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Post date: Dec 6, 2015 7:02:49 PM
From: <evoldir@evol.biology.mcmaster.ca>
Date: Sat, Nov 7, 2015 at 3:01 AM
Subject: Graduate Position: VirginiaCommonwealthU.2.ProthonotaryWarblers
Drs. Lesley Bulluck and Rodney Dyer in the Department of Biology and the
Center for Environmental Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University are
seeking applications for two graduate student positions to work with
Prothonotary Warblers beginning April 2016.
One position is for a graduate research assistant who will focus on
migratory connectivity using population genetics (co-advised by Drs. Dyer
and Bulluck). This position is a research assistantship with two years of
stipend and tuition in the Masters program at the Center for Environmental
Studies (http://ces.vcu.edu). Successful applicants should have experience
in molecular techniques salient to creating ddRADseq libraries and
ornithological field collection techniques. This individual will be
working on exploring the extent to which individuals sampled on wintering
grounds can be assigned to specific breeding areas in North America as well
as assisting ongoing field studies in this species in Virginia.
The second position is a field crew leader/potential graduate student to
lead field work that addresses questions about breeding density and habitat
use (advised by Dr. Bulluck). This position does not have funding for
student support outside of the field season, however competitive teaching
assistantships including tuition and a monthly stipend may be available in
the VCU Biology MS program (http://biology.vcu.edu) for very strong
applicants. The field crew leader will be responsible for organizing and
leading the field effort from April through July along with the field
technician and occasional undergraduate technicians from VCU. Strongest
applicants will have a competitive GPA and GRE scores and an interest in
developing quantitative skills to answer questions about Prothonotary
Warbler breeding ecology.
Both positions will involve field work collecting demographic data on this
species during the spring/summer of 2016 and 2017. Field work will take
place at Fort A.P. Hill and surrounding areas, approximately mid-way
between Richmond and Washington D.C. A $1200-1500/month stipend (depending
on experience) and local housing and transportation will be provided during
the field season for both positions. Both positions require prior
experience in the field, navigational skills, ability to identify eastern
birds by sight and sound, and tolerance for wet, hot, buggy coastal plain
conditions in the summer. Especially desirable skills include prior
experience mist netting/banding of birds, collecting blood and feather
samples, and making detailed field observations using binoculars (including
resighting color bands).
VCU, located in Richmond, VA, is the largest public R1 University in
Virginia and has an active and diverse Ecology, Evolution, and
Environmental Science faculty that are engaged in research around the
world. Successful applicants should have a BS in biology (or related
field), GPA >3.3, competitive GRE scores, an interest in developing
quantitative skills, a high level of self-motivation, and prior research
experience.
Interested persons should initially email a letter that summarizes
their background, educational goals, and research interests, along with
curriculum vitae (include GPA and GRE scores) with contact information
for three references to Dr. Lesley Bulluck (lpbulluck@vcu.edu) or Rodney
Dyer (rjdyer@vcu.edu). Deadline for applications is December 15, but
applications will be considered as they are received.
--
Rodney J. Dyer, PhD
Department of Biology
Center for Environmental Studies
Virginia Commonwealth University
#bio, #ornithology, #genetics
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