Deadline: Sun, 04/10/2022 - 12:00pm Employer: Quantitative Fisheries Center, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University Job Field: Other Job Type: Experienced Professional Location: Michigan Location Detail: East Lansing Job Description: Description: We seek two PhD students to help lead a decision analytic process (i.e., structured decision making / adaptive management) for climate resilience planning in the Au Sable River, Michigan, with a focus on fish habitat and the fish community in the system. The Au Sable, a Blue-Ribbon Trout Stream, is an iconic cold-water system that is home to Trout Unlimited and supports excellent brown and brook trout fishing. The student will work closely with FW/QFC staff, agency managers and biologists, and local stakeholders to work on an ongoing project to frame the decision problem, develop and / or modify predictive models, collect relevant data, and help run SDM workshops. Interest in or experience with modeling fish and / or aquatic habitat factors from landscape-scale information is preferred, as is an appreciation for the value of decision analysis and familiarity with analysis / simulation modeling of fisheries and ecological data. Some understanding of effects of changing climate on fish and aquatic habitat is desired. Interest in or experience with engaging agency personnel and stakeholders at the interface of technical analysis and resource management is also desired. The student(s) will work directly with Drs. Kelly Robinson and Dana Infante in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife / QFC. The Quantitative Fisheries Center has a strong reputation for developing relationships with relevant stakeholders for the research and the management of fisheries resources. This position is an excellent opportunity to gain experience highly relevant to professional positions in riverine fisheries modeling and decision analysis, as well as engagement with relevant management agencies and NGOs. Please see the QFC website (www.canr.msu.edu/qfc/) for more information about us, and a recent story about the project (https://tinyurl.com/2rb8zfyv) to learn more about project goals and concerns. Qualifications: MS in fisheries science or related discipline. Interest in fish ecology, population dynamics, landscape ecology, and quantitative methods. Strongest applicants will have high GPA / GRE scores, a record of peer-reviewed publications, and strong networking and social skills. Applicants must be able to work independently and in collaboration with other researchers; publish findings in peer-reviewed journals; and write proposals and reports. Salary: Stipend will be provided at a level consistent with PhD students in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife and will include health insurance and tuition waiver. How to Apply: Submit CV (including GPA and GRE scores), unofficial transcipts, and a letter of application detailing background, accomplishments, skills, and career aspirations to Dr. Kelly Robinson (kfrobins@msu.edu). Please see https://msu.edu/together-we-will/ for the most up to date information about MSU’s covid policies, including information on MSU’s vaccination mandate for students, faculty, and staff.
