Projects 

Open Positions 

M.S. Graduate Teaching Assistantship in Biology 

The Biology Program at the University of Louisiana at Monroe (ULM) is seeking a highly motivated M.S. student to serve as a Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) while conducting thesis research on the ecology and conservation of the Gray Fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) in Louisiana.

The student will work under the supervision of Dr. Anastasia Couvillon on research project examining how small-mammal abundance and diversity influence gray fox occupancy across Louisiana's major habitat types, including longleaf pine forests, bottomland hardwood forests, and agricultural-forest edge ecosystems. The project combines camera trapping, small mammal live trapping, GIS, occupancy modeling, and wildlife habitat analysis to better understand predator-prey relationships in managed landscapes.

Research Responsibilities

The selected student will:

• Lead field data collection throughout Louisiana.

• Deploy and maintain camera trap arrays.

• Conduct Sherman and Tomahawk live-trapping surveys for small mammals.

• Collect habitat and environmental covariate data.

• Manage and analyze ecological datasets using R and GIS software.

• Develop occupancy models and spatial analyses.

• Prepare a master's thesis and manuscripts for peer-reviewed publication.

• Present research findings at regional and national scientific conferences.

Teaching Assistant Responsibilities

In addition to research duties, the student will serve as a Graduate Teaching Assistant within the Biology Program. Responsibilities may include:

• Assisting with undergraduate laboratory courses.

• Leading laboratory sections and review sessions.

• Grading assignments and laboratory reports.

• Assisting faculty with course preparation and student mentoring.

Qualifications

Preferred applicants will have:

• A B.S. degree in Biology, Wildlife Ecology, Conservation Biology, Environmental Science, Natural Resource Management, or a related field.

• Interest in wildlife ecology, mammalogy, conservation biology, or quantitative ecology.

• Experience with field research, wildlife surveys, GIS, R, or statistical analysis is desirable but not required.

• Strong organizational, communication, and teamwork skills.

• Ability to work independently in field conditions, including extended outdoor work.

Funding

The assistantship includes:

• Competitive graduate assistant stipend.

• Tuition waiver (subject to university policies).

• Opportunities for travel to professional conferences.

• Hands-on training in wildlife research methods, GIS, occupancy modeling, and scientific writing.

Research Opportunities

This project provides extensive opportunities for professional development, including:

• Publication of research findings in peer-reviewed journals.

• Collaboration with state and federal wildlife agencies.

• Development of skills highly valued in wildlife management, conservation research, and doctoral programs.

• Participation in applied conservation research addressing wildlife management challenges in Louisiana.

Application Instructions

Interested applicants should submit:

1. A cover letter describing research interests and career goals.

2. Curriculum vitae or résumé.

3. Unofficial transcripts.

4. Contact information for three references.

M.S. Graduate Research Assistantship in Spatial Ecology and Conservation 

The Biology Program at the University of Louisiana at Monroe (ULM) is seeking a highly motivated student for a Master of Science (M.S.) Graduate Research Assistantship beginning in January 2027. The student will work under the supervision of Dr. Anastasia Couvillon on a collaborative project with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC) focused on quantifying habitat loss and landscape change across Oklahoma.

Research Project

Over the past two decades, Oklahoma has experienced substantial landscape change due to agricultural intensification, woody encroachment, urban development, and infrastructure expansion. This project will quantify changes in land cover and native habitat from 2005–2025 and develop spatially explicit maps of habitat conversion and fragmentation throughout the state.

The selected student will complete the first phase of a larger conservation planning initiative designed to support wildlife management and habitat conservation decisions in Oklahoma.

Research objectives include:

• Quantifying transitions among major land cover classes from 2005–2025.

• Estimating rates and spatial patterns of habitat loss.

• Developing statewide maps of habitat conversion and fragmentation.

• Conducting geospatial analyses using satellite imagery, aerial photography, and existing land-cover datasets.

• Producing products that directly support conservation planning and decision-making.

Student Responsibilities

The graduate student will:

• Conduct literature reviews related to habitat loss, land-use change, and conservation planning.

• Acquire, organize, and manage large spatial datasets.

• Perform land-cover classification and change-detection analyses.

• Utilize GIS, remote sensing, and spatial modeling techniques.

• Conduct statistical analyses and accuracy assessments.

• Present research findings at professional conferences.

• Prepare and defend an M.S. thesis.

• Contribute to peer-reviewed publications and technical reports.

Qualifications

Minimum qualifications:

• B.S. degree in Biology, Wildlife Ecology, Conservation Biology, Environmental Science, Geography, Geospatial Science, Natural Resources, or a related field.

• Strong academic record.

• Interest in landscape ecology, GIS, conservation planning, or wildlife management.

Preferred qualifications:

• Experience with GIS software (ArcGIS Pro or QGIS).

• Experience working with spatial data and remote sensing products.

• Familiarity with R, Python, or other analytical software.

• Experience with scientific writing and data management.

• Ability to work independently and manage large datasets.

Assistantship Support

The position includes:

• Graduate Research Assistant stipend of approximately $29,000 over the duration of the project.

• Tuition waiver (subject to university policies and graduate school requirements).

• Funding for professional development and conference participation.

• Opportunities for publication and collaboration with state wildlife agencies.

Professional Development Opportunities

The student will receive extensive training in:

• GIS and spatial analysis

• Remote sensing and land-cover classification

• Conservation planning

• Decision-support modeling

• Scientific writing and publication

• Presentation of research at regional and national conferences

This project provides excellent preparation for careers in conservation science, wildlife management, GIS analysis, environmental consulting, federal and state natural resource agencies, or doctoral study.

To Apply

Please submit:

1. Cover letter describing research interests and career goals.

2. Curriculum vitae or résumé.

3. Unofficial transcripts.

4. Contact information for three professional or academic references.

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.