Deadline: Wed, 03/15/2023 - 12:00pm Employer: Ashley M. Long, Ph.D Job Field: Wildlife Job Type: Assistantship Location: Louisiana Location Detail: Baton Rouge Job Description: LSU’s School of Renewable Natural Resources is seeking M.S. and Ph.D. applicants for Gilbert Foundation Graduate Research Assistantships. These assistantships are available to students on a competitive basis concentrating in the study of forestry, including forestry-related wildlife and fisheries management and conservation. The most successful applicants for this program have arranged for a faculty advisor and a research topic prior to submitting their application. LSU School of Renewable Natural Resources Assistant Professor, Dr. Ashley M. Long (https://www.lsu.edu/rnr/people/profiles/long.php), is seeking two potential M.S. or Ph.D. students to apply for this program and conduct research on population trends, habitat relationships, and movement ecology of passerine/near-passerine birds or bats. The research projects will include analyses of long-term monitoring data and species-specific research questions determined jointly by Dr. Long, her collaborators, and selected candidates. We will start reviewing applications on 06 February 2023, but will continue to accept applications for this and similar graduate student funding opportunities through 15 March 2023. Qualifications: Applicants should have a B.S. (and/or M.S. for Ph.D. applicants) in a relevant field (e.g., wildlife ecology, quantitative ecology). To be eligible for the Gilbert Foundation Graduate Research Assistantship, M.S. applicants must have an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 overall and 3.25 for last two years. Ph.D. applicants must have a cumulative graduate GPA of 3.6. Applicants must submit GRE scores; verbal and quantitative scores of the GRE should be at least 310 with at least 153 and 144 on the verbal and quantitative sections, respectively. The ideal writing score is 4.0 or above. Students who do not meet the minimum GRE requirements for the Gilbert Foundation Research Assistantship, but are otherwise qualified, are encouraged to submit their applications for consideration of similar graduate student funding opportunities. Prospective students must have a valid driver’s license and should have a strong work ethic; ability to work in adverse field conditions; desire to learn quantitative skills; and be motivated to publish in peer-reviewed journals. Experience identifying birds by sight and sound or analyzing bat acoustic data; handling and marking passerine birds or bats; re-sighting color-bands and nest searching for songbirds; PIT-tagging bats; leading a field crew, and working knowledge of GIS and R are preferred, but not required. Students from diverse backgrounds and historically under-represented communities are encouraged to apply. Salary: $30,000 per year plus full waiver of tuition and student fees How to Apply: Interested applicants should submit 1) a CV, 2) copies of academic transcripts, 3) GRE scores, and 4) a brief statement of interest describing their previous research experience, reasons for pursuing graduate school, and current research interests to Dr. Long via email at amlong@agcenter.lsu.edu by 06 February 2023. Candidates selected by Dr. Long will be directed to submit an application packet to the Gilbert Committee Chair by 15 February 2023 and, if awarded a Gilbert Research Assistantship, will apply for admission to LSU’s Graduate School for the Fall 2023 semester.
