This is one of the simplest and most
striking examples of emergent behavior. In many cases, this behavior is
sacrificial where some of the cells that become part of the multicellular
body die for the “greater good” of others. To examine the commonalities
amongst the various social protists, we are taking a multi-pronged approach
using comparative genomics and developmental transcriptomics to elucidate
the genetic basis of sociality.

Our lab is also interested in examining the deep evolution of eukaryotic
lineages. We are using novel approaches in phylogenomics to examine how the
various major groups of eukaryotes evolved over the course of the last 2
billon years. We are currently focused on the evolutionary histories of
amoeboid organisms.

Funding for students initially would be provided through teaching
assistantships within the department, but potential exists for research
assistantship funding in the future. I will also provide a summer salary.
Information on Graduate Studies in the Department of Biological Sciences is
available at http://biology.msstate.edu/degrees/graduate/

The Mississippi State University Department of Biological Sciences is home
to faculty with broad research & teaching interests in ecology, evolution,
and systematics. Our group has a strong recent record of attracting federal
funding from the NSF, USDA, USGS, and EPA. We use a wide array of
approaches ranging from field studies and experimentation to molecular
approaches including next-generation DNA sequencing and bioinformatics.

Please contact Dr. Matthew Brown (matthew.brown{at}msstate.edu) for more
information. Also, a CV that includes information regarding prior education
and research experience would be appreciated, along with a statement of
your specific research interests.

For more information about the Brown Lab @ MSU, please visit:
http://mwb250.biology.msstate.edu/



Matthew W. Brown, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Biological Sciences
Mississippi State University
008 Harned Hall
Mississippi State, MS 39762
http://mwb250.biology.msstate.edu

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Graduate Research Assistantship, MS / Auburn University, AL / student

Salary: $15,000 and tuition waiver
Closing: Until filled
Responsibilities: Participate in an interdisciplinary socio-economic research project investigating the
impact of tournament fishing at Lake Guntersville reservoir in Alabama.   This reservoir boasts one of the best bass fisheries in the U.S. if not the world.  The study will focus on valuing tournament angling related expenditures and their impact on surrounding communities.  Duties will include survey development, on-lake and follow-up surveying of Lake Guntersville tournament fishermen and related businesses, data entry, and use of travel cost methodologies to estimate economic values of this use of the reservoir’s fishery.  Anticipated start date is January 2012.


Qualifications: Must be accepted into the Masters of Science program at Auburn University and be
committed to an interdisciplinary program focusing on natural resource economics and fishery science, nd reservoir fishery management.  A Bachelor of Science degree in fisheries is preferred, but similar degrees in natural resource economics and/or related disciplines will also be considered.  Field experience and an interest in natural resource economics are strongly desired.


Contact: Send cover letter describing research interests and experience, CV, and names and contact
information of three references to Terry Hanson, Department of Fisheries and Allied Aquacultures,
Auburn University.
Web Link:  http://www.ag.auburn.edu/fish/
Contact Email Address:  hansontr@auburn.edu
Contact Person:  Dr. Terry R. Hanson, Associate Professor, Department of Fisheries and Allied
Aquacultures , 203 Swingle Hall, Auburn University, AL  36849, 334-844-9207

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