Alligator research technician

The University of Georgia is seeking a highly motivated individual with interest in research, quantitative ecology, and decision analysis. The technician will assist PhD student Kaili Gregory on a research project on American alligators in the state of Georgia. The research project is in collaboration with the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources at the University of Georgia, the U.S. Geological Survey’s Georgia Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. Start and end dates are flexible.

The technician’s work will pertain to the following research objectives: 1) Estimate alligator population size and structure under varying harvest simulations, and 2) Identify key areas of uncertainty and related potential research activities for alligator populations. More specifically, the technician will assist with literature review and data exploration, cleaning, and analysis using program R. The technician will attend all meetings with collaborators. They will also assist with the planning and facilitation of a structured decision-making workshop with alligator experts in  Georgia. All workshop-related travel expenses will be covered. The technician will primarily work in-office at a computer, however, there may be opportunities to observe Georgia Department of Natural Resource’s annual alligator data collection efforts (e.g., nighttime spotlight surveys, mark-recapture efforts). Depending on interest of the technician, research may be extended to an undergraduate Honor’s thesis, independent research project, and/or manuscript for a scientific journal, however payment cannot go beyond hiring dates.