Thread by @MichAdebayo

M.S. Graduate Research Assistantship - Reintroduction Ecology of White-tailed Ptarmigan in New Mexico

Title: M.S. Graduate Research Assistantship Reintroduction Ecology of White-tailed Ptarmigan in New Mexico

Location: Las Cruces, NM (with fieldwork in the Pecos Wilderness)

Start Date: 5/15/2021

Last Date to Apply: 2/22/2021

Description:

The Lawson Lab in the New Mexico Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit and the Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Ecology at New Mexico State University (NMSU) invite applications for an MS

research assistantship, with field work beginning in mid-May 2021. The successful applicant will be part of a collaborative study between NMSU, the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish (DGF), and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to reintroduce white-tailed ptarmigan to their

historic range in New Mexico.

Field Work Details: The initial field work will involve the capture of ptarmigan in Colorado in late May, followed by release and monitoring using VHF transmitters in the Pecos Wilderness Area of northern New Mexico. Additional ptarmigan will be

translocated in September, 2021. The student will be expected to work alongside study personnel from NMSU and DGF to monitor marked ptarmigan to track survival, habitat use, nesting, and brood-rearing success. The second field season (with potential for a third) will focus on

continued monitoring of surviving individuals.

All field work will take place in mountainous, alpine habitat that will require extended periods of camping and backpacking. The student must be comfortable with working in adverse field conditions (rapidly changing weather,

difficult/steep terrain) inhabited by bears. A typical day of field work will involve hiking 5-7 miles to track marked birds or collect nesting data (vegetation measurements, nest fate, etc.). The field crew will be able to return to the Santa Fe area approximately every 5-10

days to restock supplies, charge equipment, enter data, shower, etc. with temporary housing provided. The student will receive the needed safety training and a technician to assist with field work.

Graduate Research Scope: The student will be expected to develop research

questions related to population and reintroduction ecology. Potential topics include factors influencing survival and nest success using known-fate analysis, nest attendance behavior, brood rearing habitat selection using resource selection functions, and modeling future habitat

suitability related to predicted climate change patterns.

Hiring and salary: The successful candidate will initially be hired as a technician (salary: $11.77 per hour) for the majority of the first field season (late May-July 2021) and then transition to a Graduate Research

Assistantship for the Fall 2021 Semester beginning in mid-August, contingent on satisfactory field season performance and successful admission to the NMSU graduate school. At least two years of graduate research assistantship funding is available with an annual salary of $24,217

. Note that that assistantship does not cover health insurance or tuition, though all graduate assistants qualify for in-state tuition. At this time NMSU does not offer a graduate student health insurance plan.

Qualifications:

Required qualifications: B.S. in wildlife,

environmental sciences, or related field and possession of a valid U.S. driver’s license. The successful applicant must also meet the minimum requirements for admission to the NMSU Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Ecology M.S. program (3.0 GPA in last two years of undergrad).

Applicants should also have demonstrated excellent written and oral communication skills and/or quantitative skills, experience conducting field work, and an ability to work independently while following safety protocols. Candidates from underrepresented groups in wildlife and

ecology are strongly encouraged to apply.

Preferred qualifications include a demonstrated ability to work in remote field sites (requiring extended backpacking and camping) in adverse conditions, experience collecting VHF telemetry data, and familiarity and proficiency in

statistical software (e.g., R, Program MARK, etc.)

Application:

To apply, please email a single PDF that includes: (1) letter of interest, (2) CV or resume that includes GPA and contact information for three references (including a field supervisor), (3) unofficial university

transcripts. Please include “White-tailed ptarmigan MS” in the email subject ([e-mail]). Apply by February 22nd for full consideration, though applications will be reviewed as they are received, and may continue until a suitable candidate is found. The successful

applicant will be asked to submit an application to the NMSU graduate school.

Abby Lawson, Ph.D. (she/her/hers)
Research Ecologist - Postdoc
USGS, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
Em: [e-mail]
Ph: 301-497-5722

@olumuyiwaayo @AaronAkpuPhilip @Jamaticulus @Oludeewon