- Agency
- Arizona Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, University of Arizona
- Location
- Southeast Arizona (based in Tucson)
- Job Category
- Graduate Assistantships
- Salary
- Approximately $33,169 (12-months) with tuition waiver
- Start Date
- 08/14/2023
- Last Date to Apply
- 03/15/2023
- Website
- https://www1.usgs.gov/coopunits/staff/2296188
- Description
- We are recruiting a MS graduate student to conduct collaborative field-based research to study the ecology of introduced American bullfrogs in southeast Arizona. The successful applicant will conduct field-based research to provide information on bullfrog population demographics and dispersal that will be used to guide efforts to eradicate bullfrogs in southeast Arizona. The student will be enrolled in the University of Arizona’s School of Environment and Natural Resources and work within the Arizona Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit in collaboration with the Arizona Game and Fish Department. The student will be supported through a research assistantship through the School of Natural Resources and the Environment at the University of Arizona. Assistantship support and summer salary are available for two academic years and two summers, respectively. We anticipate working with the student to obtain additional support (either through research and/or teaching assistantships) and research funding. Student will conduct two full summer field seasons (approximately mid-May through mid-August) of field work with additional field work expected during the late summer and fall monsoon season depending on the final study design. Field work may include, but not necessarily limited to, diurnal and nocturnal visual encounter surveys, mark-recapture surveys, and monitoring bullfrog dispersal movements using telemetry. The student will participate in applying for the necessary federal, state, and university permits, manage and analyze data, supervise field crews of technicians, undergraduate students, and/or volunteers, write progress and final reports and peer-reviewed publications, apply for additional research and conference travel funding, and assist in general project logistics. The student will also be responsible for ensuring that project deliverables (i.e., thesis proposal, annual reports, draft manuscripts) are delivered to Arizona Game and Fish Department by the appropriate deadlines. The student will also be expected to prepare their thesis chapters for publication as peer-reviewed scientific papers.
- Qualifications
- An enthusiasm for learning and problem solving, an interest in applied research for wildlife conservation, an eagerness to develop skills in quantitative ecology and scientific writing, and excitement for field-based research are required. The successful applicant will have a Bachelor’s degree in biology, wildlife resources, or a related field, a GPA > 3.0, strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and strong people skills. The strongest applicants will have previous experience surveying for and capturing bullfrogs, field work in the conditions of southeast Arizona (e.g., extreme heat, thunderstorms, venomous animals, biting insects), willingness to work long and irregular hours, supervising field assistants, and operating 4x4 vehicles over rough terrain. Previous experience with data management and analytical software (e.g., Excel, R, ArcGIS) is beneficial but not required. Field housing potentially available but camping for multiple days at a time, including weekends, will also be required. Applicants should send a cover letter, CV, and contact information (including emails) of three references to Dr. Javan Bauder at jbauder@arizona.edu.
- Contact Person
- Dr. Javan Bauder, Assistant Unit Leader, Arizona Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
- Contact eMail
- jbauder@arizona.edu
